Six Gun Planet

Rating:
Summary: Dissecting the wild west on another world....
Review: John Jakes examines the mythical western gunslinger and the environment that spawned him in this vivid science-fiction/western. The "civilized" government of the planet Missouri was overthrown by revolutionaries who have embraced the lifestyle and culture of the United States' Old West frontier. Suspicious of technology, the denizens of Missouri nevertheless ride robot horses and drink synthetic liquor to pass the time on a planet whose main source of income comes from exporting western souveniers (i.e. miniature outhouses, wagons, revolvers, etc.), staging gunfights for tourists, and providing "living antiques" in the form of gunfighters being placed on other planets as zoo specimans. Zak Randolf of the Cosmic Confederation (Cosfed) is employed in all these capacities, while pursuing his own artistic craft of sculpting jewelry out of phorospores (a type of mineral/plant capable of emitting its own light). Not being a native of Missouri, Zak despises the the violent nature of the world's inhabitants, and preaches about the education and pacifism of more "civilized" planets. But when Zak is challenged by the infamous gunslinger Buffalo Yung, he won't be able to quietly walk away. Mr. Jakes does a masterful job of showing us the degradation of a man who has lived his whole life based on principles, then having those prinicples fail him when he needs them the most. To say any more would give too much away. A fascinating read.

Rating:
Summary: Dissecting the wild west on another world....
Review: John Jakes examines the mythical western gunslinger and the environment that spawned him in this vivid science-fiction/western. The "civilized" government of the planet Missouri was overthrown by revolutionaries who have embraced the lifestyle and culture of the United States' Old West frontier. Suspicious of technology, the denizens of Missouri nevertheless ride robot horses and drink synthetic liquor to pass the time on a planet whose main source of income comes from exporting western souveniers (i.e. miniature outhouses, wagons, revolvers, etc.), staging gunfights for tourists, and providing "living antiques" in the form of gunfighters being placed on other planets as zoo specimans. Zak Randolf of the Cosmic Confederation (Cosfed) is employed in all these capacities, while pursuing his own artistic craft of sculpting jewelry out of phorospores (a type of mineral/plant capable of emitting its own light). Not being a native of Missouri, Zak despises the the violent nature of the world's inhabitants, and preaches about the education and pacifism of more "civilized" planets. But when Zak is challenged by the infamous gunslinger Buffalo Yung, he won't be able to quietly walk away. Mr. Jakes does a masterful job of showing us the degradation of a man who has lived his whole life based on principles, then having those prinicples fail him when he needs them the most. To say any more would give too much away. A fascinating read.