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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2019)
THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019 // 19 BOOKMONGER Seaside author’s Oregon-based novel tells of justice When Robert Liddycoat and his wife bought a home in Seaside in the 1990s, they were curious about the area’s history. A little sleuthing led them to an article in the December 31, 1898 edi- tion of The Daily Astorian, which told of a gunfi ght in Seaside – “the bloodi- est tragedy in the history of this county….” It came about following an arson fi re that consumed the cottage of C.W. Fulton, a prominent political fi gure in Oregon. The story also noted that one of the gunfi ght victims had been running an extor- tion racket. Liddycoat became engrossed in the charac- ters and confl icts of Ore- gon in the late 19th century and began writing histori- cal fi ction. “A Wandering Man,” Liddycoat’s debut novel, ties together some actual historical events through the experiences of a fi c- THIS WEEK’S BOOK “A Wandering Man” By Robert Liddycoat Inkwater Press – 446 pp – $25.95 tional protagonist called Jacob Scot. In 1887, at the age of 17, Jacob has no immedi- ate family, so he decides to board a train and set out in search of adventure. But misadventure fi nds him fi rst. Shortly after he steps off the train in Baker City, he is mugged. He fi ghts back artlessly but fi ercely and his two would-be attackers are only saved thanks to the inter- vention of the local sheriff. A rancher who wit- nesses the scuffl e sees some potential in Jacob and offers him a job. As Jacob learns the ropes and begins to prove himself, he is taken under the wing of the rancher’s right-hand man. An old gunslinger, Whitey spends a year teaching his appren- tice how to shoot. It’s a skill Jacob puts to use when he and Whitey go to the bank in town to pick up the ranch pay- roll and interrupt a robbery in progress. He applies it again when he is ambushed by rustlers who are steal- ing cattle from the rancher. Every time, the same cold, focused fury rises up in him, and now that he knows his way around a gun, none of his challeng- ers lives to see the sun set. Jacob is acquiring a reputation. When the rancher decides to sell off his hold- ings, Jacob hits the road, “with no place special to go and nothing special to do….” But opportunity soon fi nds him, and his gun, again. Liddycoat tells this story in fi ve meaty parts: Rock Creek Ambush, Clear Creek War, Sorefoot Creek Kill, Wolf Creek Hunt and Circle Creek Duel. As these section titles suggest, there is plenty of violence in these pages, and there are other forms of depravity as well. A few times the author describes horrors in queasily graphic detail. More cannily, he sketches the workings of hypocrisy. Liddycoat includes many characters who have unvar- nished points of view regard- ing religion, race relations, sex, money and power. But while others talk, Jacob is more prone to observe and then act. Through these experi- ences, he develops his own framework of values and ideas about manhood and integrity. “A Wandering Man” has a few bloopers, but this rough-and-tumble, high- stakes Western provides a riveting read. The Bookmonger is Bar- bara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly col- umn focusing on the books, authors and publishers of the Pacifi c Northwest. Con- tact her at bkmonger@ nwlink.com Planting Educational Seeds within Our Communities Watch for upcoming live cooking, yoga & art classes A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film Mr.niceguy.wellness1 Mr Nice Guy 20 Locations Statewide - Find us on: JUNE 28 - JULY 28 FRI. & SAT. 7PM; SUN. 2PM FORT COLUMBIA THEATER CHINOOK, WA NO DISCOVER PASS NEEDED NEE DED Premium Seating - $23 Adult $12.50 Child Opening Seating - $18 Adult $7.50 Child TICKETS & INFO @ PAPATHEATER.COM ALSO AT OKIE’S THRIFTWAY OR BY PHONE 360-836-4448 Presented through special arrangement with Music Theater Interna�onal (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com • LARGE CBD SELECTION Receive up to • VAPE PENS your your purchase when you donate canned food supplies. • GLASS and ACCESSORIES 15% OFF Additional Coastal Locations: ASTORIA • 690 Olney Ave • 503-741-3420 ASTORIA • 730 Bond Street • 503-741-3666 ROCKAWAY BEACH • 656 US-101 • 971-306-1313 ONLINE ORDERING FOR ALL LOCATIONS AT MRNICEGUYOR.COM
