Lansdale continues to be one of my favorite authors. I've read most all of his Hap and Leonard novels as well as several of his stand-alone stories including THE THICKET, THE BOTTOMS, and EDGE OF DARK WATER. All of these were excellent! PARADISE SKY is a Western based on the exploits of Nat Love, an African-American cowboy and former slave in the period following the Civil War.
According to the novel, Love was also the basis for the dime-novel hero, Deadwood Dick, whose exploits were novelized and exaggerated by his friend and fellow sharp-shooter, Buffalo Bob. In real life, the Deadwood Dick novels were written by Edward Lytton Wheeler.
This was really an entertaining and fun novel with Lansdale throwing in his usual mix of violence and off-color humor. On top of this, it was an excellent Western novel. PARADISE SKY along with THE THICKET, rival my all-time favorite western, LONESOME DOVE. Lansdale has pulled out all the stops to deliver a rip-roaring tale completely in keeping with dime novel traditions and the cinematic hyperbole of âBlazing Saddlesâ or âDjango Unchained.â Overall, a very high recommendation for this one!
According to the novel, Love was also the basis for the dime-novel hero, Deadwood Dick, whose exploits were novelized and exaggerated by his friend and fellow sharp-shooter, Buffalo Bob. In real life, the Deadwood Dick novels were written by Edward Lytton Wheeler.
This was really an entertaining and fun novel with Lansdale throwing in his usual mix of violence and off-color humor. On top of this, it was an excellent Western novel. PARADISE SKY along with THE THICKET, rival my all-time favorite western, LONESOME DOVE. Lansdale has pulled out all the stops to deliver a rip-roaring tale completely in keeping with dime novel traditions and the cinematic hyperbole of âBlazing Saddlesâ or âDjango Unchained.â Overall, a very high recommendation for this one!
