Epic in scope but fully informed by Lansdale's down-home story-telling values, Paradise Sky is the life story, or part thereof, of Nat Loving, born a slave, but a free man when almost lynched for looking at a white woman. The attempted lynching leaves his Pa dead and his home burned and Nat on the run. Taken in by a white farmer who teaches him how to shoot and ride, Nat is as equipped as he can hope to be for life in an unfriendly world. Unfriendly, but not without friends. A stint in the army and a trek to Deadwood see Nat acquire friends and companions even as he is pursued by a resentful enemy. Glorious triumph and horrific tragedy mark Nat's life indelibly and shape his future.

With an endearing and likeable hero, Lansdale tells a broad and wide story in his own inimitable fashion. In fact, through there is plenty of action and violence - though not at quite the level of grue Lansdale normally lets rip with - this doesn't feel like a western thriller, though it has thrills, or an adventure, though there adventures a-plenty, or even a yarn, though it contains many. Paradise Sky feels like Lansdale has gone and written a Novel, and with his usual skill and aplomb, made it look easy. This is as entertaining and rewarding as literature gets, and I genuinely hope there are more Nat Loving novels in our future.