Rating: 
Summary: A missed opportunity
Review: When I first saw this book on the shelves, I picked it up immediately. As I read it, I realized what a missed opportunity it was. Unlike The Killer Angels which tells the story of Gettysburg through the principal characters which participated in that fateful event, Gates of the Alamo instead follows three fictional characters who play out a cheesy and underdeveloped drama. Had Harrigan just allowed the readers to go through the story with Travis, Crockett and others, it would have been so much more effective when these men meet their fates at the alamo. To its credit, Harrigan spares no details when it comes to the battle scene in the end. He depicts it with gruesome and minute detail. An overall good read but it loses a few stars because of wooden dialogue and boring characters. It tries to reach the glorious heights of Killer Angels but never quite makes it.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best historical novel
Review: As a buff of historical novels, I am probably a little more discriminating than most when it comes to critiquing a book such as "Gates of the Alamo." That said, I will admit that Harrigan's novel, while entertaining and worth putting on your summer reading list, fell short in some ways. Since I did not know too much about Texas history other than what I learned in elementary school textbooks, I hoped that "Gates of the Alamo" would give me a taste (fictional, at least) of what it was like to be in Texas in the 1830's. Thanks to this book, I have a better idea of why Texas seceded from Mexico, but this book failed to fully flesh out its characters in the same vein as, say, Clavell's "Shogun" and Jennings' "Aztec." Although the storylines were provocative, the characters were somewhat bland and uninspiring. Harrigan could have taken advantage of these rather interesting storylines to further develop his characters, but, instead, he just stops right there and pushes too quickly ahead with the story. Even after finishing this book, I still could never get a very real sense of why the norteamericanos (Texans) wanted to break off from Mexico and stake out its own path, other than the usual palaver about corrupt government, inefficient economies, and just plain being too far from Mexico City. His writing style also does not lend itself to inspiration or sophistication. At times, his descriptions and observations of various events seem awkward and a bit corny. Perhaps the best part of Harrigan's novel is the way he brings to light the competing priorities of the Mexican and Texan characters, and the way he brings the characters together to an earth-shaking climax at the Alamo. You could only wonder how everyone came out once the smoke and dust cleared from the Alamo. Granted, the violence was a bit too much, as some other reviewers had complained, but then again, there were no video cameras in the 1830's and soldiers then had a little more license to do whatever they wanted without being judged by society. All in all, an interesting read, but nothing to shout about.
Rating: 
Summary: Heroes in Flesh & Blood
Review: I really enjoy reading history books, but even the best non-fiction author cannot make the people about whom he is writing really come alive. It's not the fault of the author, it's just that he's constrained by the facts of what happened. This author has taken an event about which a lot is known, and added his own unique take on the historical people involved. He has created fictional folks also, and used them as the "hook" upon which to hang the story line. I enjoyed his characterization of David Crockett, a much different person from the one portrayed by Fess Parker, coonskin cap and all. You can really get involved in this story, and even though you know how it will end, the author involves you in his tale so much that you keep hoping everything will be different. That's the mark of great writing.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Book
Review: I just finished reading this book, and went back re-reading several chapters in the book, to etch it in my mind forever. I did not want to finish this book, as it stirred my feelings so much. The inter-character plot was more interesting than any of the historical context that was portrayed . I loved this work, reading it and especially the part where Edmund McGowan returns to Mary Mott's to share his last days on earth with her, after fleeing from the Alamo. It showed us,that no matter what we think, we still need love and kindness to have a place in life. ps.....To read that Professor was still alive warmed my heart too. I liked this work....simple as that.
Rating:
Summary: A glorious book that has nothing to do with glory
Review: The Gates of the Alamo is the most compelling fiction I have read in the past year. But don't be misled: the masterful weaving of well-researched historical fact into this drama makes it a virtual must for those studying the period. I have read reviews that treat the famous siege as the centerpiece of this story. But it is not. The real centerpiece is human emotion; the emotions of individuals and groups, colonists and armies, officers and soldiers. It tells the story, through the views of several key (though fictional) characters of the sweeping emotions that led two opposing factions to abandon any attempts to reconcile and to choose, instead, to prove their point by force. Yet, it is the story of these characters that compels you to read. You feel for them. You suffer with them. You want to shout at them to just open up to each other. You wonder how they or the actual people of those times could survive the deprivations they face. It is a tragic story but also one that fills you with optimism over the indomitable spirit and endurance of such frail creatures as ourselves. The historic protagonists are all there, but only observed--sometimes kindly and sometimes unkindly. Only one of them, Travis' slave Joe, is allowed to make his own observations of the desperate situation. I could not wait to see what happened to the central characters and yet, I did not want to see the book end. At nearly 600 pages, it took me surprisingly little time to get there--largely because I was so engrossed in the book that I used my free time for little else. This immediately joined my list of my favorite reads of all time. Enjoy it and allow yourself to be moved by it. Whether or not you agree with the facts as they are represented, that is not the point of the book. When you finish, you will want to go back and read it again.
Rating:
Summary: The Gates of the Alamo
Review: The Gates of the Alamo is the most moving book I have read in a very long time. The vocabulary makes you feel like a grown-up. The descriptions are poignant. You will feel such emotion you must put the book down - even though you do not want to... the characters are so real, you like some and greatly dislike others for you come to know their inner spirits; there are many separate scenarios, both Texian and Mexican; you cannot wait for the book to end, but truly don't want it to. The slaughter is horrifying. One will more easily understand the Alamo's participants and their sacrifices. This is a book I would recommend to every lover of books, and this book is one to read again next year.
