The Slavers

by F.M. Parker

Running from the deadly repercussions of accidentally killing a man, Ken Larrway finds sanctuary in the uneasy, doomed colony of Janus, where poligamy and death are usual, and a gunslinger never rests easy

254 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 6, 1990

About the author

As a boy F. M. Parker hitchhiked around the country working as a sheepherder in Montana, a bellhop in Colorado, and a logger in Ohio. He received a B. S. in Geology from the University of Dayton, and did graduate work in Geology at Ohio State University. He worked in the factories of GM and Chrysler at night to put himself through college. After that he went into the U. S. Navy for 5 « years with service in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans aboard the Timbalier, AVP 54, a seaplane tender.

After the navy he was employed as a geologist in the oil fields of Kansas, and as an exploration geologist in the uranium mines of Utah. After four years as a geologist, Parker became a manager in the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Department of Interior. He worked in several western states and Washington, DC, then progressed up through the ranks to become District Manager of the Vale District in Oregon, which is as much as 5 million acres. He was responsible for the management of the multiple resources of the land and its environmental protection. He was responsible for hundreds of grazing permits, several herds of wild horses, wild rivers, wildlife, recreation, timber, fire fighting and other factors regarding such a large land area.

Doubleday published his first book in 1981. The title was Skinner and there was an interesting story behind that title. The chairman of the grazing advisory board was named Skinner and the Skinner of Parker's novel was a drunkard and a pistoleer, while the real Skinner was a rancher and a straight arrow. Parker wasn't sure how the real Skinner would take the use of his name, but he laughed and thought it was a good story.

Reviews

[Alton Motobu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting plot but poorly executed. Young Kan Larraway vows revenge against Mexican strongmen for killing his mentor. He kills 2 sons of the villain Zaldivar, escapes to a white settlement made up of white polygamists, then returns to kill Zaldivar. Title refers to kidnappers of white girls who are forced to become prostitutes. Gordon Shirreffs might have handled this story line better.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Entertaining. Reminds me of the story of Zorro.