The Raiders: Sons of Texas

Sons of Texas #2

by Elmer Kelton

Ten years have passed since Michael Lewis made his first venture into Texas, now a province of Mexico. Together with a small number of Americans pioneering on the Brazos and Colorado Rivers, Michael and his brother Andrew each have a plot of land assigned to them by the entrepreneur Stephen F. Austin.
Michael Lewis has his fathers' wanderlust, Andrew is less footloose and excitable but the two act as one when trouble starts. To secure their places in their new-found lands in Texas, the Lewis boys have to fight not only Mexican authorities and hostile Indians, but their own kind – renegade white men attempting to settle on Texas land without permission or authority. In The Sons of Texas , Elmer Kelton continues his saga of the Lewis family and the formative years of Texas, ending this mid-volume of the trilogy with the birth of Michael's daughter and the marriage of Andrew to Petra Moreno, a girl from Nacogdoches with whom he has fallen in love.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[M. O'Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raiders – Western Novel of the Sons of Texas Series – Published 1989 - **** - The Lewis brothers have moved to Texas with land allotments from Austin. Plenty of bad guys from neighbors to the aborted Fredonia revolution. The book starts slowly and builds toward the end. Typical Kelton novel with lots of historical information and descriptions. He spends a lot of time on personal view points and growth of characters almost top an annoying degree. But still a worthwhile read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western is not a genre that I read frequently but I have read three Kelton novels and were captivated by each one. These books are technically and historically well researched and Kelton’s writing style is very polished

[Carrie L. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story full of Texas Action and Adventure!

So exciting a read! A wonderful story of Texas' early days and the people who helped shape her. Very satisfying.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

it started a bit slow, but then took off and ended up being a very good read.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start on this one, but it turns into a good story. Having lived in Texas, I appreciate these tales about places that are familiar. Elmer Kelton is a very good western writer.

[Anthony Yodice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1989 it's a little dated, but a fun western with some Texas history thrown in.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than "Many a River" probably one of my favorites of Elmer Kelton's. Three books in the series (Sons of Texas #1, The Raiders #2, and The Rebels #3. I always find comfort in reading an Elmer Kelton Novel. If you like the western genre for me it is on an even keel with Louis Lamour. This book picks up where the first left off. You find Michael Lewis and his brother Andrew settling in Texas. They must endure the changes set with turmoil as more people come to Texas to settle including some of their past enemies. As always you get lost in an Elmer Kelton novel and the pages turn quickly because you become lost in the story and book.

[Megargee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second volume in Kelton's Sons of Texas trilogy chronicalling the multi-generational Lewis family that settled in Eastern Texas during the first half of the 19th century. The same characters continue from book to book. The setting and details appear to be historically accurate. While not essential, it is best to read these books in order.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book of the Sons of Texas trilogy, Elmer Kelton shows Texas at it's very earliest times of struggle. Austin wasn't the only one trying to bring people to Texas, and squatters and outlaws just helped themselves.

[Julie Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous trilogy on early Texas history. I've said it before and say it again, I'm so proud to live in Texas. We have a lot to be thankful to the early settlers. They fought for this great state against Santa Anna, the Comanche and the very land itself. God bless Texas.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton is the only Western Author I will read. I like his style very much. This was the 3rd in a series. I reccomend it to anyone who wants to have a quick enjoyable read.

[Sandy Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Kelton is a great storyteller! Never thought I would be reading westerns.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always with Elmer Kelton, a great read. 2nd in the Sons of Texas trilogy.

[Gordon Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay story, but not on the level of Larry McMurtry.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I'v read better. The only characters I like in these novels all don't make it...

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine rendition of the written Western tradition with likeable characters and a decent plot.