Buffalo Gordon

By John-Paul Lewis and J.P. Sinclair Lewis

Book Overview

The first novel in an ambitious new series, a fictional history of the west as seen through the eyes of runaway slave Nate Gordon. He has returned to Louisiana as Sergeant Major Nate Gordon of the Tenth United States Cavalry. His job, to recruit and form the second US colored cavalry, the Ninth Negro. Three years have passed since Nate left Louisiana and his life as a slave, to join the Union Army. The war is now over, and it is clear that the South has paid a heavy toll. Nate's former home is a tattered collection of dilapidated buildings and ruined plantations. Where once opulence and order ruled, poverty corruption and crime now thrive. Resentful and disgruntled white Southerners want nothing to do with Nate and his stripes. Racist Union officers and noncoms only make his task more difficult. Nate struggles to quell dissent from the ranks and to keep outside forces at bay as the Ninth Cavalry moves from the docks of Louisiana to the wide open West.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812570103
• ISBN13: 9780812570106
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Buffalo Gordon On The Plains

Bravo! I did not want this book to end!I laughed out loud and at times was so deeply moved, I cried.While I cheered the romance between Nate and Cara, I found the descriptive encounters between Nate and the Plains Indians, captivating. Rich in historical detail, this is an engaging and thought provoking book.The author has certainly left this reader anxiously awaiting the next installment of this powerful saga.Cheers to J. P. Lewis!

Grand entertainment and important history as well

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, fast-paced historical adventure. Lewis is a good storyteller, as well as a careful historian. The book, which tells the story of Nate Gordon, an African-American "buffalo soldier" on the western frontier, is well-plotted, action-packed, and very atmospheric, really putting you there on the ground with Nate. Lewis is also very attentive to historical detail, perhaps a bit too much so for some readers who may not want to know all of the technical and historical detail, but this is a minor quibble. More importantly, Buffalo Gordon provides us with an African-American hero of the "wild west," reminding us that it was not only the stereotypical "Marlboro (white) Man" who populated America's western frontier. Nate is a bit one-dimensional in the sense of being perhaps too perfect (he never behaves badly, always does the right thing), but that is largely what heroes are about. Lewis's writing style is not perfect - this is apparently his first novel, and he is still finding and perfecting his voice - but he is a fine storyteller, the writing is perfectly serviceable, and as the series continues, I imagine he will further hone his narrative skills. Overall, I give it five stars because I wholly enjoyed it (raced through it actually), and look forward to Nate's further adventures.

A Fresh Perspective about the American Frontier

For readers who enjoy fast-paced, historical fiction, I highly recommend Buffalo Gordon. Even though the post-Civil War, American frontier does not rank high on my list of interesting historical eras, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about it through the exciting adventures of Nate Gordon. Mr. Lewis has provided a well-researched account of this period with a fresh and dramatic fictional perspective. The book also is timely and in step with recent publications about African American military history, including Gail Buckley's AMERICAN PATRIOT. I recommend an earlier review of Buffalo Gordon by Celia DuBose on this site. She succinctly summarizes the book and provides an excellent critique of the book that is "spot on" in my opinion. I look forward to reading Mr. Lewis' sequel to Buffalo Gordon.

Review of Buffalo Gordon

J.P. Sinclair Lewis offers his readers a kaleidoscopic peak into post-Civil War social relations as experienced by runaway slave Nate Gordon, who stays in the U.S. Army to fight in the Indian Wars as a Buffalo Soldier.At turns grisly, moving, and altogether unexpected, the story never fails to entertain with bodaciously colorful bits of history both real and imagined. Characters like General Custer, Wild Bill Hickock, Cougar Eyes, and Roman Nose come so vividly into view that the reader might scratch her nose at the tickle of feathers or reach out to touch those dandy duds.Nate, from the beginning, is such an appealing character that the reader just sighs to learn how elegantly he handles the contradictions of his alliance with the white man against the indigenous population-then smiles to read that in the end, whether he knows it or not, Nate has found love, and we will be treated to a sequel. This reader hopes that in the next adventure the author tames some of his awkward action sentences and that we get to meet a woman who hasn't either been raped or forced to work as a prostitute (i.e. raped). And next time Nate and Cara make love I want to know less about what's happening with Nate's pelvis and more about what's happening with his heart.Can't wait to find out.

Historic Adventure

The author knows his history and tells a good story around it. This is a must read for all who want western adventure, and it is a perfect choice for black history month. Good characterization, thrilling action and surperb accuracy in the details of the period.