Rating: 
Summary: The Feeling Of Being There
Review: I really like this book. Unlike most historical novels, this book doesn't waste time on recounting all the details of a major historical event. Instead of impressing the readers with his vast knowledge of Texas history, Mr. Harrigan places us back in time with no guide. We see the Texas Revolution as ordinary citizens saw it; without the benefit of TV news or telephones. We hear rumors and see the aftermath of battles. In the Alamo, we see only that which is before our eyes, oblivious to what's going on just ten feet away. That is how the citizens of Tejas saw things. That is REAL history. If you want facts about the Texas Revolution, then go buy a history book. If you want a time machine to transport you to the Battle of The Alamo, the you must buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: An epic adventure during the Texas revolution
Review: While I felt the book was bit too long, it was however filled with interesting and colorful characters, great descriptions of the lonely vastness of Texas and the hardy folk who peopled that region. Mr. Harrigan did a good job of blending in fact, lore and some good dialog between the characters. His viewpoint from the Mexican side of events was well done and well researched and with some terrific character cross over meetings. The march of Santa Anna's army during their northern advance was excellently told. The growing unrest between the Texians and the Mexicans was captured in such a fashion as to make both side clearly understood. I did find the main character of Mary a tad boring at times, her broken nose was a nice touch, but she seemed to be propelled by guilt through the entire book. The botonist was pretty colorless and flat in my viewpoint. He just didn't seem to fit the role but maybe that was the intent. When the storyline is directed into the events at the Alamo, the book excels. The chapters about the actual battle and the aftermath were superbly written, drawing the reader into the darkness and misery and fear that must have stood beside each defender. I liked the concept of Crockett leaving the compound to seek reinforcements, based on fact I've read. But there was no mention of one Louis Rose, who actually left the Alamo before the place was sealed off and the reference of rockets being used by Santa Ana was a pleasant surprise. The author did mention red flags being used to signal "no quarter, no prisoners" but he did not mention the "deguello" (from the Spanish verb that meant "to slit the throat"- degollar, which was the sorrowful, somber and haunting bugle tune. I felt this was a powerful instrument to instill fear in one's enemies and was used by Santa Ana for several years before the Alamo. All in all, the novel was lengthy but rich in detail, good balance of characters and their lives, graphic scenes involving the Goliad massacre and the fight inside the Alamo itself. A worthy topic of a TV or cable mini series. I highly recommend the old Republic flim "The Last Command" with Serling Hayden as a good partner to this novel. It is available through Amazon and worth checking out.
Rating:
Summary: Good Story Told Fairly
Review: Well told story with fair treatment of the Mexican point of view through realistic portrayals of Mexican officers and troops and General Santa Anna's strengths as well as weaknesses. For a similar well written novel of the Texas Revolution, with particular coverage of Fannin's battle and surrender at Coleto Creek followed by the Palm Sunday massacre at Goliad which claimed 400 lives, read Elizabeth Crook's Promised Lands. Much better depiction of the final encounter at San Jacinto. If you liked Gates of the Alamo, I don't think Promised Lands will disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: A truly fine historical novel
Review: This past weekend I was in a local bookstore, seeking something interesting to read. Nothing really caught my fancy, and then I happened to notice a thick novel: "The Gates of the Alamo" by Stephen Harrigan. I must admit that at first impulse I was skeptical; after all, the Alamo is one of those topics which lends itself to paeans filled with noble, square-jawed heroes who die nobly and heroically, with rifle in hand and a patriotic sentiment on their lips. But, a glance at the large number of very favorable comments from reviewers (and not all from Texas, which is important since many Texans tend not to be entirely rational when discussing the Alamo) convinced me that the book might be worth a try. "The Gates of the Alamo" is told from the viewpoint of half a dozen characters, both Mexican and "norteamericano". All of these characters are fictional, except for Joe, Colonel Travis's slave (about whom we actually know very little from history), so we see the familiar central figures of the Alamo story -- Travis, Bowie, Crockett, Santa Ana, Sam Houston -- from a distance. This allows Harrigan to hold firm to his stated goal of "absolute fidelity to the truth of the events" without having to resort to invented motivations and thoughts of historical figures. And he does an excellent job of constructing his story on a sturdy framework of genuine history. Certainly there are many elements of Alamo history which are open to varying interpretations, but Harrigan stays close to those events for which there is persuasive evidence. Undoubtedly, there are those who will not be happy with some of Harrigan's depictions of some of the traditional Alamo heroes. No, none are presented as villains, but they may be a little less than twelve feet tall. Unquestionably the most attractive of them is David Crockett, drawn as a genial man instinctively drawn to practicing personal politics with everyone he meets, but underneath all that, a man who is both goodhearted and, well, heroic. "The Gates of the Alamo" is more than a recounting of a famous battle, however. Indeed, the Alamo is not even seen until the halfway mark of the novel. Before the first Mexican soldier rides into San Antonio de Bexar, we are already deeply involved with the personal stories of the viewpoint characters and, through them, we have come to understand much about the "Texian" settlers and the Mexican army. And the attraction of those personal stories cannot be discounted either; they are complex, very real people walking through the pages of the novel. They include a character as unexpected as Edmund McGowan, a natural scientist who has spent the past ten years as a botanist under contract to the Mexican government to study the plants of Texas; he frequently finds himself distracted by the sight of some flower as yet undescribed in scientific literature or by the flight of magnificent flocks of birds overhead. When the final battle of the Alamo does come, Harrigan provides a powerful, intense picture of desperate combat, a battle deeply involving people with whom we have become intimately familiar. Neither glamorous nor a simplistic "war is terrible" diatribe, it is a realistic portrait of what happened that morning. "The Gates of the Alamo" stands head and shoulders above most historical novels.
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