Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Bandit Heaven:
They went to heaven alright.
Quick synopsis:
Stories of various Wild West gangs and their hideouts in the 1880s and 1890s.
Fact for Non-History People:
The Sundance Kid’s real name was Harry Longabaugh.
Fact for History Nerds:
The word “cowboy” wasn’t a Wild West creation. It was first used in print in 1725.
My Take on Bandit Heaven:
I read all of Tom Clavin’s books and this is just another wonderful entry about the end of the Wild West. I’m not going to complicate this review because whether or not this book is for you is very simple.
When Clavin writes about the Wild West, there is going to be some guaranteed elements. First, sardonic wit. Clavin will not let a good zinger go by. If there is a dark joke to make about a guy’s nickname ending up being the way he dies, then Clavin will say it.
Second, there are a lot of characters. Clavin cannot and will not let a good story go by. Sure, the character may show up for a few pages and disappear forever, but this is about entertainment. Clavin has gathered you around the fire to tell you stories, not just a single story. Admittedly, I usually ding books for having too many characters, but when it is done well and brings more color to the book, I not only let it slide but thoroughly enjoy it.
Finally, while it may seem the narrative jumps around, there is always a larger point being made in the narrative. Yes, it seems like the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are the main story, but it is really about the end of the Wild West. This book is another look at the how and why the outlaws couldn’t go on forever both literally and figuratively. If you like Clavin’s work, this is just another must read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.)
Verdict:
Clavin being Clavin and that’s a great thing. Buy it here!
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