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Titus Bass #1
Dance on the Wind
Sixteen-year-old Titus Bass fears one fate more than any other: never to experience the great wilderness or the wildness inside himself. So late one night he snatches a squirrel gun and a handful of biscuits, flees into the woods, and doesn’t look back. From Louisville past the Chickasaw bluffs and the Natchez Trace all the way to New Orleans, he plunges into the rough-and-tumble life along the banks of the Mississippi: a volatile, violent country of boatmen and river bandits, knife fights and Indian raids, strong liquor and stronger women. Yet beyond the great river stretches the vast, unexplored expanse of the Great Plains. And it is here that young Titus will seek his future, and risk everything to seize it.
624 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
178 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Terry C. Johnston
77 books102 followers Terry C. Johnston was born January 1, 1947 in Arkansas City, Kansas.
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 27, 2022
4.5 Very surprised at how good this was. I really enjoyed the story. I love reading epics like this that capture the essence of living in the frontier so well.
February 18, 2022
Excellent, engrossing page turner. We’ll researched with excellent writing and no slow spots through all 607 pages of my copy.
The Scenery is described so well you’d swear you were there.
I was glad to here there are 9 books in this series, looking to take my time with them and enjoy every page.
Would highly recommend this series to anyone.
The Scenery is described so well you’d swear you were there.
I was glad to here there are 9 books in this series, looking to take my time with them and enjoy every page.
Would highly recommend this series to anyone.
September 24, 2010
Terry Johnston and this series are responsible for getting me back into reading again.
September 10, 2018
I've read all of Terry Johnston's books from the titus bass series and the Seamus donegan series.I have read them in paper back format and nook and kindle now. My favorite writer of all time. I ejust wish that he hadn't passed at such young age.RIP Terry Johnston
My favorite writer of all time. I've read every one of Terry Johnston's books.from titus bass to Seamus donegan.I've read them all in paperback and now I'm nook and kindle.too bad he passed at such a young age. RIP Terry Johnston.sorry about my mess that I have made ,repeating myself. Just too old to fix my messes
My favorite writer of all time. I've read every one of Terry Johnston's books.from titus bass to Seamus donegan.I've read them all in paperback and now I'm nook and kindle.too bad he passed at such a young age. RIP Terry Johnston.sorry about my mess that I have made ,repeating myself. Just too old to fix my messes
August 31, 2016
The early life of Titus Bass
This is the story of the early life of the main character in Johnston's trilogy, Carry The Wind, Border Lords, and One Eyed Dream. It's a tale of a young mans' dream to leave settled farm life to find the adventure that his grandfather spoke of a generation earlier.Johnston paints an amazing picture of life in the first decades of the 19th century American expansion westward. It is a wonderful historical fiction.
This is the story of the early life of the main character in Johnston's trilogy, Carry The Wind, Border Lords, and One Eyed Dream. It's a tale of a young mans' dream to leave settled farm life to find the adventure that his grandfather spoke of a generation earlier.Johnston paints an amazing picture of life in the first decades of the 19th century American expansion westward. It is a wonderful historical fiction.
February 28, 2008
An exciting tail of a young man's adventures as he breaks away from his parents and the farming life he loathes. Sometimes I think he gets too much into the character's thought process, but overall, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes early frontier adventures.
June 5, 2013
Excellent. First book I've read by Terry Johnston and won't be the last!! Book taking place 200 years ago about a young frontier man, this is the first in a series about Titus Bass. Lot of interesting history thrown in with the story.
March 11, 2018
A different kind of novel.
I didn't know what to expect when I bought this book, but it surprised me, a different writing but gave a glimpse of life on the frontier in the early days of America. I enjoyed it
I didn't know what to expect when I bought this book, but it surprised me, a different writing but gave a glimpse of life on the frontier in the early days of America. I enjoyed it
October 10, 2025
I have really enjoyed Johnston's The Plainsmen series and so wanted to try this one. it is a good thing I started with The Plainsmen. I didn't enjoy Titus Bass as much. I spend a lot of the book trying to decide why I should care about Bass's character. I would not like him if I could meet him. He never actually does anything for anyone else other than himself.
I personally got tired of all the sex in the book. A little was expected. The characters in this book were visiting the whorehouses every opportunity they had. Bass even says at one point he will "rut" with any woman available.
I will likely try book number 2. I am hoping as he moves into his mountain man personage maybe the types of debauchery he gets into will be more enjoyable to read about.
Would anyone be willing to reply here and let me know if that aspect improves in later books. Thanks!
I personally got tired of all the sex in the book. A little was expected. The characters in this book were visiting the whorehouses every opportunity they had. Bass even says at one point he will "rut" with any woman available.
I will likely try book number 2. I am hoping as he moves into his mountain man personage maybe the types of debauchery he gets into will be more enjoyable to read about.
Would anyone be willing to reply here and let me know if that aspect improves in later books. Thanks!
April 26, 2022
Great read if you are into historical fiction relating to westward expansion. Follow Johnston's character Titus Bass from his Kentucky roots through history as he follows his dream to explore land west of the Mississippi. Johnston has definitely done his homework which is displayed in his detailed accounts of westward growth and expansion. Unfortunately the reader will also learn about how our country severely mistreated the Indians in their hunger for building a nation.
There are 9 books in the Bass series and if you read them all you will learn a lot about our country as well as get to know Titus Bass.
There are 9 books in the Bass series and if you read them all you will learn a lot about our country as well as get to know Titus Bass.
March 25, 2025
I read Johnston's debut Carry the Wind several years ago, then realized, like with Star Wars, it was first, but the fourth in a series. It took years to collect all nine books, and now here we are. I liked this one a lot, although at times it was almost like reading erotica. Titus uses his pecker a lot more than his gun, or even his fists. You get to feel his sense of being trapped, pushed into a life he doesn't want, and cheer his decision to leave. The riverman life was fun, but the ending in St. Louis... How did so much time slip by? That part was less impressive. Nevertheless, I'm already into the next book.
June 30, 2017
16 year old Titus Bass runs away from home The book is a coming of Age story coupled with a fish out of water story as Titus yearns for the Real West of the mountain man. The story is how he finally gets to leave for there
May 13, 2023
Not a fan of tituis bass
After reading the Plains man series which I couldn't put down and couldn't wait to start the next book I was severely disappointed with Titus bass . started to buy the whole series bought the first book glad I didn't spend the money on the whole series sorry I think your writing went down hill
After reading the Plains man series which I couldn't put down and couldn't wait to start the next book I was severely disappointed with Titus bass . started to buy the whole series bought the first book glad I didn't spend the money on the whole series sorry I think your writing went down hill
February 28, 2024
good frontier imagery and feel for land and culture of west at that time
Fun read lots of characters and wonderful feel for descriptions of place. For those with a live for frontier tales a good one
Fun read lots of characters and wonderful feel for descriptions of place. For those with a live for frontier tales a good one
July 10, 2017
Excellent book for this era. Titus Bass is a real Frontiersman.
September 29, 2017
If you are interested in historical fiction about the harsh and adventurous lives of fur trappers, this is good reading. It has in depth detail about daily tribulations.
August 8, 2019
Started rereading the series after many years. Especially enjoy the character development and the historical references throughout.
October 12, 2019
Good story
New author me. Thought the storyline was very good and the characters were well developed, interesting, and flawed. Too much whining and sex for my liking though.
New author me. Thought the storyline was very good and the characters were well developed, interesting, and flawed. Too much whining and sex for my liking though.
March 9, 2020
I enjoyed this. Dry and long. Just like I like my frontier stories.
September 25, 2022
Interesting tale
Following a young man's path from boyhood to manhood along the rivers of the West was entertaining. I would warn reads of sexual content, however.
Following a young man's path from boyhood to manhood along the rivers of the West was entertaining. I would warn reads of sexual content, however.
September 25, 2024
Not my style for reading.
I read for entertainment. Not history lessons.
Too much sex.
Much prefer William Johnstone
I read for entertainment. Not history lessons.
Too much sex.
Much prefer William Johnstone
September 27, 2013
I wish that this had been the first Titus bass novel that I read. Unfortunately, I had previously read Carry the Wind which, although it tells the tale of a middle-aged Titus, includes enough of his early life and history that it spoiled this story of Bass' youth and early life. Knowing what was going to happen, I quit the book after the first few chapters.
March 4, 2024
Book 1 of the Titus Bass series
Excellent storyteller. I read Carry the wind and Borderlords back in 1990, finally found the rest of the series. Definitely no disappointment.
Excellent storyteller. I read Carry the wind and Borderlords back in 1990, finally found the rest of the series. Definitely no disappointment.
December 21, 2011
This one is a real page turner. It grabs you right from the start. A story well told.
June 8, 2025
One of my favorite series
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews