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Spanish Bit Saga, Volume One

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Hall of Famer, Don Coldsmith delivers the critically acclaimed frontier series in a revamped collection!

Juan Garcia rode as an arrogant conquistador into the heart of an unexplored continent. One day, on a lone patrol, he was injured and lost. He knew he had little chance of surviving or of ever returning to his homeland. But what happened from that day forward made a different man of Juan Garcia.

He embarked upon a greater adventure than any he could have imagined. For instead of hostility, he discovered a people who showed him a new way of life. And he, in turn, brought them a talisman, the Spanish Bit, that forever transformed their society.

He taught his adopted people to ride and fight, to defy death and be victorious. Slowly, at first, they learned the ways of the magnificent animals that Garcia brought them. Soon, none could stand against them, and the once cowering and timid People became lords of the American Great Plains.

“Coldsmith does his usual solid job of bringing this historical culture to life.” – Publishers Weekly

Spanish Bit Saga Volume One includes: Trail of the Spanish Bit, The Elk-Dog Heritage, Follow the Wind, Buffalo Medicine and Man of the Shadows.

1064 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2021

236 people are currently reading
39 people want to read

About the author

Don Coldsmith

64 books65 followers
Don Coldsmith was an American author of primarily Western fiction. A past president of Western Writers of America, Coldsmith wrote more than 40 books, as well as and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. His “Spanish Bit Saga,” a series of related novels, helped to re-define the Western novel by adopting the point of view of the Native Americans, rather than the European immigrants.

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Donadee's Corner.
2,648 reviews64 followers
February 8, 2022
Don Coldsmith – Spanish Bit Saga Vol 1 – Reviewed 2/7/22 – Read 1/30-2/1/22

The Spanish conquistador Juan Garcia arrives in the new world and loses his arrogance by accident.

Juan Garcia was sent to explore the new world and bring home the gold that was told to be there. One day on patrol, he becomes lost and injured. The People found him, and Juan figured he could follow them and find food, water, and maybe even help. As he removed his helmet, the people marveled that he could remove his head, so they called him “Heads Off.” Juan eventually joined the People and became a member of the tribe. This book is a collection of stories about how this all came about, and though the storyline is fictional, the history is not.

Join Juan Garcia as he becomes one with The People, and history begins…

What did I like? Of course, by now, everyone knows that I grew up with the Jemez Indians in New Mexico. There is Native American blood in my ancestry, and I have a deep love for the Indian way of life. This history was not unknown to me, but it becomes so much easier to understand the significance of the connections by combining it with Don's storyline.

What will you like? In addition to the history side of this storyline, you will learn a lot about the way of life for the Native Americans and how they lived on a day-to-day basis, in addition to the beliefs that they hold dear to them. Get your copy of the “Spanish Bit Gaga, Vol 1” by Don Coldsmith today!!!

• ASIN: B09K3J1KL1
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 2/14/2022
• File Size: 3360 KB
• Print Length: 1064 pages
• Genre: Louis L'Amour Westerns, Classic American Fiction, Pulp Thrillers
944 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2025
Fascinating!

This is a compilation of several books featuring the Elk-Dog People, a composite of the various Plains tribes, through several generations. Unfortunately, it begins long after the arrival of Heads Off, a Spanish soldier who joined the People and effectively brought the horse to the Plains Indians. As the story progresses through later books and generations, the English and French military expeditions and explorers intrude further into the lives of the People, disrupting their way of life.

The vivid descriptions and characterizations bring the time, place, and people to life in a way that gratifies me greatly as a reader.
137 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2022
Great book!

When Juan , a young soldier sent to New Spain gets injured when he fell from his horse, he wake up with Indians staring at him. At that time the Indians think he's a god. This book was funny at times and kept me interested throughout. One of the best books I've read.
200 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2023
Great Read

20 words, nor 10,000 words, can adequately describe the wonderful story being written here. This is truly a blessed writing and can be appreciated by those people who can open their hearts and minds to other cultures.
75 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2021
An excellent well written story . I had a hard time putting it down . I trust you will enjoy it .
Profile Image for Sandra Lou Taylor.
29 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2022
I found myself respecting American Indian culture in a whole new way. It is a fast but satisfying read. I'll read more of this author's books.
142 reviews2 followers
December 4, 2022
Great read

Really enjoyed this volume. I will continue reading this author and highly recommend this series. Will probably look for all of Don Coldsmith’s book books.
2 reviews
August 24, 2025
The author creates a book you cannot put down.

So much research has gone into this story. Thank you for your convincing stories of our original native Americans. Great!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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