Trail of the Spanish Bit

Spanish Bit Saga #1

by Don Coldsmith

The Legend Begins

Juan Garcia rode as an arrogant conquistador into the heart of an unexplored continent. One day, on a lone patrol, he was injured and lost. He knew he had little chance of surviving or of ever returning to his homeland. But what happened from that day forward made a different man of Juan Garcia.

He embarked upon a greater adventure than any he could have imagined. For instead of hostility, he discovered a people who showed him a new way of life. And he, in turn, brought them a talisman, the Spanish Bit, that forever transformed their society.

With well over four million copies of his critically-acclaimed frontier novels in print, Don Coldsmith is one of the bestselling novelists of the Native American experience.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Adventure, Native American, Book Club, Native Americans

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

About the author

Don Coldsmith was an American author of primarily Western fiction. A past president of Western Writers of America, Coldsmith wrote more than 40 books, as well as and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. His “Spanish Bit Saga,” a series of related novels, helped to re-define the Western novel by adopting the point of view of the Native Americans, rather than the European immigrants.

Reviews

[Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note, Feb. 19, 2016: I've just edited this to correct several typos.

I stumbled on this book in a public library, and was intrigued by the cover and subject matter. Barb and I wound up not only reading this one together, but several other volumes of the series as well, during the late 80s and early 90s --it inaugurates a multi-generational saga that extends, to my knowledge, for over a century, and perhaps longer. They all share the same basic style and literary vision. Eventually, we got distracted from the series by other reads, and never returned to it. But the books are well written, delivering solid entertainment, and free of bad language, lewd sexual content, and overly grisly violence. (If I could give half stars here, I'd rate it three and a half.)

Sometimes classified as a "Western," while this is set on the Great Plains, it has nothing in common with the fiction of the "cowboy" era in the late 1800s, being set much earlier (although the date isn't given in the book and Coronado isn't named, protagonist Juan Garcia is supposed to be a soldier in Coronado's expedition of 1540), and Coldsmith didn't think of it in "Western" genre terms, but as historical fiction exploring the rise of the horse culture among the Plains Indians. A Kansas resident, his literary inspiration came from discovering, in a secondhand store in Oklahoma, a well-preserved 16th-century Spanish metal bit apparatus for fitting into a horse's mouth and attaching to a set of reins. This inspired imaginative speculation about what stories that bit could tell if it could talk, and the series was born.

The perspective on the world here is basically that of the People (the author deliberately avoids the term "Indians"); since Juan knows nothing about Native American culture and has no preconceptions, he easily learns to view their world through their eyes. Most Indian tribes called themselves "the People" in their own tongues; which particular tribe finds the injured Juan and his pregnant mare, or "elk-dog" (they've never seen a horse before, so they initially assume it must be a strange type of dog --but it's as big as an elk!) is never specified, and other tribes are only identified by the People's names for them. (Their traditional enemies, for instance, are the Head-Splitters.) But despite the lack of specificity, Coldsmith has clearly researched Plains Indian culture and history extensively, and creates a vivid and authentic composite picture of the culture. Unlike Ruth Beebe Hill in Hanta Yo: An American Saga, however, he does this much more succinctly and with a much more quick-flowing narrative pace; and unlike Jean Auel in her Earth's Children series, he does not insist on divulging every last fact his research has uncovered in long info-dumps. Our sense of the culture is just as fully evoked, but more painlessly.

Cross-cultural acceptance, friendship and co-operation is obviously a strong theme in this novel; though Juan does most of the adapting to the People's way of life, he also teaches them horsemanship, which they're glad to learn. Coldsmith's handling of the religious differences is less realistic. Both Juan and the People, of course, recognize the Creator, under different names; but Juan's duty-bound attempt to share his Christian faith consists of telling them that God the Father "sent us His Son to show us the way to live." (Which, not surprisingly, prompts them to observe, "It is the same with us;" the Great Spirit supposedly sent Sun Boy to teach them about right living). Of course, Christians see Jesus' role as much more ample than teaching "the way to live;" his primary mission was to die a sacrificial death to atone for our sins, and this is NOT a concept the People's theology, founded just in basic conscience and general revelation, includes yet. A 16th-century Spanish Catholic would know this; one might hope he'd be as willing as Juan is to view his friend's beliefs as a glass half full (many of his countrymen wouldn't have!), but we'd expect him to try to find a tactful way to suggest filling it the rest of the way. The author's agenda here wasn't the same as we'd expect the protagonist's to be in real life; and this was my main quibble with the book.

