Panther in the Sky
Read Panther in the Sky Online
Authors: James Alexander Thom
with such a sign as that!”
In 1768, when Turtle Mother gave birth to a strong baby boy in the heart of the Shawnee nation, a yellow-green shooting star streaked across the heavens. Hard Striker saw the
unsoma,
the birth sign, and named his son Tecumseh, meaning Panther in the Sky.…
“A work of such sweep and compassion that it blurs the demarcation between novel and history … Totally admirable.”
—The Cincinnati Enquirer
“A brilliant job … Meticulously researched … It is a detailed story of the almost mythical life of [Tecumseh] and that of the Shawnee of his time.”
—Kansas City Star
“A spellbinding novel about the life of Tecumseh … The book is almost epic in its scope.… Thom has carefully researched his facts. He has the care of a historian to go with the skills of the seasoned novelist.”
—The Indianapolis Star
“Riveting … Historical fiction at its finest.”
—American Library Association
Booklist
By James Alexander Thom
Published by The Random House Publishing Group:
PANTHER IN THE SKY
LONG KNIFE
FOLLOW THE RIVER
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
STAYING OUT OF HELL
THE CHILDREN OF FIRST MAN
THE RED HEART
WARRIOR WOMAN (with Dark Rain)
SIGN-TALKER
SAINT PATRICK’S BATTALION
A Ballantine Book
Published by The Random House Publishing Group
Copyright © 1989 by James Alexander Thom
Maps copyright © 1989 by Anita Karl and James Kemp
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
Maps based on original research by the author. Inquiries should be addressed care of Ballantine Books.
B
ALLANTINE
and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
eISBN: 978-0-307-76314-3
v3.1
CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Without the kindness and wisdom of several present-day Shawnees, I could not have understood the oneness, the comforting inclusion, of tribal life I have portrayed in this book. In the embrace of the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio—descendants of Shawnees who followed Tecumseh to the end in the War of 1812—my heart has melted and my mind has expanded. Members of other bands have given me insights into the patient and forgiving nature of their race, and all have delighted me with the keen sense of humor of a people too long stereotyped as stern and humorless. I cannot put into words the gratitude I owe to Tukemas/Hawk Pope and his wife, Meenjip Tatsii, to Walking Song, Kiji Wapiti, Crow Woman, to Don Rapp (Gay-Nwaw-Piah-Si-Ki) of the Eastern Band, and to many others with whom I have had shorter councils. They have done their best to help me see and understand, and any failure to convey the spirit of their people is my fault, not theirs. I can hardly hope that this book will live up to all their expectations, but they know how I tried. They trusted me because I made it plain to them that my question was “What did it all mean?”
I am grateful also for the guidance, friendship, and technical information given by many non-Shawnee experts and aficionados, such as Don Ekola, J. Martin West, Harve Hildebrand, Art Two Crows, Pete Rollet, Dr. Mike Pratt, and Richard Day, who have familiarized me with everything from folklore and period weapons to details of dress and battle plans.
Whenever I begin work on a new book I am reborn into a new world. This time it was more so than ever. Entering the round world of this splendid people, sharing their bittersweet heritage, learning and retelling the story of their beloved leader, has enriched my life.
James Alexander Thom
Bloomington, Indiana
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October 5, 1813