The Prairie Martian

by Jonathan Eaton

The little town of New Halchita is surrounded by enemies. The Scavenger Hordes claim the land the town sits on as their own. Giant, mutated ticks await the unwary—one careless step could mean a slow, delightful death wrapped in their sticky palps. And in the skies above, artificially intelligent killing machines look down upon the survivors of the Great Inadvertent War, ready to obliterate any settlement they judge guilty of "inappropriate technological advancement."

But Sheriff Frank Westfall’s biggest concern is the beautiful and mysterious stranger in the lockup. “Nancy” claims to be a visitor from Mars—a descendant of an experimental colony abandoned by Earth when the war broke out. When Frank discovers that Nancy is not what she appears to be, his duty is clear—the problem is, he’s never had to kill anything with such a pretty face before.

Genres: Science Fiction

291 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2016

About the author

Jonathan Eaton grew up in Texas in the 20th century, moved to Oregon in the 21st century, and is currently researching and writing about Texas in the 19th century. He is married and has a cat.

Reviews

[Raymond Elmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prairie Martian" is primarily a western. A small self-sufficient community in the badlands (Scablands) with a steampunk level of tech. Civilization ends at the town limits. At least ‘Civvie’ civilization. Out beyond are nomadic tribes of scavengers. The ‘Scabbies’ have their own norms, granted. It’s the year 2472; some 300 years after the Apocalypse. Just reminds you of 1830’s west of the Pecos. Pity horses are extinct.

The town of New Halchita is no dystopia, no troglodyte clan worshipping the last TV. They are a literate folk working to keep the walls of civilization secure, to run to stations when the alarm bell rings. They are no comic dullards, easily fooled by snake-oil salesmen. Nor are they cowering townsfolk depending on a few gunslingers to save them. No doubt that follows the truth of the real ‘Old West’ beyond our cowboy movies. Real Old West communities didn’t wait for Clint and Shane to come to the rescue.

Not that there are no special heroes in 2473. We have Sheriff Frank Westfall, rather too tall. A taciturn ex-scout who is a bit weary, a bit lonely. Dutiful, and no one’s fool. Not the kind to catch the ladies’ eye, but he will, soon or late, catch the perpetrator.

There; that’s the book report to give you the stage setting. But ‘Prairie Martian’ is flat out no gunslinger tale with a touch of sci-fi. It’s ven diagrammed to a genre called ‘weird western’, at home on the shelf with ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ or the works of Mike Resnick. Perhaps next to ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’; for that ‘post-civilization’ feel is always in the background. The folk of New Halchita are survivors, holding on to a flame of literature, law and tech they are shielding from the dark; and the threatening sky.

Chiefly, this is a character-driven story. We have an undramatic, lonely hero determined to do his best; a sly rogue of a villain who is masterful at manipulating civvie and scabbie minds alike; a sassy lady-doc who has made her choices. Add to that a pretty Martian schoolmarm with robotic mien and, possibly, a secret agenda.

Character-driven novels usually come at the cost of long scenes, backstory chapters and complex conversations that convey this attitude, that misunderstanding. Readers endure this while waiting for the exciting stuff. I was immediately struck that Mr. Eaton did not need to pay that price. For all we cared chiefly who saw through who, or who stood by who, each chapter ends with some event of adrenaline excitement or emotional satisfaction or shocked surprise.

Given that, it seems almost secondary to say the narrative quality is excellent, dialogue is first-rate. No one is delivering easy punches or easy lines; no cowboy cliché tobacco spitting. Not a single barroom fight.

I hope Mr. Eaton gives us a sequel. This is a rich setting he has established, with a terrific under-stated hero. I want to find out the truth of the GID war, and what is beyond the Scablands. If no sequel, then dammit, Eaton, do it again.

[Raymond Elmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Prairie Martian" is primarily a western. A small self-sufficient community in the badlands (Scablands) with a steampunk level of tech. Civilization ends at the town limits. At least ‘Civvie’ civilization. Out beyond are nomadic tribes of scavengers. The ‘Scabbies’ have their own norms, granted. It’s the year 2472; some 300 years after the Apocalypse. Just reminds you of 1830’s west of the Pecos. Pity horses are extinct.

The town of New Halchita is no dystopia, no troglodyte clan worshipping the last TV. They are a literate folk working to keep the walls of civilization secure, to run to stations when the alarm bell rings. They are no comic dullards, easily fooled by snake-oil salesmen. Nor are they cowering townsfolk depending on a few gunslingers to save them. No doubt that follows the truth of the real ‘Old West’ beyond our cowboy movies. Real Old West communities didn’t wait for Clint and Shane to come to the rescue.

