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Titus Bass #7
Ride the Moon Down
The time of the mountain man is coming to an end...but some--like Titus Bass will not exit gently. A brilliantly exciting and thoroughly researched novel of the end of the dream that was the unmapped and virgin wilderness in the American West starring the king of the mountain men, Titus Bass.
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 3, 1998
81 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Terry C. Johnston
77 books101 followers Terry C. Johnston was born January 1, 1947 in Arkansas City, Kansas.
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 18, 2016
The blurb says "thoroughly researched" and I agree. But the blurb also says "brilliantly exciting" and I disagree strongly. I gave up on this book at the 44% point because I just could not get interested enough to finish it. When I put a book down and don't feel compelled to pick it up again soon, then I know it's just not 'my cup of tea'. I haven't read any of the previous Titus Bass stories, so his inability to cope with the spread of 'civilization' into the wilderness did not make me feel sorry for him. In addition, I disliked the author's choice of having the characters all speak using 19th century slang because it made much of the dialog unclear and unexplained. Even worse, many of the characters frequently used racial epithets, which are highly offensive to today's sensibilities. I also had a problem (at least in the Kindle edition) of the scene abruptly changing without a break of any kind. This caused me to go back and re-read to try and figure out where and when and who was speaking. I probably won't read any more by this author.
July 13, 2013
Not at all my usual genre. Bought this book for 25 cents at a garage sale. Didn't read it till almost a year later. When I finally caught onto this book being part 7 of a nine book series, I was hooked. I fell for Titus Bass and Waits by the Water. I fell in love with history of the mountain man and the early west. This book caused me to devour the rest of the series.
March 25, 2024
Another what I’d call masterpiece in this series.
I’m becoming melancholy knowing I’m closer now to the end of the series, but remember I have two books still to go.
Top notch action and adventure that I’ve come to expect from this author.
5/5.
I’m becoming melancholy knowing I’m closer now to the end of the series, but remember I have two books still to go.
Top notch action and adventure that I’ve come to expect from this author.
5/5.
December 25, 2015
History and she good story make sure good read
When you also live in the West and you are familiar with the places described in the book it is great to read about them along with the great characters Mr. Johnson inserts into a very good story. I found nothing wrong with his descriptions of the people, the time or the places. A good read.
When you also live in the West and you are familiar with the places described in the book it is great to read about them along with the great characters Mr. Johnson inserts into a very good story. I found nothing wrong with his descriptions of the people, the time or the places. A good read.
August 28, 2011
Tale of a mid-1880’s trapper with his Crow wife and infant daughter traveling the west. Uses language of the times, lots of description.
January 4, 2025
The 1830s in the West, when the time of the mountain men and trappers was fading. Love, honor and constant peril for the protagonist trapper, his Crow wife and young children. Loaded with action and interesting characters.
March 25, 2019
I loved this book. You really need to read the other books in this series since it refers back to them often. The story is about Titus Bass as he struggles to survive as a mountain man. Great read.
June 15, 2022
Good read
Long winded sometimes but well worth reading. He described the day's of beaver trapping to a t. Would love to have been there.
Long winded sometimes but well worth reading. He described the day's of beaver trapping to a t. Would love to have been there.
May 15, 2016
This book continues the story of Titus Bass started in the trilogy, (CARRY THE WIND, BORDERLORDS, & ONE - EYED DREAM ), and yet is exciting as a stand alone novel. The hard life of mountian fur trappers is now entwined with the relationships between Bass, his Crow wife, and his growing family. The dangerous encounters, the joyfull reunions, and the ravages of the whitemans disease combined with the deepening love between a man and his family and friends make for a wonderful story. Brutal at times but wonderful. Needless to say, I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. That's my opinion. Read it yourself, and see if you agree.
April 29, 2023
This was the last book in the Plainsmen series and Johnson does a masterful job of bringing Titus Bass’s a ventures to an end. Loved the series even if Johnston loves to “embellish” his story telling with a lot of historical detail, but I respect him for the work he puts into his novels. It’s a shame he is gone, but his books live on!
September 14, 2008
It has a wonderfully authentic feeling for a western novel. I wished I liked the genre.
July 8, 2010
Loved this as a high school kid. Remember it as a great adventure book.
June 8, 2025
Series still running strong
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews