Black Hills: A Novel

by Dan Simmons | | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 9780316006996 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingnimrodielwing of Evanston, Illinois USA on 1/5/2016
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Journal Entry 1 by wingnimrodielwing from Evanston, Illinois USA on Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Amazon Editorial Review

Paha Sapa, a young Sioux warrior, first encounters General George Armstrong Custer as Custer lies dying on the battlefield at Little Bighorn. He believes--as do the holy men of his tribe--that the legendary general's ghost entered him at that moment and will remain with him until Sapa convinces him to leave.

In BLACK HILLS, Dan Simmons weaves the stories of Paha Sapa and Custer together seamlessly, depicting a violent and tumultuous time in the history of Native Americans and the United States Army. Haunted by the voice of the general his people called "Long Hair," Paha Sapa lives a long life, driven by a dramatic vision he experiences in the Black Hills that are his tribe's homeland. As an explosives worker on the massive Mount Rushmore project, he may finally be rid of his ghosts--on the very day FDR comes to South Dakota to dedicate the Jefferson face.

Journal Entry 2 by wingnimrodielwing at Evanston, Illinois USA on Wednesday, January 6, 2016
This was a very slow read for me. I don't know if it was the way it jumped back and forth through time that did it. The story is engrossing and fantastic, but presented in a very non linear way. It may also have been the sheer amount of historical details presented in the book. This story covers a huge amount of time in the 19th and early 20th century of American History. I picked this up because of the author, but also because of the time it is set in.

Dan Simmons, has the ability to write speculative fiction specifically historical fiction in a way that leaves the reader wondering if it was true. I found myself googling the names of Paha Sapa's descendants to see if they were real people... The characters were so realistic. Although, at times I felt that the addition of Custer's narrative detracted from the story of Paha Sapa and his journey though life as a Lakota Sioux during the conquest of the Badlands area by non native settlers. I understand why Custer and his ghost were included into the story. Custer had a huge impact on that time and area. I felt like his narratives were a weaker part of the plot.

This was good, but not one of the Dan Simmons books I would clamor for people to read. I still think that The Hyperion Cantos books are his best books.

Journal Entry 3 by wingnimrodielwing at LFL - Central Park Ave. #23992 in Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Released 8 yrs ago (1/26/2016 UTC) at LFL - Central Park Ave. #23992 in Chicago, Illinois USA

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