While testing a new military flying apparatus President Custer's son is in a terrible crash. Only he and one other man survive. George Custer Jr. is captured by the Cheyenne, who believe he is the person seen in a girl's vision, which depicts a man who has fallen from the clouds. They dub him One Who Flies, and try to decide what to do with him while George struggles to understand a very different culture and balance what he sees of the Cheyenne with what he has been told. Meanwhile, President Custer sees a chance to go to war and try to wipe out the Native people who have been successfully fighting off the U.S. troops attempts to take the frontier land primarily because of their highly trained fighting dinosaurs.

Reading about this book, I couldn't see how it would work. Alternate military history heavy on the social criticism? And with dinosaurs, of all things? But does, spectacularly.

I think the main reason it works so well is the casual way that Giambastiani handles the changes in history. It's all very matter of fact, without pointing out changes and only making minor allusions to a few major ones. (Such as Lincoln not having been successfully assassinated.) This even manages to work with such major things as the dinosaurs.

The writing is crisp and clear, yet flows nicely and doesn't seem severe. Giambastiani has quite an ear for dialogue and does a good job subtly differentiating between the rhythms of different languages.

My one complaint is that George's decision to help the Cheyenne felt rather sudden and contrived. He had been quite stubborn before that point, and it seemed rather an abrupt about-face. It would have been nice if the author had spent a couple pages, rather than sentences, showing the reader why this change came about.

Added this book to the Weird Western Bookbox, which is on its way to GoryDetails.

This book didn't find a new reader in the Weird Western bookbox, so it came back to me. I've been contemplating doing a steampunk bookbox at some point, so I may hold onto this for that project.

This book is on its way to quietorchid in the Steampunk Bookbox.

I'm taking this book from emmejo's Steampunk bookbox; after passing it over in the Weird West box I'm glad to have another shot at it {wry grin}.

Later: A wonderful alternate-history story, with fascinating characters on all sides (I think Storm Arriving was my favorite), and lavish detail regarding life among the Cheyenne (the burial-platform sequence, with the addition of the Little Teeth to the ritual; the Contrary, Laughs Like a Woman; and so much else). The battle scenes are detailed and harrowing, and the ecology that permits dinosaurs to co-exist with other Great Plains species felt pretty seamless - and the characters' victories, however bittersweet, are most satisfying...

I'm adding this book to Aberpeter's Read and Journaled bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop shortly. Hope someone enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2013 4 Elements release challenge. ***

This book stopped here for a short visit in Woodstock, Georgia. It is still travelling in Aberpeter's Read and Journalled Bookbox.

I picked this out of Aberpeter's Read and Journaled Bookbox. This story looks very interesting. Right up my ally! Thanks for sharing.

I love historical fiction and certain Sci-Fi (esp. time travel). This book fit in nicely in the historical/sci-fi genres. I agree with the others, the description of the book seems so wacky. How could it possibly work?? It does! It does! I really enjoyed Giambastiani's tale of George Custer's son crash landing in Cheyenne Alliance land. The characters were great and the storyline was wonderful. It had a bit of Dances with Wolves feeling to it but with dinosaurs being the Native American's choice of transportation. Now, I am hooked on this series and I am going to keep my eye out for the rest of the Fallen Cloud saga. Reserving for Erishkigal's Science Fiction Bookbox.

Putting this in Erishkigal's Science Fiction Bookbox. Happy Travels!

Received in the Science Fiction Box.

I will release this back into the box.

Released in the Science Fiction Box.

Please enjoy!

OK, former readers, I am definitely intrigued and adding this to my TBR.

Heeheehee Returning this to immawin2 who wants to loan it to a friend who will love it over the long cold winter. I shall read it in the future.😉

The book arrived! Thankyou so much for doing this. My friend will appreciate having a good read, while he sits in his home in the middle of the north woods. :-)