That notwithstanding, the positives here far outweigh the negatives. It's not deep fiction with moral conflicts, but the characterizations are well-developed, there's a moving and believable clean romance, and the plotting is unfailingly eventful and interesting. (Tribal warfare provides an action-adventure element that mixes well with relationship building and culture exploration.) I'd unhesitatingly recommend the book, and the series, to fans of Native American historical fiction.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this series when the came out 30 years ago. I thought I would read again this series before I shipped them off to my family in the Philippines.
Let me say at the start that I disagree with ever present referral of calling only the people that we in North America before 16th century "native American". If you are born somewhere, you are by definition,a 'native' of that place. Russel Means, of A.I.M., would give me support on that.
This story is about the plains/prairie peoples obtained the horse from the conquering Spaniards who arrived in the early 16th century. The story is written with an honesty that lacks condescension.
Make sure that you read the explanation after the end of the story

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short book (more like a novella at 180 pages. I like stories about Native Americans and have read Tony Hillerman and Jean Hager. Don Coldsmith was a new author for me and unlike Hillerman or Hager, Coldsmith is not writing a mystery. This is historical western fiction, not a genre I would normally read. The Spanish Bit Saga is about the early Native Americans during the time of the early Spanish penetration of the American continent. This story starts with a Spanish warrior who carelessly gets thrown from his horse and a band of "The People" who see him and think he is a god. When they see that he is hurt and not a god they help him and take him into their group. He slowly becomes one of the tribe and eventually becomes a leader. This is an older series, this first book written in 1980. There appear to be 31 books in this series. Dr. Coldsmith (he was a physician) recently died (June 25, 2009). My library does not have this series; I was able to get this first book through interlibrary loan and I hope that I can read more of them through this service.

[sarg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trail of the Spanish bit. By Don Coldsmith
I gave this book 5 stars because that's all they will allow. This was a good read of historical fiction about Native American Indians. This is not a cowboy an Indian book it's about a tribe called the "People". And their struggle with other tribes. And the introduction of the horse and how it changes the Indians. The horse introduced by a lost conquistador Juan Garcia. Juan is taken in by the tribe and later becomes a member. I heartily recommend this book and this series. 

[Laura Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid western. I really enjoyed how Juan Garcia evolved over time. Slowly realizing that Coyote and the other "People" were human just like him and not savages.

[Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather nice little book shows how revolutionary the coming of the horse was to native culture simple straight forward story of a Spanish solider who becomes separated from the expedition heading into Texas, he runs into the early Comanche's and stays with them for a couple of years, enough to change the trajectory of the tribe's development and what comes out of it is native plains culture as we know it but this was first contact this was the beginning a good story I enjoyed it 4 stars.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sort of "required reading" for a TALK book discussion this spring, it's part of the "Kansas Literary Heritage" series through the Kansas Humanities Council.
I'm very much looking forward to re-reading this book as it is so historically accurate, mainly due to the fact author Don Coldsmith very thoroughly researched all of his novels. Coldsmith was my favorite Kansas author, and I was sad to see that he had passed away a few years ago. I had the privilege to meet and speak with him twice at library conferences, and he was truely a charming gentleman, very knowledgable about Kansas history, and fun to visit with.
The Spanish Bit series includes over 30 books, and although they are considered Westerns, to me they are more like historical fiction. This first book in the series was conceived after Coldsmith came across an old Spanish bit in a barrel of junk in an antique shop somewhere in Oklahoma. He recognized it as a treasure, purchased it, and let his imagination (and research) lead him to write the story of how that bit made it to the midwest.
The book reminds me a little bit of the movie "Dances with Wolves", so if you like that movie, you will love these books, as they are even better!

[Diana Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time to read this book. I love historical fiction and historical books. This book is about a spanish conquistidor who gets lost and then is taken in by the native americans who find him. He learns to love the "People" he learns their ways and become an important person to them. I really like this series of about 40 books I have read them all and will most likely read them all again.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a series of books that tackles coming of the horse, and the Europeans to the American Great Plains. The historical fiction is written fairly consistant with an oral traditional storytelling style. Simple, broad strokes similar to R.E. Howard can be found in Coldsmith's style. Very enjoyable.