Not that there are no special heroes in 2473. We have Sheriff Frank Westfall, rather too tall. A taciturn ex-scout who is a bit weary, a bit lonely. Dutiful, and no one’s fool. Not the kind to catch the ladies’ eye, but he will, soon or late, catch the perpetrator.

There; that’s the book report to give you the stage setting. But ‘Prairie Martian’ is flat out no gunslinger tale with a touch of sci-fi. It’s ven diagrammed to a genre called ‘weird western’, at home on the shelf with ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ or the works of Mike Resnick. Perhaps next to ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’; for that ‘post-civilization’ feel is always in the background. The folk of New Halchita are survivors, holding on to a flame of literature, law and tech they are shielding from the dark; and the threatening sky.

Chiefly, this is a character-driven story. We have an undramatic, lonely hero determined to do his best; a sly rogue of a villain who is masterful at manipulating civvie and scabbie minds alike; a sassy lady-doc who has made her choices. Add to that a pretty Martian schoolmarm with robotic mien and, possibly, a secret agenda.

Character-driven novels usually come at the cost of long scenes, backstory chapters and complex conversations that convey this attitude, that misunderstanding. Readers endure this while waiting for the exciting stuff. I was immediately struck that Mr. Eaton did not need to pay that price. For all we cared chiefly who saw through who, or who stood by who, each chapter ends with some event of adrenaline excitement or emotional satisfaction or shocked surprise.

Given that, it seems almost secondary to say the narrative quality is excellent, dialogue is first-rate. No one is delivering easy punches or easy lines; no cowboy cliché tobacco spitting. Not a single barroom fight.

I hope Mr. Eaton gives us a sequel. This is a rich setting he has established, with a terrific under-stated hero. I want to find out the truth of the GID war, and what is beyond the Scablands. If no sequel, then dammit, Eaton, do it again.
Five of five stars.

[Ginger Bensman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prairie Martian by Jonathan Eaton is an entertaining, often whimsical, yarn about Earth in a distant future when Martians, descendants of long ago Earthlings sent to create settlements on Mars, send a space ship back to begin the process of taking over the Earth. The novel blends genres (part western, part dystopian, part science fiction). The landscape is western-themed and post-apocalyptic, with characters that might have emerged straight out of a 1950’s western and they are uniformly well developed, consistent, and a lot of fun. The voice of the novel reminded me of N.M. Kelby’s Whale Season (another walloping good read). I felt that the ending (although very imaginative, intelligent, and potentially poetic) was rushed and not developed with the same thoughtful care and painstaking detail as the rest of the book

[Susan Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some very clever, and let’s say interesting, aspects of sci-fi story in this book. I liked the sheer inventiveness this author brought to this regularly visited genre. How often do we read similar plots and devices, but not the Prairie Martian. It’s full of surprises, wit and charm.
Set in the not-so-distant future the author really takes the reader on a ride while being true to the 1950’s western stories the book seems to be inspired by. I liked this book and would be happy to recommend it to any adult reader who needs a good laugh, and is willing to give this talented author complete control while the story lasts.

[Steve Kimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy SciFi then this is a strong recommendation to read this novel! Bold words and I’ll try to justify that.
A post apocalyptic Earth, 300 years after whatever conflict caused that, but we don’t need to know details. The story focuses on a rural township in the American West. For reasons that become clear the technology of the era remains somewhat less developed than before the war. Maybe people live a very early 20th century lifestyle. The community is hard working, well structured with their own laws and governance, understands its situation and how to survive. The wider region has some nomadic groups with whom relations are not always good, so there’s some security required. And into all this a spacecraft lands. It seems, from Mars. All this is in the book publicity and the story flows from there. Brilliantly too, I think.
The reaction of the small town mentality to this startling event, set against the background of their own marginal existence in the world, provides fertile avenues for a twisting, mysterious plot.

I sometimes use the phrase ‘this book almost read itself’ about the books I find no effort at all to read, where the words just flow off the page into my consciousness and I almost forget I’m reading. A bit trite, I know, but I think it’s that well written. Virtually no info dumps, you get all the necessary information you need about the world and its people from the story telling of the everyday life of this town. Great characters, very believable people, most with good and bad aspects. And unlike many excellent absorbing stories it actually has a good ending to match.

