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Thunder Mountain #1
Thunder Mountain
Offered a free trip into a remote Idaho wilderness that she loves and studies, Professor Dawn Edwards can’t refuse. On the trip she meets Professor Madison Rogers, and they fall for each other before they even reach their destination.
But living in the Old West proves to be a brutal task. Somehow, Dawn must survive to rescue herself, her friends, and the man she loves.
But living in the Old West proves to be a brutal task. Somehow, Dawn must survive to rescue herself, her friends, and the man she loves.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2014
449 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Dean Wesley Smith
834 books176 followersPen Names
Edward Taft
Dee W. Schofield
Sandy Schofield
Kathryn Wesley
Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names.
With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons.
Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made.
Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books.
Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.
Edward Taft
Dee W. Schofield
Sandy Schofield
Kathryn Wesley
Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names.
With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons.
Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made.
Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books.
Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 8, 2014
I've been folowing Dean Wesley Smith's blog where he is documenting a year of writing. This is a novel he wrote in 15 days in September. It follows two ridiculously handsome and insanely smart history professors travel back in time to the Gold Rush of Idaho. They fall in love. They explore the time, but not much actually. One gets hurt, and they have to return to present day. Not a lot of plot, to be fair. I am not a romance guy, but it just didn't work for me. I saw the rushed aspects of the writing here and there. I am just happy some one is putting out work that is not for art, but for entertainment, I just don't think I was the person it was written for.
October 28, 2024
A little slow in movement but the story is quite interesting. Take some history, some time travel, some romance and you really have a beautiful story. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. The story makes you really ponder things. I love the history and I look forward to diving into the rest of the series.
April 21, 2014
The book is serviceable, if somewhat light in plotting. Dawn and Madison were fun characters and I enjoyed spending time with them. The romance elements were a bit pat with an instant attraction and really no bar or impediment to their relationship. Indeed, possibly the biggest weakness of the book is that things seem to be too easy for the situation. So it was entertaining and with a vivid depiction of the early 20th century West that was engaging. I am glad, though, that I picked it up on a one-day-only sale for much cheaper—I might have resented paying full price for such a light story.
A note about Steamy: There's some sex, and some of it is explicit enough to warrant tagging it. Very light, though, honestly, and nothing terribly racy.
A note about Steamy: There's some sex, and some of it is explicit enough to warrant tagging it. Very light, though, honestly, and nothing terribly racy.
May 9, 2014
This book was entertaining, a quick read, but nothing more than that. The story is simple, there isn't that much to it. The idea of the plot is really interesting, I think it could make a great story. Everything was described just briefly, and although I have a good mind for imagining things, I couldn't feel like I was really there with them.
The characters are likeable, but I don't think I got to know them very well.
An enjoyable book, but nothing more than that.
The characters are likeable, but I don't think I got to know them very well.
An enjoyable book, but nothing more than that.
July 2, 2019
Dean Wesley Smith, writer of Star Trek and some Marvel Comics characters such as Spiderman and a few others, has written a series of books under the title Thunder Mountain, a time travelling duo who contact bright, educated historians and others and tell them a secret – a crystal cave that if properly manipulated will take you to one of possibly billions of alternate realities on the timestream.
The Thunder Mountain book series by Dean Wesley Smith includes books Thunder Mountain, Monumental Summit, Grapevine Springs: A Thunder Mountain Novel, and several more. See the complete Thunder Mountain series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles.
Story & Plot:
These time travelling pair are named Duster and Bonnie, two mathematicians who stumbled onto this cave and built a machine to travel and have adventures in other times and places. Interesting that not a lot of explanation goes into this, not a lot of background either. Interesting tidbits are thrown out by the author to keep me interested but nothing of real substance.
The pair could live an entire lifetime in another century but return to present time with only two minutes having passed since they disappeared from the cave. Not only that, but if you die you immediately return to present time, alive and well as you were when you left. They claim they’ve been living many lifetimes, thousands of years’ worth.
So, they take two folks, historians, Dawn Edwards, a woman who has no love life, lives on campus basically and is deeply interested in the histories of the Old West, especially in the Idaho area. We follow her along as she wonders what life was like for that time period.
The other, Madison, we don’t get as much characterization for, and when they meet the “romance” is too pat. And same phrases are repeated repeatedly to a point of being annoying.
“Best looking woman on the planet,” he thinks. “Best looking man she’s ever seen,” she thinks. It goes on like this for a few pages. Sigh.
The other interesting aspect is these two, once they go to the past, interact with the locals only sparingly, which is too bad. The novel could have been more interesting and more conflicting with this aspect.
People die in this novel, but not to worry. They’re back in present time alive and well. OK then.
Final Thoughts:
Bugged me some the simplistic writing and slapped together plot, the simple and repetitive words and phrasing when some ten-dollar word Merriam Webster would have proudly added is missing.
And the Kindle version has some spelling and grammar errors that any good editor should have caught.
Regardless, the concept of two time travelling mathematicians interacting with historians to give them a tour of some past historic time to help them write accurate papers of the time they’re exploring. At least that seems their purpose.
The other Thunder Mountain books are standalone novels with I’m assuming Duster and Bonnie and whatever else they’re planning with other historians. Four novels in the series. Next up: Monumental Summit.
The Thunder Mountain book series by Dean Wesley Smith includes books Thunder Mountain, Monumental Summit, Grapevine Springs: A Thunder Mountain Novel, and several more. See the complete Thunder Mountain series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles.
Story & Plot:
These time travelling pair are named Duster and Bonnie, two mathematicians who stumbled onto this cave and built a machine to travel and have adventures in other times and places. Interesting that not a lot of explanation goes into this, not a lot of background either. Interesting tidbits are thrown out by the author to keep me interested but nothing of real substance.
The pair could live an entire lifetime in another century but return to present time with only two minutes having passed since they disappeared from the cave. Not only that, but if you die you immediately return to present time, alive and well as you were when you left. They claim they’ve been living many lifetimes, thousands of years’ worth.
So, they take two folks, historians, Dawn Edwards, a woman who has no love life, lives on campus basically and is deeply interested in the histories of the Old West, especially in the Idaho area. We follow her along as she wonders what life was like for that time period.
The other, Madison, we don’t get as much characterization for, and when they meet the “romance” is too pat. And same phrases are repeated repeatedly to a point of being annoying.
“Best looking woman on the planet,” he thinks. “Best looking man she’s ever seen,” she thinks. It goes on like this for a few pages. Sigh.
The other interesting aspect is these two, once they go to the past, interact with the locals only sparingly, which is too bad. The novel could have been more interesting and more conflicting with this aspect.
People die in this novel, but not to worry. They’re back in present time alive and well. OK then.
Final Thoughts:
Bugged me some the simplistic writing and slapped together plot, the simple and repetitive words and phrasing when some ten-dollar word Merriam Webster would have proudly added is missing.
And the Kindle version has some spelling and grammar errors that any good editor should have caught.
Regardless, the concept of two time travelling mathematicians interacting with historians to give them a tour of some past historic time to help them write accurate papers of the time they’re exploring. At least that seems their purpose.
The other Thunder Mountain books are standalone novels with I’m assuming Duster and Bonnie and whatever else they’re planning with other historians. Four novels in the series. Next up: Monumental Summit.
December 3, 2018
well. I didn't expect that.
This is ....dull and full of simplistic and shallow writing. Every last, dull detail dragged out with no real purpose.
Do I really need to know that Bonnie...
made it to the sink first and splashed water on her face, puling out a comb ad working on her hair while Dawn used the toilet.
Then they switched positions.
Dawn let the water in the sink run cold for a minute, then splashed water on her face.
Padding. That was just padding. No depth or purpose.
And this:
Looking at the men and smelling the wonderful breakfast smells of bacon and coffee, Dawn suddenly realised she was very hungry. More so than she expected to be at this time of day.
All four of them ordered basically the same thing. Eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and a small stack of pancakes. It was called 'The Basic' on the menu .... ....yawn.......
And this:
Madison talked about that for a short time with both Duster and Bonnie asking very pointed questions at times that surprised Dawn. Those two really, really did know their western history.
and......
It would be kind of embarrassing if he touched her arm and she just had an orgasm right there in the booth. WTF??????
And (I am not going to go through ALL 20 of the highlights I made, just the ones that made me go..???!!!!! )
Dawn could tell that where the door was in the hillside, no one from below could see it, but it someone was up on the hillside above the old mine, they might.
I gave up at that point. 19% Did anyone proofread or edit this? I doubt it. The writing was just ... bad and I expected MUCH better from this author.
This is ....dull and full of simplistic and shallow writing. Every last, dull detail dragged out with no real purpose.
Do I really need to know that Bonnie...
made it to the sink first and splashed water on her face, puling out a comb ad working on her hair while Dawn used the toilet.
Then they switched positions.
Dawn let the water in the sink run cold for a minute, then splashed water on her face.
Padding. That was just padding. No depth or purpose.
And this:
Looking at the men and smelling the wonderful breakfast smells of bacon and coffee, Dawn suddenly realised she was very hungry. More so than she expected to be at this time of day.
All four of them ordered basically the same thing. Eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and a small stack of pancakes. It was called 'The Basic' on the menu .... ....yawn.......
And this:
Madison talked about that for a short time with both Duster and Bonnie asking very pointed questions at times that surprised Dawn. Those two really, really did know their western history.
and......
