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Wilderness #1
King Of The Mountain
Leaving New York City in 1828 to search for treasure beyond the Mississippi, Nathaniel King must learn to survive in the wild, uninhabited Rocky Mountains, where he is faced with hostile Indians, hunger, and natural predators. Reissue.
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 27, 2017
King of the Mountain, is historical fiction about the Mountain Man fur trappers, that takes place in 1827 and written by David Robbins, under his pen name David Thompson.
The series has 67 titles, several giant editions and omnibus titles that are two books in the series usually in order. I do have most of this series, in paperback, have read part of the series, and glad to see that it's available in ebook now.
In a nutshell, Ezekiel King sends a letter to the only family member he still liked, his nephew Nathaniel King in New York, mentions riches and wants him to meet him in St. Louis Missouri.
Nate gets all excited by the mention of treasure, the accountant who just got told by his girlfriend Adeline, that she expects him to be able to afford her all the riches she grew up with having servants, maids and cooks to do everything. She even encourages him even to go work for her father, who owes several mercantile stores and he could end up running one of them for him.
Nate can't mention his Uncle's name at home, or tell his family about the letter he received, his father acts like his brother doesn't exist. Due to that he leaves letters for his family, leaves a letter for Adeline, takes his money buys two horses, supplies and takes off to meet his Uncle in St. Louis.
You'll have to read the King of the Mountain to get the whole story.
I totally liked this one, David Robbins writing is excellent, you can tell it's well researched, authentic even though it's fictional and Nate's journey to St. Louis it's like your right their with him. Let me add throughout the King of the Mountain, Robbins has you right their in the pages with Zeke and Nate.
It's a really good story, if you like historical novels, you like this series and definitely recommend it.
The series has 67 titles, several giant editions and omnibus titles that are two books in the series usually in order. I do have most of this series, in paperback, have read part of the series, and glad to see that it's available in ebook now.
In a nutshell, Ezekiel King sends a letter to the only family member he still liked, his nephew Nathaniel King in New York, mentions riches and wants him to meet him in St. Louis Missouri.
Nate gets all excited by the mention of treasure, the accountant who just got told by his girlfriend Adeline, that she expects him to be able to afford her all the riches she grew up with having servants, maids and cooks to do everything. She even encourages him even to go work for her father, who owes several mercantile stores and he could end up running one of them for him.
Nate can't mention his Uncle's name at home, or tell his family about the letter he received, his father acts like his brother doesn't exist. Due to that he leaves letters for his family, leaves a letter for Adeline, takes his money buys two horses, supplies and takes off to meet his Uncle in St. Louis.
You'll have to read the King of the Mountain to get the whole story.
I totally liked this one, David Robbins writing is excellent, you can tell it's well researched, authentic even though it's fictional and Nate's journey to St. Louis it's like your right their with him. Let me add throughout the King of the Mountain, Robbins has you right their in the pages with Zeke and Nate.
It's a really good story, if you like historical novels, you like this series and definitely recommend it.
November 29, 2017
I just finished WILDERNESS #1: KING OF THE MOUNTAIN (1990) by David Thompson (David Robbins), and it really was an excellent book.
In 1828 New York City (population 100,000), Nate King is a low-level accountant with a crappy boss and a job with limited upward mobility. His girlfriend is a materialistic pain in the neck who will only marry him if he can establish that he has the capacity to support the spoiled girl.
A solution to this problem presents itself in the form of a letter from Nate’s long lost Uncle Zeke, the family pariah who ventured west to pursue frontier adventures. Zeke wants Nate to meet him in St. Louis and promises a share of the “treasure” Zeke has amassed.
Driven by his own wanderlust and greed, Nate sets off on a horseback adventure to meet Uncle Zeke in St. Louis. From there the adventure continues westward.
This is basically an origin story and a travel story where a city dandy leans the ways of a wilderness mountain man on a cross-country horseback adventure. The mentor-student scenes are enlightening and captivating. The adventures on the road include run-ins with dangerous wildlife, kindly Indians, scalp-hunting savages, and conniving road thieves.
There are plenty of scenes of explosive, bloody violence and tension-filled stand-offs. The author also injects several interesting historical tidbits of pre-cowboy frontier life in the unsettled west. You’ll be thrilled. You’ll learn a thing or two.
There have been over 80 books published in the Wilderness series. Book #1 was a straight-up, nearly-perfect genre novel, and it will make you want to continue the story into Book 2 and beyond.
In 1828 New York City (population 100,000), Nate King is a low-level accountant with a crappy boss and a job with limited upward mobility. His girlfriend is a materialistic pain in the neck who will only marry him if he can establish that he has the capacity to support the spoiled girl.
A solution to this problem presents itself in the form of a letter from Nate’s long lost Uncle Zeke, the family pariah who ventured west to pursue frontier adventures. Zeke wants Nate to meet him in St. Louis and promises a share of the “treasure” Zeke has amassed.
Driven by his own wanderlust and greed, Nate sets off on a horseback adventure to meet Uncle Zeke in St. Louis. From there the adventure continues westward.
