Review: Schaffer just keeps getting better
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2011
Jem Clayton is the orphaned son of a highly decorated and well-respected sheriff. He went astray and ended up on the opposite side of the law. In doing so, Jem developed a reputation of being a courteous bandit that never let harm come to a woman, and he was content to live that lifestyle. Unbeknownst to him, a more virtuous path awaited him.Jem's home town of Seneca 6 is a small, prosperous mining community that had existed peacefully for many years. After becoming entangled with a dangerous group of intergalactic outlaws known as The Harpe Gang, Jem puts Seneca 6 in a direct line of fire when they come looking for him.The Harpe Gang is unlike any force the universe had ever seen. Little Willy Harpe is a nasty human being with a penchant for cannibalism. He becomes even more deadly after taking possession of a "holy weapon"--a parasitic alien life form that bestows him with unprecedented power.Guns of Seneca 6 tells the tale of a man who fled from his past and now fights to reclaim it. Jem has plenty of help along the way as he battles a most formidable foe and uncovers a shocking secret that fills in the blanks regarding the demise of his father.Outlaws, savages, aliens, and a town under martial law: This is not the Wild West as you know it, and author Bernard Schaffer wouldn't have it any other way. While the inevitable comparisons to Firefly would be impossible to avoid, by time I closed the book, I found them to be two very different experiences.What they do share in common is a cast of strong characters that are so distinguishable and well-crafted that you could almost label any of them as the "main" character. Such an accomplishment has become Schaffer's signature. If you were to ask five different readers who their favorite character was, you're likely to get five different answers. For me, as much as I liked Jem Clayton, my favorite character was Doc Halladay.I have read all of Schaffer's books, and while each of them are fantastic reads, Guns of Seneca 6 stands out as my clear favorite. Answering why is a bit tough to explain. Guns possesses all of the trademark characteristics that comprise Schaffer's style, but the book feels more relaxed than his previous work. I didn't catch it until I was already a few chapters in, but it eventually dawned on me that there was a new rhythm to Schaffer's writing that I'd never noticed before. The flow of his sentence structure is cleaner and simpler to read.As much as I enjoyed Schaffer's last book, Whitechapel: The Final Stand of Sherlock Holmes, it was an exhausting read. It read more like a technical writing manual and took me about two weeks to finish. Guns will enable readers of any level to feel entertained and less challenged. It's structured in a way that allows you to just enjoy the story while subliminally giving you a lesson in how to write effectively.Even as I was rounding the corner near the end of Guns, I was already envisioning where Schaffer may take the story next. I don't doubt for a second that he's got a list of notes for a sequel, and I'm anxious to reach the day when I can enjoy that one too. For now, if you're not already a fan of Schaffer, you should be. I can't think of a better introduction to what makes his work great than Guns of Seneca 6.