It would be kind of embarrassing if he touched her arm and she just had an orgasm right there in the booth. WTF??????
And (I am not going to go through ALL 20 of the highlights I made, just the ones that made me go..???!!!!! )
Dawn could tell that where the door was in the hillside, no one from below could see it, but it someone was up on the hillside above the old mine, they might.
I gave up at that point. 19% Did anyone proofread or edit this? I doubt it. The writing was just ... bad and I expected MUCH better from this author.
June 23, 2022
Disappointing. The time travel in this story was supposedly based on science but really seemed ridiculous. Put a couple wires over a crystal and poof in the past in 1878! Don't touch the crystal! Why not? Don't know! Just don't.
Then the MC and her love interest don't even get to know each other before doing it in a hot spring in 1878 and the relationship building is just them silently making love. Creepy!
The survival in the old west sounds interesting. But the MC is so pampered by her modern cabin and only hints at hardship with taking care of horses in the winter. There were no hardships!
The man she loves dies but she's not that upset about it. Buries him without pants. It's fine. It will be funny later when he's not dead because death doesn't matter when you are a crystal cave time traveler!
No depth. No story really. Very disappointing
Then the MC and her love interest don't even get to know each other before doing it in a hot spring in 1878 and the relationship building is just them silently making love. Creepy!
The survival in the old west sounds interesting. But the MC is so pampered by her modern cabin and only hints at hardship with taking care of horses in the winter. There were no hardships!
The man she loves dies but she's not that upset about it. Buries him without pants. It's fine. It will be funny later when he's not dead because death doesn't matter when you are a crystal cave time traveler!
No depth. No story really. Very disappointing
August 22, 2019
A DWS. SYFY. Novel of the Present and Past (TM) (ATMN)
DWS. has penned a novel about Idaho that will change your mind about the people who reside there. Two professors were asked if they would like to take a trip into the mountains by two scientist who had more knowledge that the average person. They take the trip and walk through a time tunnel into the past and return. On the second trip into the past they become separated and things change. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
DWS. has penned a novel about Idaho that will change your mind about the people who reside there. Two professors were asked if they would like to take a trip into the mountains by two scientist who had more knowledge that the average person. They take the trip and walk through a time tunnel into the past and return. On the second trip into the past they become separated and things change. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
July 17, 2018
Different twist
There is a delicious story twist to this Western setting book. Going back for a period but not aging but occasionally dying is not the norm. I like the character development and the flow of the story. Unlike many Kindle novels, this one tells a whole story without resorting to cliffhanger tactics. Different way to go West!
There is a delicious story twist to this Western setting book. Going back for a period but not aging but occasionally dying is not the norm. I like the character development and the flow of the story. Unlike many Kindle novels, this one tells a whole story without resorting to cliffhanger tactics. Different way to go West!
March 13, 2020
Great time travel read.
Humorous yet very serious as Dawn and Madison time travel with friends Bonnie and Duster back to an old west mining town. The perfect summer ends in tragedy that none expected causing Dawn to spend a long cold winter without her friends. A exciting hard to put down book!
Humorous yet very serious as Dawn and Madison time travel with friends Bonnie and Duster back to an old west mining town. The perfect summer ends in tragedy that none expected causing Dawn to spend a long cold winter without her friends. A exciting hard to put down book!
January 8, 2021
Interesting cross genre story
I order this book thinking it was Worcester. And then after I started it I decided it was A science fiction story. But it also has elements Over romantic novel. So I really wouldn't know where to close for this book but It was a very entertaining an interesting story That Kept me reading it. I will Look for more Bogus author
I order this book thinking it was Worcester. And then after I started it I decided it was A science fiction story. But it also has elements Over romantic novel. So I really wouldn't know where to close for this book but It was a very entertaining an interesting story That Kept me reading it. I will Look for more Bogus author
February 8, 2025
Quietly romantic science fiction
At first, this book seems to move quite slowly; but as you read, you will see that the careful description of human relationships (including “love at first sight “) in the first two parts sets you up to be engaged in the crisis that ensues. And Smith handles the pitfalls attendant on time travel stories quite adroitly. An engrossing read.
At first, this book seems to move quite slowly; but as you read, you will see that the careful description of human relationships (including “love at first sight “) in the first two parts sets you up to be engaged in the crisis that ensues. And Smith handles the pitfalls attendant on time travel stories quite adroitly. An engrossing read.
July 27, 2017
This was a quick read and enjoyable. Not much else. The characters are too perfect in my opinion all beautiful, intelligent, sexy and strong etc with very few faults. I like the time travel theory he uses and that was what kept me going in the novel.