This is basically an origin story and a travel story where a city dandy leans the ways of a wilderness mountain man on a cross-country horseback adventure. The mentor-student scenes are enlightening and captivating. The adventures on the road include run-ins with dangerous wildlife, kindly Indians, scalp-hunting savages, and conniving road thieves.
There are plenty of scenes of explosive, bloody violence and tension-filled stand-offs. The author also injects several interesting historical tidbits of pre-cowboy frontier life in the unsettled west. You’ll be thrilled. You’ll learn a thing or two.
There have been over 80 books published in the Wilderness series. Book #1 was a straight-up, nearly-perfect genre novel, and it will make you want to continue the story into Book 2 and beyond.
December 10, 2022
In the year 1828, 19-year old Nathaniel King is slaving away at an accountant’s job in New York City, struggling to earn enough to keep his fiancée happy and living the kind of luxurious life to which she has grown accustomed. Afraid he will never earn enough to please her, he jumps at a chance to gain a vast treasure. Seems his Uncle Ezekiel (Zeke), a man who moved to the great unexplored West some ten years previously had found this treasure and now wants Nate to have it. Nate travels to St. Louis, meets his uncle and together they make the adventurous trek to the cabin in the Rocky Mountains where the treasure awaits.
I’ve long wanted to begin this series of western/frontier novels. The prolific David Robbins, writing under the name David Thompson did not disappoint. He packs this novel with one adventure after another, from a thief ambush in a dark alley, to a ferocious grizzly bear attack, to several hair-raising (pun-intended) encounters with various Indian tribes. Along their journey, Nate and his uncle share experiences and Nate learns as much as he can, learning of the beauty of his surroundings as well as the violent kill-or-be-killed nature of life in the wild.
The novel works very well as an origin story of Nate King, an unlikely Mountain man but a true hero of frontier fiction. The end of this novel sets up the next and it's easy to see this lends itself to a lengthy series. Robbins does add some social commentary at regular intervals, especially in pointing out the characteristics and foibles of civilized life in the Eastern US appearing less attractive and less honest than what is experienced by the hard-working frontiersman. The novel is easy reading and harkens back to the pulp style of ending each chapter in a cliffhanger.
A fun read to be sure. I now have yet another long series to pursue but that is the sort of problem I like to have.
I’ve long wanted to begin this series of western/frontier novels. The prolific David Robbins, writing under the name David Thompson did not disappoint. He packs this novel with one adventure after another, from a thief ambush in a dark alley, to a ferocious grizzly bear attack, to several hair-raising (pun-intended) encounters with various Indian tribes. Along their journey, Nate and his uncle share experiences and Nate learns as much as he can, learning of the beauty of his surroundings as well as the violent kill-or-be-killed nature of life in the wild.
The novel works very well as an origin story of Nate King, an unlikely Mountain man but a true hero of frontier fiction. The end of this novel sets up the next and it's easy to see this lends itself to a lengthy series. Robbins does add some social commentary at regular intervals, especially in pointing out the characteristics and foibles of civilized life in the Eastern US appearing less attractive and less honest than what is experienced by the hard-working frontiersman. The novel is easy reading and harkens back to the pulp style of ending each chapter in a cliffhanger.
A fun read to be sure. I now have yet another long series to pursue but that is the sort of problem I like to have.
April 22, 2018
This is the first in the series. As with most origin stories, it spends quite a bit of time developing the character and setting up the story, and this is a long series so there is a fair amount of setup. But it's an enjoyable read and a good introduction to the character and series.
January 7, 2024
This book turned out to be a very enjoyable read. I had heard good things about the series for years and finally got my hands on the first one recently and immediately dove in. This one essentially sets up the series by introducing the young greenhorn Nate King, who receives a letter from his mountain man Uncle out west who wants his nephew to meet him in St. Louis ( circa 1828). The Uncle claims to have a great “treasure” and that he wants to share it with Nate. The two travel west from St. Louis into the wilderness an have all kinds of encounters and adventures, fighting with dangerous animals and even more dangerous men. The book is well written in a simple, smooth flowing manner that describes events and experiences with a fast moving plot that wasted no time or words. A great deal happens within 173 pages; modern adventure thrillers would do well to adopt a similar approach. All in all a great, two-fisted adventure brimming with violence and drama. Recommended.
April 6, 2018
First book of the wilderness series. A good quick read a little over 100 pages. Compared to "Jeremiah Johnson" trapper and mountain man. This is a series of books the first is Nathan king begins his life as a mountain man
August 16, 2025
Wilderness #1
King of the Mountain
David Robbins, David Thompson (Pseudonym) , Rusty Nelson (Narrator),
The pulp novel that begins a 71 book series. The hero of the series is here Nathaniel an accounting drudge who works for a Scrooge-like manager and has a fiance who accounts his earnings the mark of a man. His father and potential father-in-law are both magnates in their own right. It is a letter from his Uncle out West that lures him to St. Louis and the adventure that becomes his future.
it was the stultifying close-mindedness of life in Eastern big cities, the criminal underbelly, filth and smog that drove Western migration. Famous outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid marvelled at their portrayal in the Dime Novels of their day. This pulp writing continues that tradition.
King of the Mountain
David Robbins, David Thompson (Pseudonym) , Rusty Nelson (Narrator),
The pulp novel that begins a 71 book series. The hero of the series is here Nathaniel an accounting drudge who works for a Scrooge-like manager and has a fiance who accounts his earnings the mark of a man. His father and potential father-in-law are both magnates in their own right. It is a letter from his Uncle out West that lures him to St. Louis and the adventure that becomes his future.
it was the stultifying close-mindedness of life in Eastern big cities, the criminal underbelly, filth and smog that drove Western migration. Famous outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid marvelled at their portrayal in the Dime Novels of their day. This pulp writing continues that tradition.
January 22, 2024
En pudsig fortælling om livet i det vilde vesten.
Nat King får et brev fra sin onkel, der lever som pelsjæger i Rocky Mountains. Han skriver at hvis Nat vil komme ud til ham, vil han dele en skat med ham.
Nat drager afsted på den store ekspedition i forventning om at komme hjem som en rig mand.
Turen til onklens hytte, er lang og farlig. De bliver forfulgt at gemene tyveknægte, angrebet af en bjørn og flere gange støder de ind i indianere.
Romanen er interessant og fortæller om, hvor svært det er at leve så tæt på naturen.
Nat King får et brev fra sin onkel, der lever som pelsjæger i Rocky Mountains. Han skriver at hvis Nat vil komme ud til ham, vil han dele en skat med ham.
Nat drager afsted på den store ekspedition i forventning om at komme hjem som en rig mand.
Turen til onklens hytte, er lang og farlig. De bliver forfulgt at gemene tyveknægte, angrebet af en bjørn og flere gange støder de ind i indianere.
Romanen er interessant og fortæller om, hvor svært det er at leve så tæt på naturen.
May 19, 2024
Nate King learns his uncle Zeke sends him word that he has found a treasure out West and he wants to share it with his favorite nephew. Nate decides to leave New York to meet his Uncle in St Louis to share the treasure mainly because his wife-to-be has made it clear that she is used to a certain lifestyle and his job as a bookkeeper won't keep her happy. Once Nate gets to St.Louis Xeke tells him he must go to his cabin in the mountains and that is where Nate's western education begins.
December 20, 2019
A good start to the series, doesn't do anything unexpected. Almost the entire book seems to be setting up for sequels(which there seems to be a lot of). Most of it revolves around showing how bad society/humanity can be.
It's a quick and fun, but seeing how much of it is setup, you'll wanna read the sequel, so the question is: Will the 60-something books after this be good?
It's a quick and fun, but seeing how much of it is setup, you'll wanna read the sequel, so the question is: Will the 60-something books after this be good?
December 23, 2021
The first in a long series of Mountain Man yarns. A letter comes for a 19 yo NYC accountant. His estranged uncle Zeke offers to share the Greatest Treasure if he joins him in St Louis, May 1828.
The story establishes Nate as a greenhorn with abilities along the way across the plains & into the Rockies. They encounter all the usual varmints. Well told
The story establishes Nate as a greenhorn with abilities along the way across the plains & into the Rockies. They encounter all the usual varmints. Well told
May 18, 2022
I love books that depict the era of the Mountain Men, beaver trappers and explorers in their own right. This was a great book that has setup all the other books that follow this series.
Main character story is great, the interactions between Nathaniel King and other characters is an easy flow that make for a great read.
Main character story is great, the interactions between Nathaniel King and other characters is an easy flow that make for a great read.
June 25, 2019
I listened to this as an audio book, and I liked it. I've been wanting to try a "western" for some time, and this is the 3rd or 4th one I started and the first I finished. I found the characters engaging, the story fast paced enough, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
December 7, 2017
Really entertaining version of a dudefied easterner becoming a mountain man. He joins his uncle and begins to learn. Unfortunately at the end his Uncle dies and from there he is on his own
January 25, 2021
I am enjoying this series so much for its pure escapism. I decided to go to the beginning and listen in order. Rusty Nelson is a great reader for this series.
April 29, 2021
What a page-turner! Really excited to see how Nate King's adventures progress. This was a great non-typical western.
July 19, 2021
Audiobook. A nieve 19 year old Nate goes on an adventure to get rich so he can marry his beloved in NY. Good description of the wilderness.
February 28, 2010
very good--nate king goes to the mountains of colorado with his uncle to find wealth beyond his imagination.
May 14, 2014
im stuck on these books but they are hard to find on ebook kindle nook and i woyuld rather read them omnline great books keeps me captivated i love westerns
April 7, 2011
audiobook
July 8, 2012
Great book!
September 7, 2012
Very enjoyable reading. I've read several of this series but still have over half left to read. Last time I checked, there were 64 books in the series!
March 17, 2015
AKA David Robbins
April 7, 2016
Wonderful read! A well written mountain man tale, with great characters and great promise. I am glad this is part of a series and look forward to reading more.
July 27, 2010
First of this frontier(c. 1828), lots of action, and little fluff series.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews