Utah! A Sci-Fi Western Novel. Major Samuel S. Smith survived 20 years in the Space Marines as the most decorated Marine ever. After a close encounter with a Nuke, it was time to retire and start his new career as a lawman on one of the countless terra-formed worlds teeming with Earth's fauna and flora. Utah was a paradise in more ways than one, but paradise came with a price. Sam put on the badge of a Utah Ranger to keep the peace, but he had no idea what Utah had in store for him.
Utah has thrills, adventure, humor (laugh out loud funny), romance, beautiful horses, brave dogs, wonderful AIs, fishermen, and Marines. I have no idea why more people haven't reviewed this book, although it took scrolling through 300 pages of KU sci fi first contact search results before I found it. Fair warning: if editing problems really bother you, Utah may not be the book for you. But the story is so gripping, the characters so well-written, and the world building so unique that I had no problem ignoring any editing errors. I highly recommend Utah and will be buying a copy to reread.
I bought a copy and reread it. It has been a little over a year since I first read it. I loved it just as much the second time. There is graphic violence, but much less than a lot of current sci fi books. I hope there is a sequel some day, but Utah is a fantastic standalone.