Sparks, put yourself on report for being a smartass.
Aye sir!
Shotguns, RayGuns and Chupacabras - welcome to the Weird, Wired West of WATCHER of the DAMNED: SIX-GUN SHIVA!
When a mutant Bounty Hunter gets waylaid by his adorable clone-Fugitive, a New Tejas Ranger rides in to save the day... but nothing is ever simple when you're fighting the System. Racing through the Texas WildLands, the Ranger and the Watcher chase down their Fugitive while battling Chupacabras, Blue Northers and Secret Civilizations of Post-Apocalyptic, Post-Viral Texas. Will our Heroes survive, or Join the ranks of the UnHallowed Dead? Find out in the second book of the Watcher of the Damned Series - SIX-GUN SHIVA!
Fight the System - Join the Revolution with WATCHER of the DAMNED!
JD, I hear you saying, this looks familiar, didn’t you review this one already? No fam, this is the sequel! Watcher of the Damned II: Electric Boogaloo. OK, fine, it’s much better than that pile of blaxploitation schlock, but it was funny, admit it. If you’re confused, see here for my review of the first book in the series. But what should we know about this, the continuation of the story?
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Well first of all I must say right off the bat that my own flippant prediction does not come true. No, Rose does not get a spanking from a peeved Watcher. I for one see this as a lost opportunity, but there’s actually little opportunity for it as fast this plot moves. I’m sure The Watcher was thinking about it, but he was a mite busy, since Rose was playing rather hard to get. He doesn’t even really catch up to his fugitive until over hundred pages in. And of course he wouldn’t want to do anything to provoke the sudden six-gun wrath of the Ranger he’s been saddled with. Evangelo is something of a straight man and White Knight to Watcher’s worldly wise Winston Wolf-ishness. Probably wouldn’t take it well.
Along the way, we do get the opportunity to learn more about the wicked so-called Church Fathers and their beliefs and ways, and even meet a few. But not too much, because Watcher then proceeds to go, well himself, on their smooth-skin assess. Six wanna be divine beings, or one pissed off macho mutant mandalf? I’m sure you can guess how that goes. I cast shotgun! One of them manages to get away, but only because Watcher has bigger issues and more pressing concerns.
You see, The Watcher and Evangelo are only just now learning how deep this rabbit hole goes. Somehow, the corrupt System of the New Tejas Coop is working hand in mutated paw with the Church of the Fathers. Evangelo’s Chief is riding with the smooth-skins and all of Evangelo’s dark suspicions about moral corruption and turpitude within the ranks of the Tejas Coop Rangers and inherent within the System are shewn to no just be true, but even worse than imagined. If only you knew how bad it really is, kid. Thus, the Kid and the Boss Ranger have their own draw down and it’s the Kid that walks away, if only but.
Their fugitive captured and bridges well and truly burned, our unlikely trio proceed to escape and evade. Searching the cold wintry high plains of post happening Tejas for some safe place. Actually, they are four. They have picked up a Chupacabra pup along the way, name of Oscar. Despite Watcher’s best efforts he becomes one of the party. But it seems everyone else in Tejas wants a piece of these four. Starting with the King of the Goat Suckers, a massive alpha-wolf-bear-mutant-thing what seems to take it a mite personal-like that Evangelo and Watcher killed his mate while trying to corner Rose.
Again, I must call out attention to our dear Author’s own artwork in these volumes. Click the pic for the link.
While running from the corrupt anti-Rangers, cultists, dire mutants, and evading herds of bison and regular coyotes and wolves and cougars and snakes and whatever else, we finally have the first layer of the mystery of Rose and Watcher’s magnetism to each other revealed. Yes they are mutually fertile. But this revelation is tinged in tragedy. One suspects that there’s more to unveil here, that maybe this flower of life is perhaps more than just a fucked-up story and mission-impossible used to distract the Asura before they are dismissed from the Deva’s service. Dismissed right in the back of the head.
Most of this book is taken up with a brutally difficult and dangerous travel narrative. A post-apocalyptic cross country horse-ride, escaping and evading all manner of man and beast. Going by other reviews, some found this volume to be of lesser interest than the first, as if the travel narrative is functionally transitional in nature. As if this volume simply takes us the readers and the characters from the places and situations of the first volume to the third. I disagree. I think this work surpasses the first. I learned much more about who Rose and Watcher are, as well as their world. I enjoyed the scenery and the slow burn of the wary relationships of each of our three main characters as they slowly get over their doubts and traumas and come to rely on each other. And I enjoyed seeing our dear Author come into her own powers as a writer, a most gratifying progress.
This is starting to feel like an issue of Tim Truman’s Scout… I wonder…
After finally dealing with the Chupacabra King in a big damn showdown, we reach Rivendell. Or the next best thing. A well kept hunting cabin off the System’s map. Where the ‘Wildland Express Ranger Command’ hides itself from the System. This Ranger splinter faction has remained free, out from under the System’s suffocating weight. And it is here that we meet The Watcher’s new boss. Back in the first volume, The Watcher bullshitted the System into transferring his contract to the legendary, mythical, barely acknowledged ‘Wilderness Express’ command. The Express riders are the Tejas Coop’s links to the outside world, to the mysterious other factions of survivors, and move trade goods across the mutated landscape.
Now Watcher comes face to face with the object of his Hail Mary pass. And The Man himself-himself does not disappoint. He has answers to many of the questions plaguing Evangelo, Rose, Watcher, and us the readers. But first he must recruit Watcher’s AND Rose’s willing cooperation, because neither Beauty nor Beast have any interest in exchanging old chains for new ones. And it is here that we get one final revelation. I shan’t say what it is, only give one little clue.
I can only applaud R.H’s smooth delivery and aplomb here. Slow clap. I should say that this work is so full of little references and callouts that I only touch on the surface in this review. This is a well seasoned and tastefully cooked meal for the well read reader. I want more.
That’s it, survey complete. Sparks, pass the data to the fleet with our complements. Comps, start crunching our next jump. All hands prepare for jump. Sparks, let’s have a tune.
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina Music would play and Felina would whirl
Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina Wicked and evil while casting a spell My love was deep for this Mexican maiden I was in love but in vain, I could tell
One night a wild young cowboy came in Wild as the West Texas wind Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved
So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden Down went his hand for the gun that he wore My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran Out where the horses were tied I caught a good one, it looked like it could run Up on its back and away I did ride
Just as fast as I could From the West Texas town of El Paso Out to the badlands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless Everything's gone in life, nothing is left It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden My love is stronger than my fear of death
I saddled up and away I did go Riding alone in the dark Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart
And at last, here I am on the hill, overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa's cantina below My love is strong and it pushes me onward Down off the hill to Felina I go
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys Off to my left ride a dozen or more Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me I have to make it to Rosa's back door
Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel A deep burning pain in my side Though I am trying to stay in the saddle I'm getting weary, unable to ride
But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere Felina has found me Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for One little kiss and Felina, goodbye
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EEEEe I was so scared but I LOVE that you Love it!