Flatlands is believable and complex. This story ranks with the classic depictions of the marvel that was the Old West, that great, vanished moment in history; within its strong atmosphere of reality, fiction intertwines with known facts of the time. This novel is a study in the strength of interaction between individuals of the same family or group, and explores stress and loyalty in the face of hostile odds. Flatlands rewards the reader with rich insight into character and situation. Its individual tune interrupts shock and sorrow with irresistible laughter. A gripping original.