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Anonymous
Posted August 8, 2009
Delin Wetherwax bears the name of a mighty northern river. Born to an American adventurer and a Russian woman kidnapped by an Alaskan native tribe, he grows up among his mother's now adopted people and learns the values of both parents - but especially those of his father. When scientific reality (as Delin unflinchingly sees it) clashes with his father's traditional Christian beliefs, Delin's childhood ends. Soon afterward he finds himself alone in a world that is changing at an incredible pace, as the 19th Century moves toward its close and science (specifically, scientists from the Smithsonian) plumbs the secrets of the wilderness that Delin calls home. One of those scientists is destined to give him the two greatest gifts of his life, in the book's fitting and touchingly written climax.
I love stories of Alaskan adventure. I also love historical epochs, and I, too, had to reconcile the perceived conflict between the traditional Christianity of my early childhood and the plain realities of science. I've owned an Alaskan malemute, and that dog spoiled me for any other breed. So I suspect I might have enjoyed this novel even if it featured wooden characters and mediocre writing - but that is far from the case. David Sakmyster writes beautifully. His characters drive the book's plot, which weaves in and out of history already familiar to me, and they grow and change as real people do. They are flawed in realistic ways, yet his heroes have nobility enough to root for and his villains are dastardly enough to hiss. He uses the Sesquat as a key plotting element, tying the tale together in an imaginative manner that pleasantly surprised me.
Great fun! Don't miss it!
--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of 2005 EPPIE Winner REGS
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 15, 2013
Name: Zann. Age: 57 moons. Mate: Thunder. Personality: during the day, he's nice amd friendly. He normally spends his night alone. He is a great fighter/hunter. History: he only tells his true friends. Pelt: black but white tail, paws and muzzle. He has a white stripe, like a badger, that goes down his head
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 13, 2013
COLOR•• Pure grey. EYE COLOR•• Green. KIN/ PUPS•• Family is dead, no pups. MATE/CRUSH•• Crush is secret, no mate at the moment. (I will not be updating this) HISTORY•• Not to be said. TIME ZONE•• Eastern. ACTIVNESS•• Most active all nights/afternoons of Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Also active on weekends, but it depends. KNOWLEDGE OF WOLVES•• Extremely high. SIGNITURE•• *< Moon >*
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.A gloriously crafted tale of adventure, Silver & Gold is a frontier story that crosses the wild events of the Gold Rush, the Boxer Rebellion, the settling of Alaska and squeezes in every ounce of ambition, hope, love & romance, revenge and heartbreak, all at a similarly frenetic pace.
Detailing the life of Delin Wetherwax, as he recounts the colourful life of his Father, Joshua, and his own formative years to his ultimate love, Eloise, the story leaps from dramatic event to thoughtful interlude and then off to another wild adventure as we see how the West and the Far North West were first discovered, and the repeated attempts to tame and exploit them. Crazy sled races with his beloved huskies, battles deep in the Silver mines of Nevada, the end of the Civil War – it’s all here in stunning array.
Against a backdrop of personal revenge – both from the mighty Sesquat’s that harbour ill will towards Delin’s family, and from his Father’s personal nemesis, the vainglorious and self-righteous Jeremiah Quitch – Delin illuminates on a heady time.
Right to the final showdown with Quitch’s similarly crazed son, Jericho, the suspense and wonder keep you turning the pages, and despite a touchingly sad ending, the whole tone of the book leaves you with a sense of the thrill of discovery, the majesty of the Yukon and Alaska, and awe at the risks men took in those pioneering days.
David has written a red-hot classic, combining the cleverly paced eye for a thriller (see the Morpheus Objective series), across a complex and delightfully described background, both in time and locations, with a moving story of Delin’s life and loves.
