Badlands

by Richard S. Wheeler

In the Badlands on an expedition to study early man and prehistoric fossils, Candace is unaware that the men accompanying her have plans to steal treasures and holy relics from and deface the sacred places of the Sioux Nation

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

There are other authors with this name. One writes Marine Corps history. Another, Civil War history. Another writes in the political sciences.

Richard S. (Shaw) Wheeler was born in Milwaukee in 1935 and grew up in nearby Wauwatosa.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story. For some reason, "it seems he's been in trouble, he's been ritually scalped and buried" was a very funny line to me

[Lee Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a vacation -- a day-trip, if you will. It's 1:30 in the morning and I just finished reading Richard S. Wheeler's western novel BADLANDS, the story of a group of naive paleontologists researching fossils in the heart of the Sioux nation. It's not nearly as dry a story as that description sounds... though I'm choking on the dust kicked up by Wheeler's remarkably vivid, and yet keenly economical, prose. I couldn't go to bed without getting to the end. Yes, I know it's a cliche, but it's the truth. He's taken a surprisingly fresh and unique approach to a time-worn and familiar set-up, the foolhardy easterners led into the untamed west by a wizened, half-Indian guide. But there's a good reason why Richard S. Wheeler is considered a legend in western literature. He takes the seemingly familiar and makes it brand new by leading you to what appears to be a cliche or stereotype -- and deftly playing on your expectations, twists them and takes you instead to a realization of character or place that you didn't see coming. Don't let the traditional, western cover fool you. BADLANDS is more about science, religion, and culture than it is about horses, injuns and shootouts and I loved every minute of it...and found the relaxation and escape I craved to recharge myself creatively for the tasks that lay ahead (it was far more satisfying than Larry McMurtry's TELEGRAPH DAYS, which I read a couple of months back). Now I have to tackle Richard's beloved Skye series from book one onward...and considering how many there are, that alone could end up being a lifetime pursuit.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The western lends itself well to a particular kind of story—the small group of travelers crossing a forbidding terrain. Far from civilization, they are at the mercy of hostile elements, human and nonhuman. Richard Wheeler’s novel offers an interesting twist on that formula as he sends an expedition of scientists into the badlands of Nebraska Territory in the summer of 1859.

Among the small troop are men and women of honorable or questionable character, and circumstances bring out the best and worst in them. One or more of them rise to a kind of heroism in the face of adversity, others sink into depravity, and two will fall in love. It’s the world in microcosm...

Read my review at my blog.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good tale of a group of paleontologists who journey to the heartland of the Sioux Indians in the badlands to look for fossils. Their individual characters lead to many different adventures, some good, some bad. Wheeler tells a complex story in a manner that makes it easy to read and enjoy. Recommended.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at early archaeology and Indian relations on the western frontier. Surprisingly good.