Coming of the Storm: Contact: The Battle for America, Book One

by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

Book Overview

Discover the first in the epic trilogy by New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear ( Sun Born , Morning River ), which vividly recounts the devastating clash of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439153884
• ISBN13: 9781439153888
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 484 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Another "can't put down" story from these writers

I don't know offhand how many books I have read by the authors, but I have never been disappointed. The details and research, along with a good story line and character development make every one of their books a delight to read. Just as good as their previous novels, this one starts with the story of Black Shell and Pearl Hand. Black Shell is a trader and risks all he has to win Pearl Hand from her abusive owner. It was love at first sight when Black Shell saw Pearl Hand in the woods on his way to her village. About the only part I did not enjoy in the book, was the flashbacks, not because they were not good, but I'm still adjusting to bifocals, and found the different font used more difficult to read.

Great Indian Tale

W. Michael Gear and his wife, Kathleen O'Neal Gear write wonderful Indian stories. Their series of the Indian peoples cannot be matched for interest and just good storytelling. "Coming of the Storm" is something new for them in that they are beginning a series that is a telling of history, of things that happened and they start with the story of de Soto and how he treated the Indians here in America. The treatment was brutal and we have heard only one side of the story in our history. The Gear's tell the story from the Indian's side. A great read. J. Robert Ewbank author, "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

White man came from across the sea

I preorder Gear/O'Neal-Gear books. The couple - anthropologist and archaeologist, respectively - have reinvented Native American fiction. Written speculatively, the couple's books look at changes in North America from the inhabitants' eyes. Some go back 13,000 years; Coming of the Storm: Book One of Contact: The Battle for America goes back to Hernando de Soto's slaughter of Native Americans in 1539. Coming of the Storm begins with a synopsis of DeSoto's barrage of the Southeastern corners of North America, and ends with a comprehensive bibliography. The pages in between, told from the points of view of Black Shell and Pearl Hand, are All Gear/O'Neal Gear. Black Shell traveled under the Power of Trade, loyal to no one people but able to travel freely. He met Pearl Hand in what was supposed to be another routine village. Pearl Hand told Black Shell, in the time they talked in the village and in travel, of the Kristianos, led by Hernando de Soto, who plowed down everything and everyone in their paths in a search for gold and, they felt, protected by their one true God. Native Americans, in the eyes of the Kristianos, were nothing but heathens who believed in many spirits. In an unwilling turn of events, Black Shell was captured for a short time by the Kristianos. He learned about them in this time, and learned more from Pearl Hand. Later, he would say, "The Kristianos think of us as being accursed by their god. Their cabayos and war dogs are treated better." Villages were raided, and the different tribes' weapons were no match for the weapons and armor that the Kristianos had.As Pearl Hand and Black Shell met occasional survivors of raids, few and far between, one thing was clear: De Soto was the first and foremost target of any retaliation. I was unable to put down this enthralling book, and cannot wait for the sequel.

Once Again The Gears Rock

Coming of the Storm by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear Black Shell and Pearl Hand, Native Americans, discover that the "Kristanos" are not quite what they seem. This story addresses the clash between the disparate cultures of Europe and America. The violence and storm is seen through the eyes of the Native Americans as opposed to the often typical portrayal seen thorough the eyes of the "heroic" invaders. Black Shell isn't just a stereotyped noble savage but a living breathing, empathetic human being who has been raised in a culture that is certainly different that both my own and that of the now recognized barbaric invaders. The Gears are hard to categorize. I couldn't put down The Warriors of Spider series or The Forbidden Series. Both books were die in the wool, hard core, how much do I love it, SciFi. This book is good, it is a dramatically different genre but the essence of all their books is the distilled essence of humanity. The Gears depict humanity as well or better than anyone else regardless of the time or planet. I highly recommend the book.

Worth your money

Black Shell comes from the Chickasaw tribe. He is a trader. While out walking Black Shell comes upon a beautiful woman by the name of Pearl Hand. Pearl Hand is promised to another but Black Shell convinces Pearl Hand to leave him and become his mate. Black Shell has never known anything but peace. When the white men or "Kristianos" arrive, Black Shell becomes intrigued by them. He figures that they can learn a lot from each other. Unfortunately, Black Shell quickly discovers that the Kristianos want nothing more than to rid the land of the Indians. Coming of the Storm is the first book I have read in a long time by this husband and wife duo of W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear. After reading this book, I am now wondering why I took so long to read another book by either of these authors. Mr. and Mrs. Gear are some prolific writers. They really brought to life the story of Black Shell and Pearl Hand and the struggles they faced to bring the different tribes together. I used to have only one favorite author who I really enjoyed reading her books about Indians and that was Madeline Baker. I now have a few author favorite authors to add to the list. Thanks to Coming of the Storm. Clear some time out of your busy life and be prepared to get lost in a really good book.