Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece of suspense and information.
Review: This historical novel tells the harrowing events of the 1836 battle of the Alamo; and it does so with admirable objectivity, showing the Mexican as well as the American side. Americans tend to improvise a one-sided epic and glorify Jim Bowie, William Travis, and David Crockett as noble heroes, whom Webster's Dictionary misnames "US soldiers". This is a misnomer because these characters were rebels and insurrectionists, not fighting for the U.S., but for grabbing land from the legitimate state of Mexico. "Land pirates" would be a more correct term. No wonder then that Santa Anna, the off-and-on-again "el presidente" and commander-in-chief, hoisted the red flag over the town of Bexar. Harrigan's story abhors stereotypes, depicts American and Mexican cruelty alike, and shows an objectivity some might rightly call raw realism. Certainly, this isn't a book for queasy stomachs. Still, there is a margin of love and beauty: the dedication of a mother to her strong-minded son, the care extended to the hurt and dying, and the splendor of nature - if and when she's in the mood, which is not too frequently. In any case, omnipotent nature assigns human action its trivial place in the universe and its ephemeral span in history. Apparently Harrigan knows a good deal about botany, and through the character of Edmund McGowan, sprinkles interesting information about Texan flora. These and other tibits of information,(ie. the raiding Comanches), enrich the novel and give it the texture of reality. Rarely has historical fiction been so well written and suspensefully presented. A masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: A Moving Experience
Review: It is rare to read a book that holds one spellbound and really caring for these characters, fictional though they may be. The characterizations are extraordinary and brings to "Alamo-atics" a new perspective that is much more real and human than the cold, historical explanations of the battle. We come to know that these were real people caught up in events that were extraordinarily horrific. I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Why did Texas seek independence from Mexico?
Review: I will admit that I have not read the book yet. I did read however the customer reviews to see if this book shows a more enlightened version of the battle. A version different from what Hollywood and the Lone Star State will have Americans believe. They did not. Not one review touched on WHY Texas set out to form its own nation. One main reason was that Mexico had OUTLAWED slavery, which was incomprehensible to (white) Texians. I'm sure that the men on both sides fought bravely, but the Anglos fought to OWN slaves. If this fact is not mentioned than this piece of work is more fictional than historical. Thus many people may find it hard to see the Texians as the "good guys". This may upset some people, mostly Texans, but look it up. It is the truth. However I will read the book and write an honest and full review. I bet you Texans can't wait!
Rating:
Summary: Plodding through history
Review: Stephen Harrigans's book takes longer to read than it did for Santa Anna's troops thomarch to Bexar and lay siege before the brief but galvanizing battle. Harrigan chooses to show all the heroes of Texas with all their warts and in the end fails to acknowledge what a loosely organized band of malcontents managed to accomplish. I'm not a native Texan but I have taken the time to learn the history of the state. While everything Harrigan says about Bowie, Crockett, Travis, Houston and Austin is correct, it is incomplete. These were men of great courage and vision. Did Houston fight a different war than Washington did against the Brisish? No. Washington knew the only important battle to win was the last one and if he could stretch the enemies supply lines then cut them off he would eventually win. Houston's "reluctance" to engage Santa Anna until the Mexicans were demoralized and had no supply lines is the same battle. The fact that Bowie was a drunken philanderer doesn't change the fact that he was a brilliant motivator of men. The fact that Crockett was more politian than warrior doesn't detract from the spirit he brought to the battle. Travis was young but he inspired men to follow him to a hell called the Alamo and make a stand for independence. Harrigan does Texas history a grave injustice. Let us not forget names like Lee, Jefferson, Hamilton, Lafite without whom we would still be british citizen. They were as far from perfect as the Texas heroes were. As a book I found the plot drawn out and overly complicated. Too many subplots that failed to tie in with the story or add to character development. Most disappointing were the characters themselves. I found I cared little for Mary, McGown, Terrell, or any of the other minor fictious characters. Beyond destroying the reputations of some great men because of their human weaknesses, he fails to develop one sympathetic character except maybe the parrot.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: If the history books I read in graduate school were as good as this work of historical history, the school experience would have been 100% better. Congratulations to the author for a fine work of historical research and the wonderful fictional characters he writes about in the context of this famous event in Texas history. I wish readers who aren't Texans or have some other ties to Texas would give this historical novel a try. It was a truly excellent, well-written story.
Rating:
Summary: A superb read!
Review: A superb read! The characters in this book are unforgetable. I can't recommend it highly enough. Get it. You won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful surprise!
Review: I recently moved to Texas and picked up Gates of the Alamo with the hope of learning a bit of Texas history in a fictional work. What I discovered was a wonderful work of historical fiction. I think I may have learned more of the true spirit of the Alamo in this fictional work than some of the non-fiction I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Smelling the dirt and blood!
Review: The imagery in this book will stay with me a long time. I'm not particularly a fan of American historical fiction and bought this for my husband, but after "scanning" the first few pages, I was pulled in and found it difficult to put down. The characterization was wonderful and the interaction of the different characters both Mexican and Texian was believable and memorable. Toured the Alamo once with a disinterested attitude; now I have so much more respect for those individuals who played such an important part in our country's history. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: An incomparable work of historical fiction
Review: Texas, like Israel, is reexamining its founding myths, and this novel is a constructive contribution to that process. It brings an epic down to earth in an unsparing yet wholly engaging manner. The historical characters are rendered as accurately as contemporary scholarship can manage; the fictitious characters are fully-realized and not out of place to the least degree. In particular the author humanizes the Mexicans -- from Santa Anna on down -- and tells their side of the story with rare sympathy.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable
Review: Frankly, if you are looking for a book that is enjoyable to read and informs you of a particular event or time period, then I would recommend this book. However, I found the storyline in this book to be very formulaic and typical of historical fiction novels, of which I have read several. There is the typical romance that never quite seems to turn out as the focus of the book with little side plots that are also rather predictable. If you are looking for a historical fiction book, I would suggest reading something like Exodus by Leon Uris or Shakespeare, which actually leaves you with something after you have finished the book. However, Mr. Harrigan's facts seem to be very reliable and accurate, and he does give you a feel for the time from both sides of the battle. All things considered, I would suggest taking the time you would have spent reading this book and doing something constructive with it.
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