What do you think?
Rate this book
SOUTHING: Escape of the Rebels
The Confederacy crushed. The South ruined. Three men must escape or hang. Sanctuary is offered in far off Brazil. In the dark days between the end of the American Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction, Liam Conner, Gabe Luna, and Telamon Simms run for their lives, aided by a notorious fixer, an ex-blockade runner, and a motley crew of gunfighters. A new start as "Confederados" awaits them as Rebel expatriates, but for now, their lives and the lives of their families are in the hands of others. Can they survive?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2016
6 people want to read
About the author
Steven D. Malone
7 books31 followersI received a BA in History from the University of Houston. I have been a teacher of life skills and work skills to special needs students, adjudicated youth, and the visually impaired as well as College English. I am a published author and have been a writers coach.
I am a voracious reader of anything from historical fiction to cosmology to the backs of cereal boxes. My interests include ancient and Dark Age history, the Civil War and the American West, Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, and classic movies. I am also a certified teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. In my life I have been a drifter, a beach bum, a library page, a book store clerk, a teacher and a construction worker. Presently, I am a happy husband and proud father of a son and two cats. Find me at: stevenspen.com
I am a voracious reader of anything from historical fiction to cosmology to the backs of cereal boxes. My interests include ancient and Dark Age history, the Civil War and the American West, Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, and classic movies. I am also a certified teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. In my life I have been a drifter, a beach bum, a library page, a book store clerk, a teacher and a construction worker. Presently, I am a happy husband and proud father of a son and two cats. Find me at: stevenspen.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 2, 2019
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Fast moving plot of many characters and locations
February 3, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Kindle Unlimited
I really enjoyed this book - well drawn, sometimes fascinating characters, interesting locales reasonably accurate history, but therein lies one of the small problems which I have with the novel. Victoria, not Elizabeth, was queen of Great Britain in 1865. The French officer offering a toast would certainly have known that.
Cap and ball revolvers in widespread military usage, both north and south, were .36 and .44 caliber. There was a small percentage in such calibers as .28 and .31 but not .45. The .45 Colt was a metallic cartridge not a cap and ball round. It was not yet available in 1865. If memory serves, it was first available in 1871.
The C.S.S. Albemarle was not a prototype left incomplete at the end of the war. She mounted two 6.4 inch rifled pivot guns, not three guns. Her speed was about 4 knots. Not nearly fast enough for the ship in the story. She did engage in combat and caused the Union a bit of trouble until Lt. Cushing sank her with a spar torpedo. If Mr. Malone wanted to invent an exceptionally fast Confederate ironclad taken over by the Union at the end of the war, he should have invented the name as well. I first thought that he could have used the French built C.S.S. Stonewall which the Union did actually take at the end of the war and did carry three guns, but at a little over 10 knots even she was not fast enough for Mr. Malone's interesting plot twist.
Mr. Malone's description of the shape of his fast ironclad is pretty accurate for most casement ironclads of the era though the aft portion of the casement being left open is odd and that feature is not used in the plot. The cover art however, appears to have been done by someone who never saw a picture of a real Confederate ironclad, but had seen the fantasy drawings which appeared in Union papers during the war.
Other historical inaccuracies are minor and would probably go unnoticed by all except Civil War historians, professional and amateur.
The ship appears because of Joshua Stanton's over complicated plot for revenge. If there was a clearer explanation of how much money he would also make, the plot would be a little easier to accept. It, as well as a few other things in the book, requires a willing suspension of disbelief. But, so does a lot of fiction.
At the very beginning of the book it is revealed that Stanton is a homosexual. For most of the book this bit of information appears to be completely unnecessary and nothing more than arbitrary political correctness. However, by the end, that information is integral to the plot and to understanding Stanton. Well done.
There are a few editing problems. The most noticeable being the lack of warning or delineation when the scene switches to different locales and characters.
A bit of editing and some small amount of additional explanation and this would be a five star novel.
SOUTHING is available via Kindle Unlimited as is SIDESHOW AT HONEY CREEK featuring some of the same characters in an earlier adventure. I have already downloaded it.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Fast moving plot of many characters and locations
February 3, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Kindle Unlimited
I really enjoyed this book - well drawn, sometimes fascinating characters, interesting locales reasonably accurate history, but therein lies one of the small problems which I have with the novel. Victoria, not Elizabeth, was queen of Great Britain in 1865. The French officer offering a toast would certainly have known that.
Cap and ball revolvers in widespread military usage, both north and south, were .36 and .44 caliber. There was a small percentage in such calibers as .28 and .31 but not .45. The .45 Colt was a metallic cartridge not a cap and ball round. It was not yet available in 1865. If memory serves, it was first available in 1871.
The C.S.S. Albemarle was not a prototype left incomplete at the end of the war. She mounted two 6.4 inch rifled pivot guns, not three guns. Her speed was about 4 knots. Not nearly fast enough for the ship in the story. She did engage in combat and caused the Union a bit of trouble until Lt. Cushing sank her with a spar torpedo. If Mr. Malone wanted to invent an exceptionally fast Confederate ironclad taken over by the Union at the end of the war, he should have invented the name as well. I first thought that he could have used the French built C.S.S. Stonewall which the Union did actually take at the end of the war and did carry three guns, but at a little over 10 knots even she was not fast enough for Mr. Malone's interesting plot twist.
Mr. Malone's description of the shape of his fast ironclad is pretty accurate for most casement ironclads of the era though the aft portion of the casement being left open is odd and that feature is not used in the plot. The cover art however, appears to have been done by someone who never saw a picture of a real Confederate ironclad, but had seen the fantasy drawings which appeared in Union papers during the war.
Other historical inaccuracies are minor and would probably go unnoticed by all except Civil War historians, professional and amateur.
The ship appears because of Joshua Stanton's over complicated plot for revenge. If there was a clearer explanation of how much money he would also make, the plot would be a little easier to accept. It, as well as a few other things in the book, requires a willing suspension of disbelief. But, so does a lot of fiction.
At the very beginning of the book it is revealed that Stanton is a homosexual. For most of the book this bit of information appears to be completely unnecessary and nothing more than arbitrary political correctness. However, by the end, that information is integral to the plot and to understanding Stanton. Well done.
There are a few editing problems. The most noticeable being the lack of warning or delineation when the scene switches to different locales and characters.
A bit of editing and some small amount of additional explanation and this would be a five star novel.
SOUTHING is available via Kindle Unlimited as is SIDESHOW AT HONEY CREEK featuring some of the same characters in an earlier adventure. I have already downloaded it.
January 2, 2017
The Civil War is over. It has ended badly for the South. Facing the harsh realities of Reconstruction, and with the greater part of their livelihood destroyed, thousands of Confederates, both civilians and returning veterans have made a heart-wrenching decision. They will flee to Mexico or South America to attempt to rebuild their lives. Some are simply displaced members of a society that no longer exists. Others are alleged war criminals on the run from Federal troops. Against the background of this largely unreported chapter in American history, Steven Malone brings us his intriguing and action-filled novel "Southing; Escape of the Rebels".
From diverse settings such as south-central Texas to New Orleans, Natchez, Galveston, and Matamoras, Mexico “fugitives” gather in an attempt to reunite their families and reach a ship that will help them to run the Yankee blockade. We again meet characters who first appeared in Malone’s earlier novel "Sideshow at Honey Creek" and are introduced to a new group of fleeing families.
The story is a bit difficult to follow in the beginning with the new characters and depiction of action in the various venues. Things, however, soon become much clearer as we become more familiar with the characters and their circumstances. Any early confusion quickly dissipates and the story is well-worth the journey as these diverse groups of characters begin to interact with each other. The action is hard-charging and does not let up.
As with "Sideshow at Honey Creek", weather plays a key role – from soaking rain to the lung-choking heat and dust of Emperor Maximillian’s Mexico. So also do side characters such as Mexico’s rebel bands known as Jauristas, rogue bandits, and Maximillian’s occupying troops.
The story builds to a heart-pounding, and unexpected ending that will leave the reader both fulfilled and wanting more. I highly recommend this well-done sequel to "Sideshow at Honey Creek". It can be read as a stand-alone but I strongly recommend reading that novel first. I rate this book at four solid, well-deserved stars.
From diverse settings such as south-central Texas to New Orleans, Natchez, Galveston, and Matamoras, Mexico “fugitives” gather in an attempt to reunite their families and reach a ship that will help them to run the Yankee blockade. We again meet characters who first appeared in Malone’s earlier novel "Sideshow at Honey Creek" and are introduced to a new group of fleeing families.
The story is a bit difficult to follow in the beginning with the new characters and depiction of action in the various venues. Things, however, soon become much clearer as we become more familiar with the characters and their circumstances. Any early confusion quickly dissipates and the story is well-worth the journey as these diverse groups of characters begin to interact with each other. The action is hard-charging and does not let up.
As with "Sideshow at Honey Creek", weather plays a key role – from soaking rain to the lung-choking heat and dust of Emperor Maximillian’s Mexico. So also do side characters such as Mexico’s rebel bands known as Jauristas, rogue bandits, and Maximillian’s occupying troops.
The story builds to a heart-pounding, and unexpected ending that will leave the reader both fulfilled and wanting more. I highly recommend this well-done sequel to "Sideshow at Honey Creek". It can be read as a stand-alone but I strongly recommend reading that novel first. I rate this book at four solid, well-deserved stars.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews