ANDROMEDA GUN

I've had a copy of ANDROMEDA GUN, John Boyd's 1975 science fiction novel on my shelf for I don't know how long. I was in college when this was originally published and while I didn't purchase it at the time of release, I picked up a copy somewhere over the years. Two things influenced my purchase. First, the terrific cover art (they just don't make 'em like this anymore) and the mash up of two of my all time favorite genres, science fiction and westerns. 

I finally got around to readying ANDROMEDA GUN during the afternoon of July 4th. First, and this is no surprise, the cover doesn't reflect any scene found in the book. It's still a great piece of cover art and I'm sure it helped sell many copies then and now. Second, this novel is about 10% science fiction and 90% western but that's okay because Boyd spins a pretty good western yarn. 

G7 is a being of intelligent light, part of an intergalactic brotherhood of similar beings whose mission it is to bring peace and harmony to the inhabited planets in the galaxies. G7 arrives on earth in the late 19th century where he takes up residence in the consciousness of one Johnny Loco (real name Ian McCloud). Ian is an outlaw with plans to hold up a stage, get revenge on his former partner in crime, and rob the bank of the small town of Shoshone Flats, located in the Wyoming territory. But fate, in the form of G7, has other plans in store for the young gunman. 

Ian, through the subtle influences of G7, slowly starts going straight and in so doing, becomes a respectable member of the community. He courts the lovely young school teacher Gabriella, while G7 has his "eyes" set on the older, riper Liza, Gabriella's mother. 

Ian becomes deputy and starts doing good things for the community but it's all to his own ends. He still plans to rob the stage, kill his former partner, hold up the bank and hightail it out of town. But G7 has other plans. 

While G7 ultimately decides that saving the entire human race is impossible, the redemption of one wayward, yet savvy young man, is a goal worth achieving. 

There's nothing spectacular to be found within these 172 pages but nevertheless I did enjoy the book. Boyd salts his narrative with nice doses of sly humor and the main characters are colorful and well drawn. 

Reading ANDROMEDA GUN was the perfect way to spend the 4th of July afternoon. 

Thumbs up.