One complaint. I think the book cover accompanying the online publicity (I read the ebook so strictly speaking I don’t really have a book cover) is a bit cheesy and might give the impression that it could have old style Hollywood Western themes which it certainly doesn’t. No gunslinging Sheriffs (but a rather intelligent one) and no saloon bar molls!

A self published author, yet another talented one I’ve stumbled across (thanks to another excellent self published author I enjoy, who gave this book a good review on GR). If you read this and you don’t think it’s one of the most satisfying SciFi stories you’ve read then I’ll be surprised and you can take that up with me.
Easy 5*.

[I.M. Redwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This western set in an post apocalyptic world was really fun to read.

Witty, and with an adequate pacing. The plot was quite original and clever while the world building was detailed and coherent.

[Kathleen Garlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can almost hear the narrator’s drawl as he spins a very tall tale involving a very tall sheriff who might be his post-apocalyptic town’s best defense against roving bands of scavengers, mutated ticks, and a visitor from the planet Mars who goes by the name of Nancy.

The story begins with the after-the-fact arrival of an insect-shaped vessel captained by a young woman who claims to be a descendant of humans sent to colonize the planet Mars. She comes in peace, or so she claims, but it’s up to Sheriff Frank Westfall to find out what she’s really after.

This book was great fun. I enjoyed it all—the world-building, the plotline, and the characters, and especially the narrator’s ‘voice’. For the most part the story-telling sets a leisurely pace very much in tune with the sound of that voice. The story will get where it needs to go—no need to rush it—and get there it does, but at times I felt the pace was like a description made of the Sheriff himself. He was a very fast walker, but everyone in town could beat him at running. At times the narration stayed in that fast-paced walk, when perhaps it should have burst into a run. And oddly, the ending seemed a bit too fast, a bit too abrupt. I would have like more description. Actually, I would have enjoyed more description of some of the minor characters—at times it was hard to keep track of exactly who was who.

But these are minor nitpicks. I truly enjoyed The Prairie Martian and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a tall tale well-told.

[William Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nope, we’re not in Kansas anymore, or Wichita for that matter. We’re in New Halchita, not much more than a carbuncle on the back of the western plains. The dusty little town would have gone completely unnoticed for another century had it not been for the visitation of the “giant cast-iron cockroach the Martian (if that’s what it was) rode in on.”

Author Jonathan Eaton’s novels are not “your grandfather’s westerns,” as his later books, A Good Man for an Outlaw and Outlaws and Worse, so definitively prove. The Prairie Martian is no exception. Told with Eaton’s droll, pitch-black humor, it’s the story of a Martian who calls herself “Nancy,” come to earth for God-knows-what reason. But this is post-apocalyptic earth in the 25th century, still recovering from the great war (the GIW, but no one can remember what the letters stand for). It is earth like the mid-1800’s, before electronic technology, because orbiting high overhead are the last bitter words of advanced civilization: “lagamachies”—satellites programmed to obliterate any trace of higher technology.

Presiding over this Grand Guignol is Sheriff Frank Westfall, former “tick-juicer” (Oh, Mr. Eaton, what nightmares you must suffer!). For those of us old enough to remember, think James Arness, only taller.

Author Eaton draws us in with his lean, understated prose. The story is engaging, even thrilling at times, the world-building convincing, and the characters memorable. I give it a very enthusiastic thumbs-up.

[Michael Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought The Prairie Martian was a fun read. I never thought I’d describe a post-apocalyptic western as ‘fun’—one tends to expect a tense, grim, edgy, dirty, desperate drama from the post-apocalyptic genre—but The Prairie Martian sways more to the side of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash than Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. It might seem a small thing to mention in a review, but I particularly appreciate that the setup for ‘why the world is the way it is’ was done in about three sentences.

Jonathan Eaton has an easy-reading style packed with dry wit. The plot unfolds at a leisurely pace. I wouldn’t say it was slow or uninteresting, but the narrative is heavier on dialogue than action, i.e. you can expect more exchanges of banter than bullets. Four stars for an expertly-painted gunslinging sci-fi story complete with giant ticks, semi-sentient nuclear warheads and a Martian named Nancy.

[Robert McCarroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this book, I expected a postapocalyptic western, and was not surprised. The world is populated largely with gray hats, not too many saints left after the end. Most of the characters are hiding something, however major or minor, and possess identifiable flaws and foibles. These recognizable characters live in a fortified bubble of civilization in a very hostile world surrounded by mutant wildlife and nomad scavenger clans. Though it is not as dire as that descriptor might sound, as people have adapted to their situation, establishing a truce with the scavengers, and figuring out how to make use of at least some of the wildlife.

