Strange Company

by Darby Conley

Dhu Walker, an Indian forced to fight for the Confederacy, joins with Ben Lacey, an Iowa farmboy, when both are accused of treason to the South

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Darby Conley is an American cartoonist best known for the popular comic strip Get Fuzzy.

Conley was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1970, and grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee.

While in high school in 1986, he won a student cartooning competition. During his Senior Year at Doyle High School (now South-Doyle High School) in Knoxville, Conley was voted 'Most Talented' by his graduating class. He attended Amherst College, where he studied Fine Arts, drew cartoons for the student newspaper, played rugby, and was a member of an all-male, jazz-influenced a cappella group, the Zumbyes. (Fellow cartoonist alumni of Amherst include FoxTrot creator Bill Amend and the late John Cullen Murphy of Prince Valiant fame.)

Like Rob Wilco, the human protagonist in Get Fuzzy, Conley is an enthusiastic rugby union fan, playing during college and sustaining several injuries that failed to diminish his passion for the sport.

Before becoming a cartoonist, Conley held a wide array of jobs: elementary school teacher, art director for a science museum, lifeguard, and bicycle repairman. This eclectic collection of professions is reminiscent of those held by Douglas Adams, whom Conley has mentioned as a comedic influence.

Conley, an animal rights activist and vegetarian, lives in Boston.

Reviews

[Midge]

A pretty good book about a half Cherokee and a Union Solider find themselves tied together and get free. Then they set out to get revenge on their capturers and go on to a better life.

[Todd Simpson]

A very enjoyable and easy to read story. This is the first Western I’ve read where the native American Indians are fighting alongside the Confederate soldiers. Dhu Walker a half Cherokee finds himself fighting with the Confederates, even after they were most likely responsible for burning down his house and killing his family. Ben Franklin Lacey (who is named after the President) is a Union Solider who is unfortunately caught by the Confederates. Both Ben and Dhu end up on the run together, trying to stay away from the sadistic evil Captain Gordon Early. However like anyone on the run they are going to need food and money. So they come up with a plan to steal the Confederates gold. Luckily along the way they get some help from a Settlor family, the McClellan’s. As you would expect, not everything runs smoothly. This is definitely an entertaining book, and well worth reading.

[Kay Robart]

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016...