[TOTO from Kansas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the Entire series, Plus all the expanded editions. Loved every Book. Was sorry when the series ended. I would recommend these books to anyone. Being from Kansas originally, now residing on Maui, I could envision every location featured in each book

[Scooby · Rating 5 out of 5]

great little book- good interesting storyline about a part of history I knew little about

Cant wait to read the next books in the series

[Donna Mehner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looks at a time period I have seen little written about: the 1500s when the Spanish pushed far into the New World in search of gold. The explorers encounter Native Americans who have never seen a white person. I love watching the main character’s opinions of the native people change from they are no more than animals to they are complex beings with customs and dreams and a who have a vast knowledge of the world around them. The story isn’t face paced. Rather it is more of a tale flowing through the years. I loved the main characters. The story felt as if it could have been real. Don Coldsmith's book could have been a 5/5 but it falls flat for a few reasons. One is that great care is given to connect us to Juan Garcia, Coyote, and Tall One. But the other characters are passing breezes through the story. With so little invested in them they are easily forgotten before they show up again for a quick one sentence reference. Another reason the book falls flat is that the "main bad guy" Gray Wolf doesn't show up until the very end of the book. He never seems much of a threat until that point and it was a missed opportunity. Juan Garcia is the son of a famous and wealthy Spanish soldier. Juan grew up with servants and had a pampered life. When he messes around with his Commandant’s beautiful daughter and is caught by the Commandant, Juan is forced to leave for the colonies in New Spain immediately. Juan joins other soldiers on a journey deep into the plains. One day he searches alone for buffalo and his horse spooks. Juan falls and hits his head hard on a rock. Too sick to rejoin his group for several days, Juan is abandoned by the soldiers as they return to the New Spain colonies. With winter approaching the People care for Juan and teach him their ways. He integrates into their society ultimately becoming a great asset and leader. This book does contain mild language, some gore, some torture, brief references to sex, death, and kidnapping. Rated 3/5.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Coldsmith said that he found this old bit for a horse in a garage sale Oklahoma that turned out to be from one of the early Spanish expeditions into the New World and this is where he received his inspiration for the Spanish Bit series. Coldsmith starting with Trail of the Spanish Bit which is a tale of a Spanish explorer who is separated from his group after a fall from his horse and is found by a Native American tribe that calls themselves the People. Coldsmith's concept of the People is a combination of several different Native American tribes. The Spaniard ends up following the People while he recovers from his fall and eventually becomes a part of the tribe.

Coldsmith is telling what seems like a well researched story of how the introduction of the horses affected the Native American tribes of North America. He paints a picture of how buffalo were first hunted and how travel was on foot with belongings being placed on travois carried by dogs. With the introduction of horses it made travel easier and hunting more plentiful. Though I am not an authority on this, it seems to me that there are not may books out there that touch on this subject.

The most unique and amazing part of this story, is unlike other westerns were this book is unjustly lumped, it takes place in the plains area circa the 16th century. It seems very little is written about this time period in plains, or even in America as a whole. Very little is ever said about the Spanish traveling north from South and Central America despite evidence of them making their way into the plains area of North America.

For me this book opened my eyes to new information on the history of the Americas and how we came into being. That is what a good book does, especially good fiction, opens your mind to new possibilities, experiences, or ways of thinking.

[Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, which was given to me by my uncle, has relentlessly held my attention for the past few days. Written by Don Coldsmith, it features a young Spaniard by the name of, Juan Garcia, who ends up stranded alone in the plains of North America where he soon learns to follow the survival skills of the natives. Eventually he is adopted into the tribe and considered “good medicine” because of his fighting capabilities and his horse, or “elk-dog” as the natives call it. This book has been a great insight to me of how our predecessors treated those they deemed lower than themselves during that period of time when every eastern nation was trying to tame and colonize the western continents.
The author does a remarkable job of granting the reader a very raw and genuine view of the characters we meet throughout the narrative. Although it follows the usual western standard that we’ve seen in so many books and films where the white stranger is accepted into the tribe, we can still enjoy the endless developments that prevent this young soldier from returning home like he plans. The author’s use of the English language is tremendously underappreciated, and he shares this story with us without becoming too flowery or oversimplified. It’s a wonderful read and a real page-turner. Please visit your local library or look online to find and read this book, and remember, “Sun boy always wins in the end.”

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a unique series that began publication over forty years ago. I became aware of it when it was mentioned in another novel, Calling For A Blanket Dance. What makes it unique, in my mind, is that it was favorably mentioned by a young, modern Indian author and that the series is written primarily from the Indians perspective.

