Book - Hock's My Gun is My Passport |
|
|
The early 1900s. A time just after the American gunfighter, and right before the noir detective. A time when men with a certain experience were called upon to solve difficult problems - men like Johann Gunther, former military officer, ex-Texas lawman, and owner of a special firm called Remedies in Ft. Worth, Texas. Gunther, having served under Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba, finds himself summoned by the president in 1905 for a special assignment. His job, to accompany a U.S. and British Army expedition to faraway Afghanistan and find a missing Colonel. Once he arrives, he discovers the Colonel is involved with Russians in the “Great Game” of turning Afghanistan into a pivotal point in a land grab for all the riches of the Asian continent. Join Gunther as he tracks renegade Indians in Montana, then battles foreign spies in a deadly Atlantic crossing. Ride with him as he fights vicious, bloodthirsty tribesmen and political madmen through the Straits of Gibralter into India and up the Khyber Pass for a climatic battle at a fortress atop the world. "The great American hero/anti-hero returns, in a classic, big adventure that unfolds like Lonesome Dove meets Indiana Jones. Gunther, like my other character Jack Kellog, in Be Bad Now, is a serial character, and he will return." - Hock Hochheim 363 pages. "What an incredible story! A Heart of Darkness type thriller full of lots of Cowboy Action moments. It really was a breath of fresh air compared to what I have been reading recently. I can't wait for more adventures of Johann Gunther." - Keith Miller, Sacramento, CA "This was fantastic! An American adventurer travelling through India at the time of the Raj, Calvary charges, intrigue on the high seas, the Great game played out in the passes of the Hindu Kush. I just met Johann Gunther in a tale of high adventure, exotic locations, frontier justice in a page turning good read." - Russell Gauden, Canada "Hock - First chance I've had to sit down and let you know how much I enjoyed your new novel, My Gun is my Passport. The novel was very exciting to read with engaging characters...Once the characters go to the final dinner - the tension and actions build to a point it became exhausting to read (in a good way). I would stop reading and literally feel my heart racing. My brother-in-law snagged it and read it also. Liked it so much, he asked me if I had any other of your books, so I tossed him a copy of Be Bad Now. Keep cranking 'em out!" - Keith Plouffe, Maine USA "I just wanted to drop you a quick note and tell you how much I enjoyed My Gun Is My Passport. At first I wasn't sure I'd appreciate it based on the period (a kind of weird period between the Old West and WWI) but I sure did. It was fast-paced and keep me hooked the whole way, waiting to see what happened. I found the Star of Africa character particularly unusual and interesting and was shocked what happened to her. I like how you used the U.S. cavalry in the story, the interaction with Teddy Roosevelt and how you turned Lydia from a drunken hardcase into a sympathetic character who had her own nobility. When I read, I see these things as movies in my mind and I really enjoyed the movie. Gunther is an unusual character in an unusual time that is seldom explored. Thanks for a great mental movie. I really enjoyed it." - Ed Stowers, USA "Just finished "My Gun is my Passport" and gotta tell ya', I loved it! For me, the true measure of how much I enjoy a book is the sense of disappointment when I am finished with it realizing I can't keep on going with the characters. Really, really good stuff, and hope you have a sequel or continuation of the Gunther series in the works." - Rob Kloss, Maryland, USA "I don't read many fictional books more than once. This one is an exception. Great story written in a wonderfully flowing style that made it a very pleasureable read. Looking forward to the next "Gunther" yarn." - David Kerwood, Mississippi, USA "Pictures are worth many words, buts words form vivid pictures. W. Hock Hochheim’s “My Gun is My Passport” soaks readers with episodes of daring, adventure, bravery, death, crime, honor, humor and gunfights. In the first few minutes, just after meeting one of the men from Remedies Unlimited, a maverick named Johann Gunther; a boy dies, and a father weeps and is jolted by the reality that faces him. During this time in American History, a time truly gone with the wind, it was still kill or be killed. Brutal dictators, civil servants, and honest men were all wrestling with their circumstances, not to mention riches, fame and glory. The ruckus continues with shoot outs with bandits, and you sense that you might have a good hunch of(on) how he found himself in Afghanistan. The tales of Johann Gunther are a mix of lonely Texas cowboy, and patriotic prince with a bad case of .45 caliber justice on a bad day, or Luger pushiness when he’s loungin around. Hochheim is a fantastic writer, with hundreds, maybe even thousands of real life tales, reports, articles, books, and instruction manuals under his belt. He’s found admirable characters set in chaotic times that are not far long gone, but long gone non the less. I’m fighting not to use the word harken, but I’ve got to say, “My Gun is My Passport” is a great read, even a second time. I look forward to more from W. Hock Hochheim. - Gerald Barnett, France "My Gun Is My Passport, ISBN: 9781932113389, Lauric Press, by W. Hock Hochheim is an unusual western that begins and ends in the United States but most of the action takes place in Afghanistan. Johann Gunther is a former enlisted soldier who later graduated from West Point, rose to Major and resigned to head up his own “Gun For Hire’ organization because it is far more lucrative. His background includes forays into the American Wild West, Africa, the Philippines and charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt. The story opens on a foray for hire in Wyoming after which he is hired by President Teddy Roosevelt to work with a joint English/American expeditionary force. The charge is to ascertain what happened to an American officer who had been sent to find some legendary horses in Afghanistan, with a secret side-order to kill the officer if, as expected, he is working against the best interests of the United States. The story revolves around the problems of command between various forces – British and American Commanders and the more knowledgeable Johann Gunther - and attempting to pass through the various passes in Afghanistan under the guns of hostile tribesmen. Introduction of numerous other characters add to the problems and conflicts of the journey and provide most interesting additional and supportive material. The action scenes are well done and the extensive running battle scenes are some of the best I’ve read. Additionally, it is indeed pleasant to read a “Western that is not the usual “Western”. The Western Writers of America constantly mention the fact that “something ‘new’ should be brought into Western Literature to help revitalize the genre”. Well here is something ‘new’. I don’t know whether this book was entered into their yearly Award Contest, but certainly does provide that ‘different element’ to which they so often refer. However, to reiterate, it is soooo nice to read a “Western” where the usual sheriff is not taming a town, the ranch hand is not saving the ranch from unscrupulous persons or the rustlers have to be stopped. The overall story is so generally well handled that I believe readers will thoroughly enjoy this departure from the “usual western” read. - John Manhold - book reviewer |
