Jason Walters, The Hualapai Cycle

The Hualapai Cycle

Jason Walters

Black Wyrm, 2010

http://www.blackwyrm.com/

"Desert Dawgs". In the Black Rock Desert, Chris and James ignore warnings while driving on the isolated Playa until they hit a big dog who is breeder Tyson's "significant other".

"Phat Albert". PH tells Sheriff Sal that a gigantic mountain lion killed horse breeder Barker, his two big dogs and a steed; he escorted a hunter and his son after the animal.

"Judas Horse". He betrayed his species of wild horses running free by luring them into a man's trap until he learns they will be sold as dog meat.

"Big Momma". At the Burning Man festival, Oberon warns Uncle Hank he will relocate if they fail to do something about Big Momma the dust coyote who sexually kills people.

"Tweaker Creek". Iverson the fireman arrives at Hank's Hualapai Club drenched in blood and tells Hippie what happened at Smoke Creek; home of meth tweakers, coyotes and kids.

"Crippled Stray". Since her Joe died and her children moved away, old Maude is lonely and wants to die even after she rescues a crippled stray calling him Joe and bonding with the wild beast.

"Mexican Cowboy". Lupe the vaquero asks his beloved Shuttup Amy to marry him; this may be the first time that someone shut up loquacious Amy, who flees to the Granites.

"Guerrerro's War". Sheriff Sal informs Guerrerro that he arrested his best friend Hippie for murder because Senator Willow caught him burying a skull. Guerrerro acts strange as he works to free his buddy.

These are eight well written but dark and stark tales of life in and around Hualapai on the Black Rock Desert; home of the Burning Man annual festival and even rock punker Sid Vicious recognizes the eeriness.

Harriet Klausner