Another unusual thing is that this series begins itself at a largely ignored moment in American history - that time when Indians first became aware of horses and first began to understand their usefulness and value. The author, Don Coldsmith, displays such facile agility in his portrayal that it is apparent he's deeply knowledgeable in the field.

I already have the second title ready to begin reading. I can't wait.

[Madelon Smid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read Trail of the Spanish Bit by Don Coldsmith. A recommended read that caught me by surprise. The author uses a piece of Spanish silver off a conquistador’s bit found in the present day, to create an imaginative tale of a Sanish soldier separated from Coronado’s troops, and embraced by The People. As he learns the way of this native tribe, he also enhances their lives with the introduction of the horse. A clever look into both cultures, seen through the POV of many of the characters. I recommend this read.

[Nicholem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this series as a teenager and now rereading them again. Loved how it shows a person's perspective change as they live a different life from the one the grew up with. I love historical fiction and this has a very interesting adventure.

[Sean Sanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good! I can’t wait to read the rest of the saga.

[Sarah Bauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.25

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s some good historical fiction.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but moved to slowly.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

2014.

[Eliel Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. Coldsmith knew how to weave a tale.

[Bart Hennigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as a Christmas gift from my father-in-law; it's one of his favorite series, and he wanted to share it with me. (Every book I review for the next couple of months is one I got for Christmas).

It isn't high minded stuff; it's the novel version of a spaghetti western. With that it mind, I liked it for what it was. It was fast paced, and Coldsmith did a good job of painting in broad strokes what life might have been like in the early 17th century for Native Americans. The book's protagonist is a Spaniard who is separated from his group, and falls in with a peaceful tribe. He introduces them to the horse and slowly works his way into their society.

My main problem with the novel was that Coldsmith used a few words or phrases that struck me as anachronistic. One Indian has a 'trademark grin'. He does such a good job with his language otherwise, that the times he used odd modern phrases were particularly jarring.

It's a fast read, and part of a fairly long series. If one is interested in turn of the (17th) century American West, this book serves that need well.

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 3 out of 5]

not particularly well-written, but a decent yarn nevertheless. some of it struck me as downright silly and many of the tropes here are typical of the genre. Garcia as a protagonist is surprisingly not very well-developed and emotionally all over the place. he seems to shed his Spanish heritage without too much difficulty (he almost never ruminates on his past except a few times regarding his training at the academy and his father's Andalusians). the character seems very inconsistent: he has moments of stupid impatience and others of old man wisdom that are more plot-driving than organic. and Coldsmith as a writer has some annoying sentence structure habits that i'm really struggling to be patient about.

not overly enamored with this, but it might grow on me. first book of the series down, 27 more to go!

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the first two in this series as a gift many years ago. I found them very enjoyable. They seem historically accurate (I am no historian) and the first in the series is strikingly similar to the Dances with Wolves movie screenplay. Coldsmith knows his history of the American plains way of life from earlier times and it shows in the series. I have now read 12 of the series and have to admit I can get bogged down with some of the characters/missions at times. I plan on finishing them all and they do serve as a great 'one day read' between other candidates on my to-read list. Recommended for lovers of lighter examples of Native American history.

[Ricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read throughout. The second half of the book was better in my opinion and gathered pace and meaning as the story evolved. I find the Red Indian life interesting and love the connection they have with the earth and animals. This was a character driven story that didn't need to be too graphic to get it's point across. Also his name "Heads off" always made me smile. This book was well written, slightly predictable, but always moving towards a satisfying and heartfelt ending.

[Hankbarfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Coldsmith is to me an unusual author in that he writes about Native Americans in the first person. don't know if he is Native American but all of his books I have read were very good. His books are fiction not sure what century they are based in but he writes and the People meeting white people from Europe for the first time and continues with a very well written saga of Native Americans getting to know and fighting against the Europeans and other tribes. Very interesting and may a way a of reading about Native Americans as you never have before.

[John Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the joys of being a voracious reader is discovering a new series that always escaped your notice. Coldsmith was a favorite of writers like Harlan Ellison but never seemed to get much critical attention. Judging from the stacks at the used bookshops, the paperbacks must have sold very well. Feel lucky to have a pile of the these to get into, because this is a good book to kick off a series.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book that I enjoyed concerning the Native Americans and exploration and blah blah blah. I started to read the other books, but then the plot was identical. I think there are about fifteen books to the saga... -=gag=- Too long for comfort, if you ask me. There's bound to be repetition. But, the first three books were very interesting, well researched, and well written.