Dreams to Dust: A Tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush

by Sheldon Russell

On a fateful day in 1889, the Oklahoma land rush begins, and for thousands of settlers the future is up for grabs. One of those people is Creed McReynolds, fresh from the East with a lawyer’s education and a head full of aspirations. The mixed-blood son of a Kiowa mother and a U.S. Cavalry doctor, Creed lands in Guthrie station, the designated Territorial Capital, where he must prove that he is more than the half-blood kid once driven from his own land. In recounting the precipitous rise and catastrophic fall of the jerrybuilt city of Guthrie, author Sheldon Russell immerses us in the lives of Creed and other memorable characters whose ambitions echo the taming of the frontier―and whose fates hold lessons as important today as they were more than a hundred years ago. Among the people McReynolds must contend with is Abaddon Damon. A ruthless newspaper publisher, Abaddon is quick to strike any bargain that will bring him the power he craves, and like many others, Creed McReynolds is swept into his whirlwind of greed and deception. Creed becomes the wealthiest man in the Territory―but at an unbearable cost to himself, the dreams of others, and the dignity of his mother’s people. Dreams to Dust takes readers back to the early days of Oklahoma Territory―a sometimes dangerous place filled with nefarious dealings, where violence lurks behind even casual encounters―to tell the story of frontier men and women gambling everything to find their fortune on the windswept southern plains.    

Genres: Historical Fiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published February 13, 2006

About the author

My biography is available on my website: http://www.sheldonrussell.com

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-written novel about the Oklahoma Land Rush and the fight to determine the location of the new state capital. Fortunes were made and lost, in a matter of years. Fortunately, Guthrie still survives today and anyone into the turn of the 20th-century history about a very unique event in U.S. history will enjoy this novel.

[Lana Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and fast paced account of the April, 1889 Land Rush and the one day settlement of Guthrie Station. Some fictional characters represent actual people of the time, other characters represent possibilities and/or the opportunities for equality, the ingenuity of ambition, and the lack of character some display in order to reach their quest for power.

Protagonist, Creed McReynolds, half Kiowa from his mother's side, returns to the Territory after being raised by his father. Creed is now a lawyer, and lumber owner, seeking to gain respect and make his fortune in this Promised Land. He joins the group known as the "sooners" by sneaking into the area after bribing a railroad "bull."

Creed has a great sense of business and creativity that allows him vision for future needs. He builds his empire to a suprising conclusion.

All the characters in this story have great depth, exhibiting strengths and weakness.

I found this an amazing read. However, two brief accounts of sexual encounters are described more than necessary and don't add anything to the story. For this reason, I did not give a 5 star rating.

[Sandra Washburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

wonderful story about OK land rush and we are reminded what Sooners are; tale of stealing the state seal from Guthrie and bringing to OKC

[Leachman]

I just began so don't know how to rate it.

[Sandra Scroggins]

Wonderful adventure

Great characters, the story pulls you along at a rapid pace. Recommend for those who are interested in Oklahoma history.