Wild Country

Rating:
Summary: An old favorite... need to get a new copy.
Review: All right, the disclaimers first. The narrative voice in this book is definitely male. There is machismo everywhere and a lot of excess in the characters. The Texan accent is very accurate and (given that it's set in a post-apocalyptic future) very strong.

This the third book in a three-part story covering the life of Ted Quantrell, a man with the most incredible set of reflexes in Wild Country (the Southwest United States). Set in the years after a dictatorial regime had been removed from power, Wild Country is quite capable of standing alone, but I recommend Systemic Shock and Single Combat, as many stories in the series come to a resolution in this book.
In short, illegal drugs are being funneled into the U.S. by a mastermind skilled not only in the world politics of drug running, but also in self-preservation. Old Rule 1: the good guy is only as interesting as the bad guy, this guy makes the hero look good. He is efficient and ruthless, and utterly charming. Taking parts of the ride from the nemesis perspective is not only enlightening, but entertaining.
Ing does a magnificent job of capturing the essence of many Texas legends, creating a cast of players that are not only entertaining, but utterly believable (if you've ever lived in Texas, that is) and lovable. The action scenes were very clear, giving me a great visual of the events and clearly defining what was happening.

There are moments of philosophical discussion, done in plain ol' Texas talk, that aren't at all tasking to read. The overall tone of the book is a rough-hewn western that happens to have science fiction elements built into it, and never does the science take a front seat to the story.

If you like Louis L'Amour, Robert Jordan's Conan series or just enjoy an action-read now and then, I recommend this book for you.