Blood Debt

by F.M. Parker

Book by Parker, F. M.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 1988

About the author

As a boy F. M. Parker hitchhiked around the country working as a sheepherder in Montana, a bellhop in Colorado, and a logger in Ohio. He received a B. S. in Geology from the University of Dayton, and did graduate work in Geology at Ohio State University. He worked in the factories of GM and Chrysler at night to put himself through college. After that he went into the U. S. Navy for 5 « years with service in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans aboard the Timbalier, AVP 54, a seaplane tender.

After the navy he was employed as a geologist in the oil fields of Kansas, and as an exploration geologist in the uranium mines of Utah. After four years as a geologist, Parker became a manager in the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Department of Interior. He worked in several western states and Washington, DC, then progressed up through the ranks to become District Manager of the Vale District in Oregon, which is as much as 5 million acres. He was responsible for the management of the multiple resources of the land and its environmental protection. He was responsible for hundreds of grazing permits, several herds of wild horses, wild rivers, wildlife, recreation, timber, fire fighting and other factors regarding such a large land area.

Doubleday published his first book in 1981. The title was Skinner and there was an interesting story behind that title. The chairman of the grazing advisory board was named Skinner and the Skinner of Parker's novel was a drunkard and a pistoleer, while the real Skinner was a rancher and a straight arrow. Parker wasn't sure how the real Skinner would take the use of his name, but he laughed and thought it was a good story.

Reviews

[Ward G]

Once again an epic time period tale.

Mixing the story characters. Among actual factual events and persons of that time.

Set among war with Mexico.
Good attention to the details of events.
As well as placements actually in the country.

More than a few plot threads working back and forth.
As Texas rangers aid regular army, and cavalry.
Trying to defeat Santa Anna's forces at Mexico city.

Mid range marks. As again seemed to develop and flow.
On a grand scale.
Then quick, hurry up finish.
A few of the characters fates. Left unresolved.

Still very entertaining, and good. For fans of stories.
Set in that time period.

[Alton Motobu]

Mexican War, 1847, Texas Ranger and Army officer become friends but endure many hardships from battle. The officer decides to rob banks to get money for the families of his fallen men, and the ranger is assigned to bring him in. Subplots: a young woman disguises herself as a boy, a high-class prostitute wants to escape her life, but neither of these story lines is developed. Good action but simplistic writing.