5 Novels of Honor, Courage, and the Spiritual Nature of the First Nations
I grew up watching John Wayne westerns and being taught Manifest Destiny—that the United States citizens of 1845 had a God-given mission to expand their borders all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Like many Americans, this was my early-education concerning Native Americans.
Luckily, I didn’t stop learning when I graduated school. By studying a more truthful history of the indigenous people of this country and their treatment, it was evident that history is written by the winners and conquerors.
Starting in the 1930’s, several award-winning authors told western and frontier tales from the viewpoint of the Indians: honorable people with a rich culture and high morals. Albeit mournful, these tales share what Native American life was like during those times and this historical fiction preserves history through stories that must be told.
Here are five groundbreaking stories at the vanguard of this movement and away from the “bloodthirsty savage.”
Buckskin Brigades by L. Ron Hubbard (1937)
The setting of this novel is Montana and the Great Northwest in 1806 with trappers, soldiers and fur companies invading any land that could supply beaver pelts for the felt-hat demand in Europe. Yellow Hair of the Pikunni tribe, raised in the ways of the Blackfeet, worries for the future of his people. He is tasked to infiltrate the white man to learn the English language and their ways to protect his tribe. Throughout the novel, the author illustrates how honorable the Indians are compared to the savage and immoral actions of the “civilized” white man:
“No matter what the traders’ appellations for them—’bloodthirsty thieves,’ ‘treacherous savages,’ ‘ignorant barbarians,’ and others—the Pikunis did not feel themselves obligated to verify these spurious titles by attacking the fort without real reason.”
At every turn, Yellow Hair, expecting to be treated with honor and respect, is thwarted, bullied and several times almost killed by men with no decency. This great adventure tale, was made even better through sharing the viewpoint of the Blackfeet Indians as heroes and the true guardians of the land. It is a tribute to the First Nations.
When the Legends Die by Hal Borland (1963)
A young Ute boy, Thomas Black Bull, is brought up in the traditional Indian ways but loses his parents at a young age. At the reservation school, the authorities deprive him of his lifestyle habits to “civilize” him and they treat him with prejudice simply because he is a Native American. Red Dillon helps train Thomas to better his riding skills and they go on the rodeo circuit, but Red controls him to ride the way that most benefits Red’s betting.
Thomas resents all the people who try to control him:
“Then he remembered and the whole pattern fell into place. Blue Elk, Benny Grayback, Rowena Ellis, Red Dillon—they had trapped him, every one of them, had tried to run his life, make him do things their way.”
After becoming seriously injured in a rodeo accident, Black Bull takes a job as a shepherd in the mountains of his youth. Here he finally finds contentment and re-engages with the old Ute ways, which are illustrated as spiritually deep, noble, and redemptive for Thomas Black Bull.
The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter (1953)
True Son (aka John Cameron Butler) who is now fifteen and has been raised by the Delaware Indians since age four, is told by a soldier who is forcibly returning him to the white world:
“’You’ve been away from us for a long time,’ Del soothed him. ‘When you’re back in our country a while, you’ll get used to us.’”
The novel contrasts the natural freedom of the Indian world versus the confining elements of living within civilization. At the same time, it shows the Indians to be more loving, rational and honorable (they fully accept any race as long as you are loyal to the tribe) versus the bigoted and close-minded whites who never fully accept Indians who embrace the white man’s ways and convert to Christianity. True Son is torn between his new-found younger white brother, and his Indian tribe.
Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge (1929)
This story won the Pulitzer Prize in 1930, written by a non-Native anthropologist author, whose deep respect for the Navajo culture is shown is his fully realized Indian heroes.
“’What is jail?’ asked Laughing Boy.
“Slender Hair explained: ‘It is something the American Chief does to you. He puts you in a room of stone, like a Moqui house, only it is dark and you can’t get out. People die there, they say. They haven’t any room; they can’t see anything, they say. I do not like to talk about it.’
“Laughing Boy thought, I should rather die. He wanted to ask more, but was ashamed to show his ignorance before these southern Navajos, many of whom wore hats like Americans, and who knew so much of Americans’ ways.”
This story is one that is as old as time. Laughing Boy, raised in the traditional ways, falls in love and marries Slim Girl, who had an American education. He ignores his families’ warnings about her and they settle far away from traditional Indian villages. Besides the differences in the way they were raised, the world and white culture is changing and encroaching, making for even more turmoil into their relationship. One theme running throughout the story is the beautiful and sophisticated Navajo life, aesthetics and values, while showing American influence as corrosive.
Sundown by John Joseph Mathews (1934)
John Mathews was born into the Osage Nation and one of their most important spokesmen. This semi-autobiographical story follows a mixed blood Osage, Challenge Windzer, as he navigates a greatly changing world. Oil money has come into the tribe which disrupts their way of life, and also attracts criminal activity, including Indian murder, by the leading whites in power.
“He felt the presence of the old gods in the wind that came from the west, and in the grass that bowed before it, and he knew that his fathers had felt that presence and had been comforted by it. The wind was the breath of the Great Spirit, and the grass was His hair, and the earth was His body, and all things were one with Him.”
Challenge feels torn between traditional values and the corrupt, materialistic world of white wealth. The novel is an early example of a Native author setting the tone, showing the Osage tribe as proud, organized and rich in spirit.
—————————————–
In our world where the indigenous peoples were painted for centuries as savages, this allowed “civilized” men to avoid considering the numerous atrocities committed against the peoples of the First Nations. It took until the 1990’s for films like “Dances with Wolves,” “Thunderheart” or “The Last of the Mohicans” to arrive on the scene, depicting Native Americans in culturally respectful ways.
Through their novels, the above authors were the first spark in this revolution by stepping outside the bloodthirsty-barbarian model, to show true Native American characters before it was “fashionable.” While there are good and bad apples among every race, these authors had the courage to step away from the stereotype and through these stories we glimpse these peoples―who were first and foremost humans above all else.
We are allowed to see examples that show the characters’ honor in contrast to the greedy men who worked to take their land, their heritage and abolish their way of life.
John Carey
John Carey paid the bills working as a programmer and IT project manager while he honed his writing skills at night and on the weekends. John’s second book, Not Worthy of the Air you Breathe, is set in the future where nations have taken a cue from the business world by terminating their-low performing citizens at the end of each year.
“This sweeping historical trilogy, set across the tumultuous years of the Second World War and the aftermath, assembles an unlikely fellowship of prisoners united by a single imperative: survival. But survival is not merely endurance – it is also the forging of camaraderie, the capacity for forgiveness, and the stubborn insistence on maintaining humour amid unrelenting hardship.
At the centre stands Lance Corporal Richard “Jock” Mitchell, the narrative thread binding the trilogy together. Resourceful, quick-thinking, and possessed of an instinctive generosity, Jock becomes both catalyst and compass, his resolve galvanising others into acts of courage and kindness.
In the first volume, the prisoners uncover a secret of startling consequence: the Germans are concealing a cache of gold. What follows is an audacious plan to “liberate” this treasure – a scheme requiring an escape from the camp, a hiding place for the gold, and ultimately a return to captivity. The risks are immense, and failure carries consequences too grave to ignore.
The second instalment turns a stark light on the brutal conditions endured within the camps and during the forced marches between them. Yet even here the series finds room for levity and moral choice, as the group grapples with the perilous decision to rescue an innocent in a decidedly unconventional manner.
By the third book, the war is over and Jock has returned home to his wife and young daughter, attempting to lay the ghosts of war to rest. But peace proves elusive. When he is presented with a compelling proposition – to return to Poland in search of the long-buried treasure – he is drawn once more into subterfuge. Travelling under the unlikely cover of a schoolgirls’ orchestra and accompanied by British government agents, Jock soon discovers that, as ever, nothing is quite what it seems.
In the Face of the Foe ultimately affirms that even amid humanity’s darkest chapters, compassion, solidarity, and the will to persevere endure as the true triumphs. It reminds us, too, of the fragility and preciousness of life, and of the imperative to make every moment count.
The books resonated deeply with me, so immersing me in their harrowing depictions of war that I found myself constantly measuring them against the relative comfort of contemporary life. The author does not shy away from the brutal realities, but balances them with flashes of levity that illuminate the resilience of the human spirit. The result is a compelling, finely crafted narrative and a thoroughly rewarding read, one I would readily recommend,” The International Review of Books.
MORE ABOUT THESE BOOKS:
Three action-packed adventures featuring British prisoner of war, Lance Corporal Richard ‘Jock’ Mitchell. One man’s story of survival across two conflicts, told in three tales.
After surrendering to the all-conquering Wehrmacht in France in May 1940 as part of the rearguard that allows the bulk of the British army to evacuate at Dunkirk, Jock faces five years of captivity in distant Poland under the brutal Nazis, and a lifetime of trauma and torment from his memories. Disarmed and forgotten, starved, and mistreated, Jock and his friends may have thought their war was over, but it’s only just begun.
Triumphant Where It Dares Defy (1941) – For those in the British army captured holding back the advancing Germans, things look grim. The Nazis have stolen their freedom and dignity, but after a year in captivity, it’s time to steal something back. Against his better judgement, Jock finds himself at the centre of a brazen plan to give Hitler a bloody nose. To succeed, he needs to break out of the prison camp… and back in.
A Place More Dark (1945) – After five years of hell, it’s about to get worse for the prisoners of Stalag XXA. Pawns in a deadly World War endgame, victory for the starved inmates is surviving their brutal Nazi overseers and an unforgiving winter’s march across Europe. Weak and a shadow of the man he once was, Jock still finds the strength to rescue the most unexpected of companions from the dangers of war-torn Europe.
For All the Treasures Buried Far (1948) – Germany has surrendered, but for the survivors from Stalag XXA, their war never ends. Still a prisoner of the ghosts and demons from his time as a captive under the Nazis, Jock returns to Poland, where death offers a drastic means of escape from his internal torment. But a greater, more appealing prize awaits if he can survive one last adventure in a new type of war against an old ally turned enemy, the Soviet Union.
A former roommate of mine once pointed out, correctly, that I am a creature of ritual.
I have a Halloween Ritual: every year since about 1998, I have enjoyed my Halloween day by watching the movie “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” based on the Ray Bradbury novel of the same name, listening to a recording of Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air’s 1938 broadcast of “The War of the Worlds,” and watching the “Night on Bald Mountain” sequence from the movie “Fantasia.”
In a conversation with my cousin (a HUGE fan of Halloween), she asked what I was doing this year. I told her of the above ritual, and while she liked them, she asked what I like to read for Halloween.
That got me thinking about some of the scariest (and I don’t scare easily), most suspenseful, creepiest, and best stories I have read…
It is my belief that in reading a scary story, a person wants to experience the excitement and the nerve-racking emotion of FEAR in a safe space.
Here are my recommended suspense books for the Halloween season:
1. Fear by L. Ron Hubard
I want to start with the classic novella Fear by L.Ron Hubbard. It is a story which perfectly follows Lovecraft’s description of the strongest kind of fear as “fear of the unknown.” To say more would require spoilers, so I will simply say this: READ THIS BOOK if you enjoy a good scare. Of this book, Stephen King has said:
“Fear is actually one of the books in the chiller genre which actually merits employment of the overworked adjective ‘classic,’ as in ‘This is a classic tale of creeping, surreal menace and horror,’ one of the really, really good ones.”
I completely agree with Mr. King’s assessment. This book will make your Halloween suitably creepy. I hope your reading this Halloween is absolutely SPOOKTACULAR!
2. The Call of Cthulhu & At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft, often acknowledged as the father of Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror, once wrote in a 1927 essay entitled “Supernatural Horror in Literature,” “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” The essay goes on to claim that this fear is mostly psychological in nature and is the basis for the best works of horror.
Thus, I highly recommend the stories of H.P. Lovecraft. He is not for everyone, but I like his tales. The titles I recommend are his signature novella, “The Call of Cthulhu,” where he introduces the cult of the Elder Gods and what lies beyond the void. Lovecraft’s “Cthulhu Mythos” permeates his work. His best novella, in my opinion, is “At the Mountains of Madness,” which deals with discoveries surrounding an ancient civilization on or near Antarctica. If you’re new to Lovecraft, I recommend beginning with two of his stories, “The Cats of Ulthar” (have you ever suspected that your cat was plotting revenge? You weren’t far wrong!) and “The Music of Erich Zann,” which deals with the dangers of staring into the void.
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I am also a fan of Gothic Horror, especially the “classics.” Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, or The New Prometheus is often accepted as the first Science Fiction novel. It also crosses into the realm of horror, but in reading the novel one discovers that the “horror” lies not in the monster, but in the man.
4. Dracula by Bram Stoker
Another favorite of mine is Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel Dracula. When I first read it, I did not know that it was a story told through a series of letters and diary entries. I also discovered, much to my delight, that this is not primarily a horror tale, but a love story that transcends time. The Dracula movies don’t really emphasize this aspect. Read the novel and you’ll see what I mean.
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Two other Gothic novels that I love are The Woman in White (Wilkie Collins, 1860), which is essentially a story of ghosts, gaslighting, deception, and identity, and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, which I first read in high school for an AP English class. It is a ghostly love story and remains to this day my second favorite novel ever. There is also a terrific song called “Wuthering Heights,” released by Kate Bush in 1978 and covered by Pat Benatar in 1980.
6. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
No Halloween reading list would be complete without mentioning the stories and poems of Edgar Allen Poe. I especially recommend “The Fall of the House of Usher,” which has been called the most perfectly constructed short story ever by Stephen King. Other recommended Poe titles include “The Black Cat,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and of course “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.”
7. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Other short stories that I highly recommend are “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892), a thoroughly fascinating trip into insanity, and H.H. Munro’s (Saki) “Sredni Vashtar,” which absolutely terrified me when I read it in 6th grade. I reread it before writing this article, and even now it’s very creepy!
Conclusion
While some of these are classics, I hope at least one of the these recommended suspense books gives you a good scare this Halloween.
Let me know which one you try and if you agree that these are some of the scariest, suspenseful, creepiest, and best stories.
Bob Weber is a United States Navy Veteran, having served 15 years in the submarine force. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Physics (B.S.) and English (B.A.) from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Education degree from Grand Canyon University. After his Navy service ended, he spent 20+ years teaching English, Physics, Math, Chemistry, and Religion at an all boys’ Catholic High School in San Diego. He currently resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he is retired and continuing to observe his favorite.
In The Book of Chaos, readers are plunged into a richly imagined world of epic fantasy where political machinations, wartime strategy, and personal sacrifice collide. At the heart of this sweeping narrative is Diana, a fierce and multifaceted heroine whose journey is as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. With its intricate world-building, layered intrigue, and relentless pace, The Book of Chaos delivers a gripping saga of resilience, loyalty, and transformation. For fans of epic fantasy seeking depth, drama, and a protagonist who earns every inch of her growth, this novel is a compelling must-read.
Which line stood out from all the others in the book?
“Never surrender.”
General Summary for Context:
Diana and her mother are on the run from assassins. Just as they’re about to escape, an arrow strikes her mother. Consumed by grief, Diana only has her father to lean on, but solace is short-lived, as he is soon called away to war once again.
With her country constantly under threat from the Sulerian Empire, Diana sets out on a quest across the land to find a book, The Book of Chaos, believed to hold the key to changing the course of the war. Her journey is long, filled with countless obstacles, battles, and painful losses. Along the way, she transforms into a skilled warrior. But the greatest challenge still awaits her at the journey’s end—a final battle that will test everything she has become.
Concise Review:
Diana and her mother are on the run from ruthless assassins. Just as they near safety, an arrow claims her mother’s life. Looking at the flames, as they take her mother, Diana makes a vow—to find the one book that might turn the tide in the war against the Sulerians. But her journey doesn’t begin right away. Her father doesn’t believe in magic, and doesn’t let her go. What follows is a difficult period in Diana’s life—a time of grief, growth, and intense training. She learns to fight, to survive, and grows stronger with each day.
Later, now a princess, Diana finally gets her chance. She embarks on a long journey across the land to retrieve The Book of Chaos—a book that could change the course of the war. Along the way, she faces danger, betrayal, and challenges beyond anything she could imagine before.
Although part of a larger series, The Book of Chaos can stand powerfully on its own. It’s an epic fantasy filled with political intrigue, war plans, and a journey of a young woman fighting for her people. Diana’s character development is one of the highlights of the book—watching her grow from a grieving daughter to a fearless warrior was truly inspiring. She works through pride, overcomes many challenges thrown her way, and earns her place in the world.
I liked worldbuilding, and loved getting lost in the strange, magical lands alongside Diana. Even though this is the third installment, it feels like we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what this world holds.
One of my favorite parts was watching Diana’s growth—and that epilogue brought the story full circle. You know the fantasy book is going to be a good one when it starts with a gorgeous map – it adds so much to the experience.
I highly recommend The Book of Chaos to anyone who loves epic fantasy with an interesting world, layered political drama, and a fierce, complex heroine at its heart. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish—and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
General Thoughts on the Novel:
It’s an emotional journey for Diana—one of growth, perseverance, and resilience. However, the emotional struggles in the early chapters felt more told than shown. It made it a bit harder to connect with her at first.
The story itself is incredibly vast, with many moving parts—from political intrigue and wartime strategies to espionage, adventure, and personal struggle. Because of this complexity, I felt the main storyline got a bit buried in the first quarter of the book.
But once the story found its footing, it got very good, very fast. I was completely hooked by the adventure and couldn’t wait to see where the plot would take me next. The pacing picked up, the stakes rose, and every chapter pulled me in deeper.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The writing is strong, but where the book truly shines is in its character development. Diana’s transformation is compelling and believable, and watching her grow into her strength—emotionally and physically—was the best part!
A Pleasant Fiction: A Novelistic Memoir by Javier De Lucia is perfect for readers who find meaning in quiet, character-driven stories of resilience, compassion, and emotional depth—especially those who appreciate narratives that offer both perspective and hope in the face of life’s harshest trials.
.
Which line stood out from all the others in the book?
“Not everyone has to become their disabled baby brother’s guardian and watch him die in between their parents’ deaths.”
General Summary for Context:
This isn’t exactly a tearjerker—but it’s not far off, either. At its heart, this is the story of one man’s quiet resilience in the face of relentless tragedy, loss, frustration, and a crisis of faith. He’s not an angry man—just someone who has grown disillusioned with God after a lifetime of hardship. Frankly, if I had gone through even half of what he endures, I’d be screaming at the heavens and everyone in earshot.
It begs the question: Does God ever ask more of us than we can bear?
The protagonist of this book is, in many ways, my personal hero. How is he still standing after enduring the unimaginable—his wife’s seven miscarriages (yes, seven!), a medically necessary abortion, a brother with severe disabilities who later loses the use of an arm, and the death of both parents? Meanwhile, I found myself upset today because my nail polish had a hint of orange in it. Perspective, much?
This book reminds you what truly matters. It’s deeply human, quietly powerful, and lingers long after the last page.
Concise Review:
This isn’t quite a tearjerker—but it brushes close, in the most human and hopeful of ways. At its heart, this is the story of one man’s journey through profound challenges: personal loss, frustration, and a crisis of faith. Yet what sets this book apart is not the weight of the sorrow, but the quiet strength and joy the protagonist continues to find amid it all.
Despite enduring his wife’s seven miscarriages, the heartbreak of a medically necessary abortion, the daily demands of caring for a severely disabled sibling who later loses use of an arm, and the death of both parents—he never hardens. He never turns bitter. Instead, he remains a gentle, altruistic soul, deeply connected to his wife, his son, and his circle of devoted friends. His career brings him moments of purpose; his family, moments of warmth. In a world that could have broken him, he chooses compassion over despair.
Reading this made me reflect on my own priorities—I mean, I caught myself feeling dramatic over nail polish with an orange tint. Perspective, right? This book doesn’t just make you feel—it makes you recalibrate. A quietly powerful read that reminds us that the capacity for joy and goodness can persist, even under the heaviest of burdens.
General Thoughts on the Novel:
This book compelled me to reflect deeply on my own values—on what truly matters beneath the surface noise of daily life. (Nail polish disasters included.) The protagonist’s journey is marked by profound adversity: not even a fleeting taste of fortune—his family’s brief, ill-fated lottery win—could shield him from life’s unrelenting trials. And yet, he endures. Not with bitterness or cynicism, but with a quiet determination to live meaningfully, to love generously, and to keep moving forward.
What moved me most was not simply his resilience, but the grace with which he faces each setback—personal and professional alike. He emerges not hardened but luminous, retaining a fundamental gentleness and a desire to contribute positively to the lives of others. That, to me, is the essence of true strength. An inspiring and humbling read.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
I grew up watching John Wayne westerns and being taught Manifest Destiny—that the United States citizens of 1845 had a God-given mission to expand their borders all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Like many Americans, this was my early-education concerning Native Americans.
Buckskin Brigades by L. Ron Hubbard (1937)
When the Legends Die by Hal Borland (1963)
Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge (1929)
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
In The Book of Chaos, readers are plunged into a richly imagined world of epic fantasy where political machinations, wartime strategy, and personal sacrifice collide. At the heart of this sweeping narrative is Diana, a fierce and multifaceted heroine whose journey is as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. With its intricate world-building, layered intrigue, and relentless pace, The Book of Chaos delivers a gripping saga of resilience, loyalty, and transformation. For fans of epic fantasy seeking depth, drama, and a protagonist who earns every inch of her growth, this novel is a compelling must-read.