Into this somewhat stable status quo drops a craft from orbit with a single occupant looking human, and claiming to be from Mars. Naturally, this riles up both the townsfolk and the scavengers as everyone tries to either protect themselves or take advantage of the situation without knowing what the situation is. These schemes tumble over each other and intertwine as fortunes grow and fade as in any good western yarn. Like most of the people in and around New Halchita, the Martian is hiding her own secrets and agenda that pile onto the others.

The adventure and interplay was entertaining, but I can't say I ever took a liking to any character in particular. If I had any real complaints it would be the two scenes where the meeting minutes of the council were used instead of letting the scene play out, and the somewhat rushed ending.

[Valerie Albemarle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually read books in this genre, and was therefore blessed with freedom from expectations. I was pleasantly surprised on all counts. The writing is delightful and flawless, wistfully funny without trying to be so, with moments of profound wisdom and beauty all the better appreciated for their unexpectedness. This is of course very subjective, but this book reminded me of J.K.Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy" in its masterful reflection of the human condition. The setting is closer to the 19th century than the 25th due to a setback suffered by human civilization, and the author's Dickensian style is perfect for describing the lives and times of his characters. The elements of science fiction, described in lively and convincing detail, did not disturb the flow of the story but rather reminded me that human nature does not change.

[Hester Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/dystopian genres places me way out of my comfort zone so I approached this book with more than a little trepidation. I needn’t have worried. Despite the giant ticks, lagamachies, Scabs in their inhospitable Scablands, Scavengers and packs of lobos, there was no obvious spilling of human entrails or grey matter.
There were, instead, in-depth explanations like the “art” of milking juice from ticks for medicinal purposes, a practice involving considerable skill from a juicer. After mounting the sparring beast a juicer had to “plunge a knife between its dorsal shield and capitulum, severing the nerves leading to its brain, remove the adanal shields, lift out the salivary glands and squeeze out the precious ticktox”.
Now, if that isn’t a description of the writer having fun, I don’t know what is. I found myself being caught up in Jonathan Eaton’s writing exuberance, which helped me lose my squeamish side for the moment. He has a wonderfully unimpeded imagination. His writing is droll and unsentimental without an ounce of self-pity for the main character, Sheriff Westfall, who describes himself as Nothing Westfall after his fall from grace. Several other characters are also well developed and interesting.
The story begins in 2473 when a beautiful Martian with questionable motives lands her spaceship in a beanfield in mid-Western New Halchita. The well-constructed story soon captured and held my attention. There’s romance, many twists, dry humour and some overly long, but good descriptions of human-like machinery and scenes, all ending in what I felt was a slightly blunt finish. Did this intentionally leave the way open for a sequel? Overall I enjoyed the book, but took off points for blasphemy, and rate it 3.5 stars.

[Kyle Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prairie Martian was, in short, a lot better than I thought it would be.

When I picked up the book, the cover didn't inspire me, and the first chapter didn't catch me immediately. The prose seemed overly windy and drawn out. But when the moody narration of the book set into its groove, time began to fly by, and before I knew it I had consumed a third of the tale. The pacing drew me in, and not a chapter went by without something happening that made me wonder what was next.

The Prairie Martian advertises as Science Fiction, but it is also a Western, a Mystery, and most importantly, a slice of life story. The elements of all the characters' lives are bound seamlessly into one another, and watching the unfolding of day-to-day life in New Halchita is entertaining, even though I was not emotionally attached to many of the characters. The greatest feat of this story is how it takes those elements of everyday life in a dangerous prairie and weaves each one into the plot. Though there were entire chapters devoted to someone's daily life or romantic escapades, each piece contributed to the whole.

The story wouldn't make much sense if you even removed the most trivial chapter.

So buy this book if you like a good mystery, if you like stories to unfold where all of the pieces come together, and if you like science fiction worlds that make pretty good sense. This story is written exactly as it needs to be to do what it wants to do.

Don't buy this book if you're looking for an epic, grandiose adventure, or a close-knit story focused on one character. The Prairie Martian emulates a town, connects many intimate plots, and leaves the reader satisfied with an ending that sums it all up.

4.5 stars, but I had to round up.

[M.M. Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I didn't know what to expect with this one. I will say the cover art made me a little wary, because I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea, so to speak. But how surprised was I by this zany, pithy, complex sci fi story that goes far beyond a Western but has all the elements of one. I really like the author's style. What a fun summer read.