PALO DURO
by
MAX L. KNIGHT
Genre: Historical Fiction / Western
Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
Date of Publication: September 2, 2017
Number of Pages: 226
Scroll down for the giveaway!
Westward expansion following the civil war ushered in an era of increased conflict between the Southern Plains Indians and white settlers. Peace treaties offered temporary suspension of hostilities, but more often than not resulted in broken promises as the two cultures clashed over land. The construction of frontier forts and towns, the decimation of the buffalo herds, the movement of cattle through Indian lands to burgeoning western markets, – all of these forces threatened a way of life that had existed for centuries.
The Comanche, the Southern Cheyenne, the Kiowa, the Apache all fought to protect their customs and homelands. The clashes were characterized by savagery on both sides – Indian and white. However, finite numbers and options would ensure the tribes’ defeat; they faced certain death or forced relocation and their days were numbered.
Though the Indian wars are the focus of Palo Duro, the novel also captures the spirit of the “Old West” with its depiction of the great cattle drives from Texas into Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado and Montana, the cattle barons and the trail blazers, the outlaws and gunslingers, the lawmen and Texas Rangers, and the settlers and entrepreneurs who built this country. It chronicles an era characterized by heroism, brutality, and bold ventures while paying tribute to a genre that is fading from public consciousness – the western. It is the story of the Southwest United States towards the end of the nineteenth century and the rugged individualism that forged a nation.
5 STAR PRAISE FOR PALO DURO:
This book captured Central Texas in the post-Civil War era better than any other book I’ve read. It was well researched, well written, and easy to read. I enjoyed this book more than Empire of the Summer Moon, the standard setter. I recommend this to readers of any level, even if you dislike history, as this book is that good.
– Jeffrey R. Murray, Amazon review
Max Knight brought to life the saga of how Texas tamed their frontier. He presents a colorful experience with characters effectively placed throughout his story. If you have any interest in Texas history this book is a must read. – AmazonJacki, Amazon review
Palo Duro is an exceptional novel, well researched; a must read.
– Chuck B., Amazon review
Reading this book is a great way to deepen and appreciate one’s Texas roots – or if you are not a Texan to understand and enjoy what makes Texas, well, Texas! I found this novel to be especially entertaining as well as informative. Made me want to go back and read Lonesome Dove again! – Michael P., Amazon review
In the spirit of the old Western genre of Zane Grey and L’amour, Max Knight pays homage to our national heritage with this fictional but historically accurate labor of love that warms the heart with his vivid imagery and authentic tone of America’s illustrious and sometimes brutal past. – Chester Sosinski, Amazon review
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Palo Duro is not your typical historical fiction, with an embellished plot, characters, and events. This story is structured along the lines of both fact and fiction, with occasional bouts of dialogue mixed in. In any event, Palo Duro takes the reader through the well-documented journey of battles between Native Americans and white settlers, US military, and Texas Rangers, and then on to the notorious Wild West towns and their famous and infamous heroes and villains (some of whom often crossed over and then back again between hero and villain).
The author does not hold back one little bit when it comes to the brutality and carnage on both sides of the battles and skirmishes throughout. Palo Duro is broken down into “Books,” with each Book appearing as unadorned and mostly linear vignettes of a harsh and unforgiving era of US history.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the “Books” in Palo Duro, especially the following: Book Seven about Charles Goodnight and the transformation of the cattle industry and the long cattle drive. Book Nine about the intriguing Palo Duro Canyon and about Herman Lehmann, who was captured by the Apache at age 11 and raised as a fierce warrior, despite his blue eyes and pale skin. Book Ten about Doc Holliday (who doesn’t love reading stories about such a vivid and eloquent character?).
All the accounts in Palo Duro paint a bloody picture that the author neither sugarcoats nor glosses over. But the book also shows the many people on all sides who were filled with determination to build and preserve their culture and history (Native American) or promote and maintain their culture and way of life (white settlers, military, or just someone looking for a new life in the Wild West). And don’t skip the Afterwards as it provides a nice follow up on the real characters.
A big Thank You goes out to the author, Max L. Knight, for presenting this historical fiction of a volatile time in US History in such a unique and interesting fashion.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win an Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Palo Duro by Max L. Knight.
Max L. Knight was born in Panama in 1949, and was raised both in the Canal Zone and in San Antonio, Texas where he now resides with his wife, Janet “Gray.” A proud member of the Corps of Cadets and graduate of Texas A&M University (Class of ’73), he received a bachelor’s degree in English and a Regular Army commission and served the next twenty-four years as an Air Defense and Foreign Area Officer before retiring in 1997 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After leaving the Army, Max spent the next five years working for RCI Technologies of San Antonio, becoming its Director of Internal Operations. Separating from the company in 2002, he volunteered to be the first docent at the Alamo working within its Education Department before once again serving his country as a Counterintelligence Specialist in Europe, Central America, Asia and the Middle East through 2013. Max speaks several languages including Greek and Spanish. He also holds a Master of Science degree in government from Campbell University. He has written and published two books to date: Silver Taps, a personal memoir of his relationship with his father and a tribute to his alma mater, and Palo Duro, a novel focusing on the Indian wars in the southwestern United States at the end of the nineteenth century.
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One Winner: Signed copy of Palo Duro + $20 Amazon Gift Card
Two Winners: Signed Copies of Palo Duro
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It’s always nice to have history presented in an interesting way! Thanks for the review!