Territory
Written by: Emma Bull
Published by: TOR 2007

 

I have a confession to make. I love westerns. There’s nothing like allowing yourself to drop into a wonderfully crafted tale of the wild west, and Emma’s is one of the most incredible that I have ever read.

I don’t think there are many people who haven’t heard of Wyatt Earp, or the gunfight at the OK corral. Wyatt and his brothers were an interesting breed, to say the very least. Tight-knit and formidable, they weren’t the men to cross. Even though most of the brothers were lawmen, trouble followed the family like a starving dog.

Tombstone is where “Territory” takes place, and puts an interesting spin on the tale of the Earp brothers. The legendary Doc Holliday plays a huge part in the story, although I was a little disappointed at Bat Masterson’s absence.

Mildred Benjamin is a widow who works at the local paper. She’s also a writer who is breaking all the gender rules for the time period. Millie befriends the Earp women and finds some intelligent companionship in the booming town. She also finds herself making a friend in the mysterious Jesse Fox.

Jesse is a friend of oriental doctor Chow Lung, a man who insists that Jesse has a talent for magic. Magic is something of a rarity in the world, and something that must be carefully hidden from the world at large. Jesse’s friendship with Chow Lung could cause a stir, but talk of magic? That could ruin his life, including the burgeoning friendship with the headstrong Mrs. Benjamin.

According to Ike Clanton when talking to Jesse Fox, “Territory’s a hard place. You got to be hard to get by.”

With the type of men converging in Tombstone – he’s right on the money!

Emma has put a whole new perspective on a very old story, and I think most will enjoy this novel. A little magic placed in the world of gunslingers - both the outlaws and lawmen. When you come right down to it, who knows - maybe this is what really happened in that hard-edged mining town.

Article by: Naomi "NAI" De Bruyn
posted:04 Mar 2009

Related Link: http://www.tor.com