Fort Everglades

by Frank G. Slaughter

The Final Challenge

He had collided with death before-- often enough to know its face. Crouched in the dugout, he recognized it in the cluster of Seminole canoes that waited half shrouded in the morning mist. But life would mean nothing unless Mary, the woman he loved, was unharmed by these hate-crazed savages who held her captive. Suddenly one of the canoes swooped forward-- the Seminole chief Chittamicco at the paddle. Like two hostile crocodiles the two boats rushed at each other. Chittamicco bent over and came up with Mary, bound and gagged, struggling in his arms. Rising to his full height, the Indian lifted the girl on one extended palm and, with a mighty heft of his shoulders, hurled her into the swirling water.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book! Slaughter was such a master writer. Barely a sentence goes by while reading that isn't to savor. i prolonged this book as long as I could.

The characters are vividly written. Each character is given ample space by Slaughter to develop and be defined. The actions by the characters is consistent. A terrific study of literal characters.

Then there's the history. Slaughter weaves a number of well known - by Florida history nuts, like me - into the story tapestry. Considering that Slaughter had access to far limited research materials than available today, the accuracy if staggering. The writings of the natural area if Florida is dead on to what is known of the area a the time and what is left today. There are a few shaky areas as when the narrative brings up dinosaurs that were not known at this point in the first half of the 1800s. The result of the efforts is an outstanding novel that is full of action, romance and a terrific story.

Bottom line: I highly recommend this book.

[Nicholas Beck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Action packed but horribly outdated attitudes. Interestingly Slaughter begins his tale of The Seminole Indians of Florida noting that they have been pushed to extremes by the reduction of their territory to the Everglades. He neglects this context as his tale continues, resorting to standard cliches for example the Seminole camp is taken by surprise by the US army after an evening preparing for battle and consuming large quantities of rum which of course incapacitates them. This after describing earlier careful planning and strategy employed by the Seminole nation. Some riveting surgeon scenes (most likely based on Slaughter's expertise as a surgeon) and a strong female protagonist redeem the story somewhat. Slaughter sold over 60 million books in his heyday and was a prolific and popular writer. Not so much today!

[Jon Hollihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Frank G. Slaughter historical novel. Doctor falls in love with his best friend's fiance. Honor, integrity & loyalty to his friend distracts him from his role as an Army scout during the Seminole War in 1840's Florida. Excellent descriptions of the surrounding environments and detailed battle scenes. Throw in costumes of a Shakespearean troupe, a botanist, a smuggler, native warriors ready to clear the whites out of their land, and Americans wanting to remove the threat to the settlement through the military.

[Brenda Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did really enjoy it though.

[Milley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this started strong; i was entranced and heading for five territory..or at least 4.5. I think it was the later campaigns that i found quite boring. ssshhh.

the cover of my pulp fiction version looks like man-culture harlequin but the story was actually quite modern:

first nations experiencing broken treaties
first nations being no more blood or war thirsty than whitey
women arent quite as useless as you would have them


and the romance wasn't soppy...well maybe the neat ending...shouldnt someone have lost an eye or something? why not make the ending also historically accurate...3 months of malaria, endless runs...never felt themselves again..


the story made me want to learn more about Florida, the everglades, the Seminole history... and that in and of itself is huge.

now will i read more of his books?

[Tami]

Fort Everglades by Frank G. Slaughter (1951)

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous + ridiculous.

[Jim Corson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and enjoyed it. With age I found it much harder to swallow. The story line was rather unbelieveable as well as the romantic side of the story.