cover image FREEDOM LAND

FREEDOM LAND

Martin L. Marcus, . . Forge, $24.95 (352pp) ISBN 978-0-7653-0482-7

Marcus's riveting debut novel tells the story of the only Indian war the federal government ever lost: the Second Seminole War (1835–1842), in which the Seminoles and runaway slaves (called Maroons) united to preserve their freedom in the Florida Everglades. Marcus's fictional hero is Billy Powell, the son of a British officer and a Creek Indian who's been wrongly accused of murder. He flees to Freedom Land, a Florida sanctuary for runaway slaves on Seminole territory. Soon after he reaches this promised land, however, the government begins waging a campaign to forcibly remove the Seminoles to Oklahoma and return the slaves to their owners. Powell gets involved in the battles, which are led by Osceola, the chief of the Seminoles, and Abraham, leader of the Maroons, a freed slave who inspires the troops with his vision of slavery's end. Together, these two men lead about 5,000 guerrilla fighters in a successful war against 200,000 white soldiers. Marcus stacks the deck by portraying the opposing leaders as fat, arrogant and incompetent generals who only wish to line their pockets and increase their political influence in Washington. Otherwise, the novel is remarkably well crafted: Marcus gives us sharply defined characters and weaves an intricate narrative of conspiracy, subterfuge and vivid, bloody action. Historical adventure fans will eat it up—and anxiously await this talented rookie's next work. (Feb.)