A Review of The New Viking Gold Mine.

A review of The New Viking Gold Mine, By Clifford Farris



Review by E, Scott Ieppert



Summary

Bjorn Amundson owns the New Viking Gold Mine. Lonely hot days in grueling working conditions force Amundson to seek help working his claim. Traveling to the nearby spread of the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, Bjorn meets up with an earlier acquaintance, the beautiful Maria. During a luxurious diner party, Amundson covertly flirts with Maria Rojas, who responds in kind. (I’m jealous of the cigars they smoked) Bjorn leaves the party with a glowing pride and an esteemed gift. Not long after returning home, Amundson is left delirious from a cougar attack. His faithful companion, Boudica, (Nice name choice here) summons help. A shamanic woman helps heal Bjorn’s fever. While delirious, Amundson dreamed. His departed father narrates as Bjorn the Bold participates in the sacred rites of the berserkers. (an interesting set up to the curse). After the battle at Chartres, Bjorn the Bold is blamed for Rollo’s defeat. He’s accused of cowardice, his line is cursed, and he must duel for the remnants of his honor. Amundson’s father charges the delirious miner to lift this family blight.



With help from the Hatfield twins, Bjorn works his mine. The twins accompany Bjorn Amundson as he attends the Calaveras County fair. There he hopes to see Maria. Amundson enters the bull riding event, impressing Maria Rojas. The two dance together that night, after some playful flirtations from Maria. Mrs. Alva also dances with Bjorn. The two ladies compete for the man’s affections. Bjorn leads a daring jailbreak as Jethro and Maverick Hatfield, along with his rascal friend Joaquín’ Murrieta, are arrested for nonpayment of a new mining tax. Amundson leads an angry mob against the jail’s goalers. A blast of black powder frees all imprisoned miners. After procuring supplies, Bjorn and the twins set about making corn liquor, according to Maverick’s recipe. Alva teaches Amundson to read.



Bandits are captured trying to rob Bjorn and his crew. The miners successfully terrify the claim jumpers, guaranteeing they wouldn’t return. Bjorn entertains the twins with a retelling of his encounter with a Grizzley years before. When Amundson suspects danger for a friendly prospector, he sets off with Jethro Hatfield to find his friend. Having found and reburied the grisly remains of the prospector, the pair join Maverick for a drink. Amundson bets on a cockfight. The claim jumpers return, wrecking Maverick’s still. Maverick supplies barbeque for the Squatters Meeting. At the meeting, Amundson rouses the assembled rabble against Brennan and his claim jumping sheriff. Doc Robbinson is elected President of the Meeting. Brennan’s marauders smash the Murietta Family claim, killing Joaquín’s brother and many others. Bjorn gathers a motley crew to revenge against Brennan and his hired lawman, who arrest them all during a raid on the New Viking claim. He has unwittingly signed away ownership of his mine to secure release. Bjorn rallies his forces and builds an army of miners. All attack Brannan’s store with a berserker's rage, but to no avail. Jethro is killed. Maverick is shot in the leg and Bjorn subdued. After arrest, Bjorn is informed he had signed away his mine to Brennan. Mrs. Alva Dahl visits her student aboard the prison ship La Grange. While aboard, Bjorn agrees to accompany his friend Porter to Europe, where he intends to petition the king of Norway. He wants the family curse lifted. Bjorn obtains help with his petition from Mrs. Alva. Maverick and Joaquín’ resolve to break Amundson from prison. Porter joins the assembled rabble as they make plans. The group rouse a mob to assault La Grange as her rests in harbor. Bjorn makes his escape. Alva and Maria Put their differences aside to help their giant friend.



After an exciting paddlewheel trip, Amundson and Porter look for a metalsmith to fashion a goblet for the King of Norway. With a golden chalice, Maverick, and Porter in tow, Bjorn sails to Norway to petition the King. Along the way Amundson polished his petition. In Bremerhaven, Germany, Maverick is arrested and released after paying a fine. In Norway, I mentor helps Bjorn with the regal protocol of the Norwegian Court. He gets his audience with the King. An offended sovereign locks Bjorn in prison, who is then audienced with the prince of the realm. Amundson becomes Norwegian Ambassador to California. A ritual performed by a practiced shaman lifts the Amundson blight.





Analysis



This is a well written and engaging story. Themes of loyalty, betrayal, wrath, and revenge make for a compelling plot. I thought I had found a few plot holes; they were filled in later. So, no problems there. I did find a few minor problems that I listed below. I hope I didn’t take too long on this. I enjoyed your book very much. You are a talented writer.







Pg 31. You wrote “Vallejo’s private orchestra entertained the guests through the night with after dinner music, dancing, and rivalry.” I’m assuming you meant revelry.



Pg 34. You wrote “Drawing on traditional healing skills learned by generations and generations of medicine man and woman, she ministered to the delirious blonde man.” Considering that generations is plural; it follows that man, and woman should also be plural.



Pg 35. You wrote “Bearskins over their bare bodies bonded each berserker to his totem animal.” This I am not certain on as it may be a direct translation of the Sagas. Were there no devotees of Fenrir in the group? Not a problem with the story at all, just curious, I guess.



Pg 50. You wrote “Odin, himself, gives us the wisdom is that everything fades except the wordfame, and that never dies.” Sounds odd. Remove “is”. How about this “Odin, himself, gives us the wisdom: everything fades except the wordfame, and that never dies.”?



Pg 62. You wrote “The day of diversion in town SA oped Bjorn’s strength and left all his money back at Madam Pearl’s Pleasure Palace.” I’m not sure what’s being said here “SA oped”?



Pg 72. You wrote “He thought of the dashing attraction it would have for his lady friend, Maria Rojas, down Sonoma way.” would have been for his lady friend.



Pg. 84. You wrote “I have used your tonic for over twenty years and it changed my life. It was four years ago when I came to this first annual fair. I was on my last legs so to speak and it was all I could do to crawl to the table. After one serving I felt good.” A comma after both years and serving. Was it four years ago he first used the tonic? He previously stated he used it for twenty years.



Pg. 107 You have a Chinese engineer that doesn’t know about gun powder. He’s obviously an educated man. Wouldn’t he know how to use an ancient Chinese invention such as gunpowder? Just curious again. I don’t know what the Chinese used it for, other than fireworks weapons, but I assume it would have been a useful tool while digging a canal.



Pg. 112 You wrote “He sends is Vigilance Committee to attack anybody in a tent on his stolen land.” Just a typo “his” instead of is.



Pg. 118 You wrote “The person inside the garment and gasped and muttered a Chinese expletive.” How about “The person inside the garment gasped, muttering a Chinese expletive.”?



Pg. 123 You wrote “A low menacing snort was intermingled with by the sound of more scratches on the tree bark.” Drop “by”.



Pg. 127 You wrote “My sandwich picked up an army of ants, but despite the gnats and mosquitoes," Maverick said, “I’m going to bed if you don’t get on with your story.” Despite the gnats and mosquitoes what?



Pg. 152 You wrote “Four-Fingers trained his firearm on the Hatfields. “Don’t move.” Mad Maverick and he stared eyeball to eyeball while the deputies destroyed the equipment to make sure it would never make another drop of moonshine.” I’m assuming Jethro heard his brother’s scream as well as the explosions and came running. It isn’t mentioned though. I do believe I’d have shot these SOBs by now. LOL



Pg. 164 You wrote “The posse untied Bjorn’s unconscious arms, least them through the upper arms of the twins for support, and retied them behind his back.” lashed, perhaps, instead of least? A comma after support?



Pg. 181 You wrote “Richard laughed and said, “I know what you mean. My best friend was was with me on the Agilis until she ran off with the bosun.” Remove second “was”.



Pg. 206 You wrote “The Tall Captain on the Marianna Bell explained to is passengers that the pilot was in charge of the boat, and gave him time to engage the passengers.” Change is to his. No comma after boat?



Pg 207 You wrote “Because the Bell had slowed to enter the slough, the Frémont was close behind because she proceeded at full speed.” Redundant word. Drop the first occurrence of Because. Start the sentence with The Bell had..........



Pg 239 You wrote “Born’s cleared his throat and quietly rehearsed his Norse poem one last time.” Bjorn cleared his throat.