What do you think?
Rate this book
Comanche Dawn: A Novel
In Comanche Dawn Mike Blakely does for the Comanche nation what Ruth Bebe Hills did for the Sioux in Hanta Yo . This landmark novel is the first time the story has been told from the point of view of the Comanches themselves. We witness the rise of one of the most powerful mounted nations in history through the eyes of a young warrior named Horseback.
Born on the very day that the first horse comes to his people, Horseback matures into a leader of unquestionable courage and vision. He assumes powerful medicine granted to him by spirits encountered on a grueling vision quest, and he takes Teal, the most beautiful young woman of his tribe, as his wife and lifelong love. Guided by forces more powerful and dangerous then even he can control or explain, Horseback will face death time and time again with only his medicine and Teal to stand beside him.
Failure will mean destruction not only for himself, but for his people. Success will mean unimaginable wealth for his new nation. Ancient enemies will seek to destroy him. Strange newcomers with pale skin and treacherous ways will attempt to enslave him. Even his own inner spirit powers threaten always to consume him, should he fail to respect them. Only the bravest of True Humans dare to follow Horseback on his great adventure down a trail that can lead only to glory or annihilation.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Born on the very day that the first horse comes to his people, Horseback matures into a leader of unquestionable courage and vision. He assumes powerful medicine granted to him by spirits encountered on a grueling vision quest, and he takes Teal, the most beautiful young woman of his tribe, as his wife and lifelong love. Guided by forces more powerful and dangerous then even he can control or explain, Horseback will face death time and time again with only his medicine and Teal to stand beside him.
Failure will mean destruction not only for himself, but for his people. Success will mean unimaginable wealth for his new nation. Ancient enemies will seek to destroy him. Strange newcomers with pale skin and treacherous ways will attempt to enslave him. Even his own inner spirit powers threaten always to consume him, should he fail to respect them. Only the bravest of True Humans dare to follow Horseback on his great adventure down a trail that can lead only to glory or annihilation.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
575 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
21 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2011
I am ashamed to say I have never really read much about Native Americans that wasn’t from the Caucasian point of view or based on a Caucasian’s journals or historical documents. Comanche Dawn is a novel so well written I worry I will not do it justice with my inadequate ramblings but here goes anyway.
This is a novel that takes the reader through one generation of a tribe of True Humans that are known to their enemies as Shoshone and the Spaniards as Comanche. We, the reader, follow the tribe of the Meat Eaters of the True Humans as Shadow/Horseback is born into a horrible winter, a winter of starvation. As Shadow/Horseback is born the tribe sees its first horse, the horse is thought to be a large dog sent from the Shadows and is promptly shot, killed, and eaten. A gift from the ancestors to fill the tribes bellies and introduces a new era through the child born that day called Shadow.
Shadow grows into adulthood and with his first vision is renamed Horseback. As Horseback he becomes a gifted horse rider with inventive solutions to make life and hunting easier on his tribe. He shares these gifts with others of the tribe that wish to learn.
The beauty of the way of life these people lived in its most simple and brutal forms are portrayed along with the everyday things. The journey both physical and spiritual that Horseback and his people make is both awe-inspiring and courageous, I cannot help but root them on even as they attack and decimate other tribes over a generations old feud. During this journey we are introduced to other characters of different tribes and even some French and Spanish colonists who will madden you and touch your heart however briefly.
All in all a great read that is told without bias about a way of life before it was unfairly ripped from a great a powerful people.
This is a novel that takes the reader through one generation of a tribe of True Humans that are known to their enemies as Shoshone and the Spaniards as Comanche. We, the reader, follow the tribe of the Meat Eaters of the True Humans as Shadow/Horseback is born into a horrible winter, a winter of starvation. As Shadow/Horseback is born the tribe sees its first horse, the horse is thought to be a large dog sent from the Shadows and is promptly shot, killed, and eaten. A gift from the ancestors to fill the tribes bellies and introduces a new era through the child born that day called Shadow.
Shadow grows into adulthood and with his first vision is renamed Horseback. As Horseback he becomes a gifted horse rider with inventive solutions to make life and hunting easier on his tribe. He shares these gifts with others of the tribe that wish to learn.
The beauty of the way of life these people lived in its most simple and brutal forms are portrayed along with the everyday things. The journey both physical and spiritual that Horseback and his people make is both awe-inspiring and courageous, I cannot help but root them on even as they attack and decimate other tribes over a generations old feud. During this journey we are introduced to other characters of different tribes and even some French and Spanish colonists who will madden you and touch your heart however briefly.
All in all a great read that is told without bias about a way of life before it was unfairly ripped from a great a powerful people.
October 9, 2021
Comanche Dawn, an eye opening story of the great horseman the Comanches.
What this story may lack in character, it more than makes up for in the educational scenes from our American history. This is a book everyone should read for a fresh view on the Indians and White-man’s relationships in the early days of America.
What this story may lack in character, it more than makes up for in the educational scenes from our American history. This is a book everyone should read for a fresh view on the Indians and White-man’s relationships in the early days of America.
September 2, 2013
Great book about a seldom discussed period of history Running from approximately 1670 until 1720 the novel follows an Indian warrior who introduces the Comanche to the horse and horsemanship. The book is fairly accurate in describing the dire conditions that the proto-Comanche people found themselves in after nearly being exterminated by the Pueblo, Apache and Wichita nations. The Comanche were able turn the table on these nations after mastering the art of raising and domesticating the horse. I was especially interested in the writer's characterization of the French and Spanish, historical figures such as Juan Archeveque and Henri Causebon. One gripe is the author's failure to develop a believable villain. He seemed to follow the well-trodden path of creating a religious fanatic and calling it good. Blakely should really have spent more time researching the difference between Franciscan and Dominican orders and their relationship to the Inquisition as practiced in New Spain. All in all a very good book. It should be a must for anyone interested in horsemanship.
August 26, 2012
Western genre books with the exception of four of the five westerns by A.B Guthrie starting with the Big Sky have not progressed passed the dime-store stereo type. There are of course the rare exceptions and this was one of them. Told from the perspective of the greatest plains indian dwellers, this gives a look rarely glimpsed by a reader who will pass by the western genre in disgust thinking read one read them all. I still look for books like this from the indian nations perspective in popular fiction and find this a rare gem. Not only can I not find a contemporary in such a story of such stripe, I have come to the conclusion this is a masterpiece where everything else is a cliche.
October 12, 2009
Mike Blakely has lived up to what has been said of him. He is one of the best authors of Historical Westerns and Texas History. I had to get this book form "intra-library loan", but I will continue asking for his books.
Read
February 21, 2012Fantastic book if you enjoy north american history mixed in with a good dose of fiction. This book provides plenty of both. For someone who grew up reading many a book involving horses, Indian mythology, and the settling of North America, this is one of my favorite novels.
July 18, 2016
A gift from my brother, ........... I wouldn't normally be drawn to this type of book but after the first chapter I was hooked. Interesting landscape and historical background made this novel a must read! I will definitely recommend this book.
July 25, 2011
My very favorit aerian indian story just so interessting and so alive with imagery if you love stories from the american west historic genres your going to enjoy this very much
February 25, 2014
A well-researched, superbly rendered, portrait of the rise and glory of the Comanche nation.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews