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Refuge
A gritty "voodoo" Western tale about what happens when fighting is all both sides know what to do.
1879. After decades of violence of fleeing, having gone everywhere from Florida to Mexico, a war-weary band of Seminole Blacks led by their sheriff, Desi Leans, and his wise-cracking deputy, Gay Day, have finally settled in the Oklahoma Territory. They have built their dream, Refuge, and they will do whatever it takes to make it work.
But they fear that it may all go up in smoke when a band of renegade buffalo soldiers, The Testimony Gang, and their firebrand leader, Prester John, come to town.
Will Refuge hold true to its promise or will it all be burned to the ground?
1879. After decades of violence of fleeing, having gone everywhere from Florida to Mexico, a war-weary band of Seminole Blacks led by their sheriff, Desi Leans, and his wise-cracking deputy, Gay Day, have finally settled in the Oklahoma Territory. They have built their dream, Refuge, and they will do whatever it takes to make it work.
But they fear that it may all go up in smoke when a band of renegade buffalo soldiers, The Testimony Gang, and their firebrand leader, Prester John, come to town.
Will Refuge hold true to its promise or will it all be burned to the ground?
- GenresGraphic Novels
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
13 people want to read
About the author
Bill Campbell
57 books207 followersBill Campbell is a native Pittsburgher. Throughout his varied and illustrious career, he has done everything from assembling Christmas toys in Cleveland; loading trucks, bookkeeping, and being an AmeriCorps volunteer in Atlanta; coordinating an elementary school literacy program in D.C. to teaching English as a second language in the Czech Republic. He's also the former publisher of the independent magazine, Contraband, and the music trade magazine, CD Revolutions.
Bill came out with Sunshine Patriots, a semi-satirical, military sf novel, back in 2004. My Booty Novel, which he likes to call "fluff for nerds," came out in 2007. His new book, Pop Culture: Politics, Puns, and "Poohbutt" from a Liberal Stay-at-Home Dad was released in September, 2010.
Bill lives in Washington, DC, where he has worked as a music critic for www.ink19.com and currently works for a company that produces books for the blind for the Library of Congress.
Bill came out with Sunshine Patriots, a semi-satirical, military sf novel, back in 2004. My Booty Novel, which he likes to call "fluff for nerds," came out in 2007. His new book, Pop Culture: Politics, Puns, and "Poohbutt" from a Liberal Stay-at-Home Dad was released in September, 2010.
Bill lives in Washington, DC, where he has worked as a music critic for www.ink19.com and currently works for a company that produces books for the blind for the Library of Congress.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 22, 2023
V good art, kinda hard to follow
December 28, 2022
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss.)
The year is 1879; the Civil War has been over for fourteen years, but the "Indian Wars" will continue for nearly another half century. The titular Refuge is a small, scrappy town, founded by a group of Seminole Blacks in Oklahoma Territory. As its name suggests, Refuge aims to be a haven for all those 'misfits' tossed aside by mainstream American society: Blacks and Native Americans; gun-slinging women; and sex workers, to name a few. Reverend Elijah in particular aims to put Refuge on the map: he sends his acolyte Harlan on the road, singing the praises of Refuge with the goal of attracting new, Black settlers. But the arrival of a group of Buffalo soldiers threatens to upend their progress.
Honestly, I had so much trouble following the story that I tapped out about halfway through. The story is dialogue-heavy and features a sizable cast of characters, many of whom I had trouble keep track of. (I blame the art.) Also, I wasn't really sure whose "side" I was meant to take. Elijah's goal of running a railroad through town strikes me as foolhardy at best (capitalism, bad). I guess the idea is strength in numbers? Idk, seems safer to fly under the radar. Or maybe I've just been consuming too many scifi westerns.
In the end, I just couldn't sustain my interest long enough to power through. DNF around 50%.
The year is 1879; the Civil War has been over for fourteen years, but the "Indian Wars" will continue for nearly another half century. The titular Refuge is a small, scrappy town, founded by a group of Seminole Blacks in Oklahoma Territory. As its name suggests, Refuge aims to be a haven for all those 'misfits' tossed aside by mainstream American society: Blacks and Native Americans; gun-slinging women; and sex workers, to name a few. Reverend Elijah in particular aims to put Refuge on the map: he sends his acolyte Harlan on the road, singing the praises of Refuge with the goal of attracting new, Black settlers. But the arrival of a group of Buffalo soldiers threatens to upend their progress.
Honestly, I had so much trouble following the story that I tapped out about halfway through. The story is dialogue-heavy and features a sizable cast of characters, many of whom I had trouble keep track of. (I blame the art.) Also, I wasn't really sure whose "side" I was meant to take. Elijah's goal of running a railroad through town strikes me as foolhardy at best (capitalism, bad). I guess the idea is strength in numbers? Idk, seems safer to fly under the radar. Or maybe I've just been consuming too many scifi westerns.
In the end, I just couldn't sustain my interest long enough to power through. DNF around 50%.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews