Johnny D. Boggs

(2005)Novel about a former baseball player reminiscing about his early days and the best baseball game he had seen or been part of. It was while he was a Union prisoner in the Confederate prison camp, Camp Ford. Played between Mr. Lincoln's Hirelings and the Ford City Gallinippers (prisoners vs. Rebs). Very good Civil War book that gives a good look at early baseball in this country.Amazon Review:Win MacNaughton is an aging--99 years old--former baseball player, umpire, and coach, who is invited to attend the 1946 World Series by The Sporting News. A reporter asks him how he thinks the two participating teams--the Red Sox and the Cardinals--compare to the best team he has ever seen. Win doesn't hesitate, and quickly names two teams."`Easy' I said. "Mr. Lincoln's Hirelings and the Ford City Gallinippers. Played one game at Camp Ford, Texas."The reporter gave Win a confused look and walked away. He didn't mention either of the teams in the newspaper the next day, and Win MacNaughton spends the rest of Johnny D. Boggs' CAMP FORD explaining his answer. He begins his story as a boy in Rhode Island where he is introduced to the game that would shape his life. His moves with his parents down to Jacksboro, Texas, where his father gets involved with the anti-slavery movement, and then when the Civil War breaks out, his parents take him back North where, in 1863 he joins the 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry.It isn't long before Win finds himself a prisoner of war at Camp Ford, Texas. And life in that place is hard, cruel, and surprisingly filled with talk and love of baseball--even the Southerners are learning the game.CAMP FORD won the Spur Award for best novel in 2005, and it is the best Western novel I have read in a long time. Mr. Boggs adroitly weaves two storylines--the aged Win MacNaughton watching the 1946 World Series in St. Louis, and Win MacNaughton as a boy growing up in a changing and violent time with the new game of baseball. The prisoner of war scenes are harsh and realistic with vivid descriptions of the place, the characters, and, most importantly, the inner thoughts of MacNaughton as he tries to survive captivity.The characters are richly created--they populate the novel with a sincerity and richness that is often lacking in genre works. The ideals of friendship, love, and hate are explored, and Mr. Boggs leaves just enough ambiguity in the narrative to allow the reader to judge the actions of the characters. The storyline is refreshing and original--it has just the right mixture of baseball folklore and Civil War history to satisfy both readers of historical fiction, and anyone who enjoys the sport.… (altro)

One of the great shortages that faced ranchers and miners who came out west to make their fortunes was the lack of women. Other than a few “soiled doves”, there wasn’t much chance of a man finding a wife except through the mail order bride business. Mojave by Johnny Boggs tells the story of Micah Bishop, escaped convict who gets lost in the Mojave desert and is rescued by a trader by the name of Whip Watson. Whip is bringing women to the remote mining town of Calico, California and hires Micah to drive a wagon. Whip has major competition in Candy Crutchfield who is also bringing women to Calico to fill her bordello. Neither Whip Watson or Candy Crutchfield want to see the other one to gain the upper hand and both are willing to do anything to be the winner in this deadly competition.

Micah is a rather hapless hero who stumbles along, slowly putting things together until he finally realizes that Whip has not got these women’s best interests in mind. He becomes attracted to one of the women, Jingfei, and luckily she has the brains and the courage to guide Micah into finding ways of helping the women.

I have found that this author can be relied upon to deliver a colorful and clever adventure story, and Mojave is certainly an entertaining western. Of course there is plenty of violence and gun play that the author wisely offsets with humor to go along the vibrant and assorted characters which makes Mojave a great escape read.… (altro)

This novel is the winner of Boggs' third Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. This book follows the adventure of two 12 year old boys and a 12 year old girl in 1880's New Mexico Apache country in company with a crazy albino wild man looking for gold coins abandon in a stage coach chased by Apaches. Whitey Grey is the albino who quickly turns from crazy wild man who threatens the children with death if they do not obey him to a man who treats then tenderly.

When they get close to the site of the stage accident, they are attacked by young Apache warriors who have just escaped the San Carlos Reservation. Narrowly escaping the Apaches, they in turn become captives of two outlaws who are also searching for the treasure.

Based on an actual attack and destruction of an Overland stage by Apaches in Doubtful Canon, the remainder of the narrative is speculation by the author. Some believe the gold is still buried somewhere in Doubtful Canon. Good fast paced story that never really stops to give you a breath.… (altro)