November 23, 2020
Kind of a cute novel perhaps if you were a Romantic teenager. I found it rather dull and kept waiting for the plot to pull me in, which it didn't. I would read a little, put it down and not think about it until I was bored with nothing to do. The time line thing became somewhat confusing at times.
February 28, 2022
Interesting
This was a very interesting and surprising book in the Western section. This book needs to be edited again because the wrong words have been used in several places. It makes one stop to figure out what belongs there.
This was a very interesting and surprising book in the Western section. This book needs to be edited again because the wrong words have been used in several places. It makes one stop to figure out what belongs there.
July 14, 2022
Interesting
I appreciated the history lessons, and thorough descriptions of the landscape. The characters were likeable and well suited for the storyline. In the end, this was an easy read, it just didn't suit my tastes.
I appreciated the history lessons, and thorough descriptions of the landscape. The characters were likeable and well suited for the storyline. In the end, this was an easy read, it just didn't suit my tastes.
January 12, 2023
A good book
A great entertaining book but missed a lot of historical facts about Native Americans, robbers and other trials of the trail settlers encountered in the Wild West and amongst the land.
A great entertaining book but missed a lot of historical facts about Native Americans, robbers and other trials of the trail settlers encountered in the Wild West and amongst the land.
April 8, 2025
Fascinating
Undoubtedly the most unique take on time travel I have read, and I have read many. Intriguing and fascinating with memorable characters. I will certainly continue the series.
Undoubtedly the most unique take on time travel I have read, and I have read many. Intriguing and fascinating with memorable characters. I will certainly continue the series.
June 26, 2018
Thunder Mountain
A great story. Well written and we'll told. If you get this book now you will get hours of enjoying time. I Loved It!
A great story. Well written and we'll told. If you get this book now you will get hours of enjoying time. I Loved It!
July 4, 2018
It felt like the introduction to a potentially very interesting world of stories. But then it was over.
July 20, 2018
Awesome read
Read this in one night, hope there is another story in the series that takes off where this one left off!
Read this in one night, hope there is another story in the series that takes off where this one left off!
February 19, 2020
Surprising
I've read several time travel books but I think I like this concept best.
Can't help but wonder about an earthquake at the crystal cavern...
I've read several time travel books but I think I like this concept best.
Can't help but wonder about an earthquake at the crystal cavern...
Read
May 4, 20202/10: Managed half the book, tempted to read more but just couldn't get there.
November 23, 2020
Some bones but not much meat.
The idea of time travel is always interesting, but the story was weak. What is the use in going back in time if there is no history?
The idea of time travel is always interesting, but the story was weak. What is the use in going back in time if there is no history?
December 26, 2020
What an adventure!
You get swept up right away and it's a great adventure. I look forward to reading more of this series. My husband read it first and recommended it to me.
You get swept up right away and it's a great adventure. I look forward to reading more of this series. My husband read it first and recommended it to me.
July 3, 2022
Somehow this fell short for me.
Read
October 9, 2022A time travel story, unexpected and interesting.
June 29, 2022
????????
Struggled with this one for some reason, usually love time travel stories, but found it hard to concentrate on this story, added to the fact that Madison is a girl's name in the UK , very confusing.
Struggled with this one for some reason, usually love time travel stories, but found it hard to concentrate on this story, added to the fact that Madison is a girl's name in the UK , very confusing.
June 29, 2022
Great history book with a twist
We are from Idaho and like to learn the history. We have been to some of those places. It was so hard to
put the book down. Have already bought the second book. Will probably get the set.
We are from Idaho and love Idaho about the old towns. Good history and a fun twist. Could hardly put the book down. Already bought the second book and will probably get the set.
We are from Idaho and like to learn the history. We have been to some of those places. It was so hard to
put the book down. Have already bought the second book. Will probably get the set.
We are from Idaho and love Idaho about the old towns. Good history and a fun twist. Could hardly put the book down. Already bought the second book and will probably get the set.
March 22, 2024
Locations/Settings: [Idaho: Roosevelt (ghost town), Monumental Creek and Valley, River of No Return Primitive Area, Cascade, Boise, Yellow Pine, Stibnite, Boise State University, Capitol Building, Boise River, Vista Avenue, Thunder Mountain Peak and City (mining town), Edwardsburg, Silver City (ghost town), McCall, Florida Mountain, Murphy, War Eagle Mountain, Jordan Creek and Valley, Trade Dollar Mine (Silver City), Delamar and Dewey (ghost towns), Smokey Davis Meats (Boise), Snake River, Caldwell, Emmett, Smith’s Ferry (Payette River), Elk Creek and Summit, Washington Grade School (Boise), Dewey (ghost town) and Dewey Mine, Salmon River, Mule Creek, Big Creek, Warren, Marble Creek, Middle Fork of the Salmon River]
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews