Walt Longmire, Craig Johnson's sheriff from Absaroka County in Wyoming, made his first short story appearance in, "Old Indian Trick" about ten years ago. That story went on to win the Cowboys & Indians Tony Hillerman award. Johnson sent it in a Christmas newsletter that year, then learned the following year that subscribers were waiting for the next Walt Longmire Christmas story. What's a writer to do? He went on to write eleven more short stories, now released as Wait for Signs.There are Christmas settings, a Memorial Day one, a New Year's story, and ordinary stories of not-so-ordinary occurrences in the life of a Wyoming sheriff. As Johnson says in his Acknowledgements, some are mysteries; some of the stories have some mysterious elements; and some have none. In other words, these are typical Craig Johnson, and Walt Longmire, stories. Lou Diamond Phillips, who played Henry Standing Bear in the television show Longmire, points out the difficulty in creating characters, settings and a plot, and making them come together in an absorbing short story. Craig Johnson succeeds beautifully in every one of the stories in this collection.
Those of us who read the books, or watched the television series, will welcome Walt, along with the appearance of familiar characters - Henry Standing Bear, Vic, Dog, Cady, Lucian Connally, And, there are familiar symbols and stories, such as the owls, and Walt's Christmas connection with Dickens' A Christmas Carol. There's the trademark wry humor, along with the kindness. Although Johnson says "Walt is kind, decent, caring", there's that same kindness in Henry. And, there's a darkness in both men as well, a loneliness at times. It makes both of them human, not super-human.
Wait for Signs should be added to so many collections. Consider it as a gift for those who love, and miss, Westerns. It's a perfect companion to Johnson's Spirit of Steamboat. I'm buying a copy for myself to keep with my favorite Christmas books, even though not all the stories are set at Christmastime. It's for all of us who want to know what Walt Longmire is up to in between his larger adventures. And, it's for all of us who love Craig Johnson's beautiful writing, his stories about Walt and his friends. In fact, Craig Johnson's Wait for Signs is just right, for so many reasons.
(And, on a non-book related note, Wait for Signs could also be a banner of hope for all of us who have tweeted, hoping a network would pick up Longmire. This book is for all of us who regret the loss of one of the best shows on television. For all those who support it, #LongLiveLongmire.)
Craig Johnson's website is www.craigallenjohnson.com
Wait for Signs by Craig Johnson. Viking. 2014. ISBN 9780523427919 (hardcover), 183p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library book
9 comments:
Thanks, Lesa. I think this one needs to go on my Christmas wish list.
You're welcome, Patricia! Always glad to help with wish lists!
Finally my library system decided they were going to get it so I am on the hold list. Looking forward to the read.
Doesn't it make you wonder, Kevin, why a library system in Texas would wait to order a Craig Johnson book?
No, because, at least here, there is a huge push for digital content and community outreach stuff instead of buying books.
Sigh. I see it everywhere, Kevin, and I'm not crazy about it. Why reach out when you don't have books to share? I know I'm old school. Until I die, the library will always be books to me, even when I work with digital and review it once in a while. Fortunately, even if the world goes digital, I have enough books to last my lifetime.
I go for the books too. I do think digital has its place and I am certainly not against it. Not only has digital allowed me to publish some of my older stuff again in a new venue, I have read a lot of good stuff via digital.
And, quite honestly, when we go to the hospital for my wife's stuff the old Kindle I was given can't be beat. Not having to carry a print book as the kindle is in her purse while I work my cane and fight doors can't be beat.
You're right, Kevin. It does have its place. And, I have a friend who loves that she can make the print larger because it makes it so much easier for her to read. I shouldn't complain. I just don't like to see books suffer for the sake of digital.
I am doing the larger print thing too on Kindle. I need to go do the eye exam and get new glasses, but can't afford it and they are not covered on my Aetna Medicare plan.
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