Wilderness 1: KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

 


Nathaniel King left New York City in 1828 to venture into the vast unexplored regions beyond Mississippi. He heads west, lured on by dreams of wealth based on his uncle's promise to share with him "the greatest treasure in the world".

The story opens with bored accountant Nathaniel King receiving a letter from his Uncle Ezekiel. Ten years prior to this event, Uncle Zeke had vanished into the Rocky Mountains; becoming a pariah to his immediate family. The letter instructs Nate to meet him in St. Louis and to share with him a fabulous treasure. The tenderfoot makes plans to do just that, and after talking with his fiance, Adeline, regaling her with a tale that he will soon be able to afford her extravagant lifestyle, Nate strikes off for the great unknown.

The tale is complete with plenty of action. After Nate meets with Zeke in St. Louis, and they begin their trip to the Rockies, each chapter is jammed with prose that moves at a breakneck pace. There are encounters with cut-throat ruffians, bloodthirsty Indians, a grizzly bear, and a thrilling buffalo hunt. David Robbins employs his book with a cliffhanger ending at the end of nearly every chapter, forcing you onward to keep the exciting story flowing.

Nate King is a strong character. And despite his initial shortcomings, it's totally believable that he will soon become a living legend in the mountains. Known as "Grizzly Killer", after his battle with a monstrous bruin, Nate settles into the ways of life easily. It's interesting to note that the character is initially afraid to kill a man and that he recoils at the thought of scalping his victims. However, under the tutelage of Uncle Zeke, Nate soon adapts to the ways of living life as a mountain man. You'll harbor no doubt about his transformation.

David Robbins ends the book with an epilogue that will have you screaming for the next outing in the series. It introduces Shakespeare McNair, a stalwart in the upcoming titles. He has come to lead Nate to the annual mountain man rendezvous, and you'll be hard-pressed not to want to take the adventure with them.

Highly recommended. 























































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