Stallion Gate

by Martin Cruz Smith Narrated by Frank Muller

Overview

From internationally bestselling author Martin Cruz Smith comes an epic story of a physicist, a general, a spy, and a hero who will change history forever.

In a New Mexico blizzard, four men cross a barbed-wire fence at Stallion Gate to select a test site for the first atomic weapon. They are Oppenheimer, the physicist; Groves, the general; Fuchs, the spy. The fourth man is Sergeant Joe Pena, a hero, informer, fighter, musician, Indian. These four men-and a cast of soldiers, roughnecks and scientists-will change history forever.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Smith seamlessly blends fact and fiction in this towering novel, a successor to his remarkable Gorky Park. The story begins at Los Alamos in 1945, where hordes of people arrive and set up a community almost overnight. Sgt. Joe Pena, an Indian in the U.S. Army, is ordered by his superior, Capt. Augustino, to find or fabricate proof that Robert Oppenheimer is spying for ``the commies.'' The charge is silly, Pena knows, but he fails to convince Augustino, who also ignores the sergeant's evidence against two actual traitors at the site: Harry Gold and Klaus Fuchs. Pena's troubles multiply with his involvement with local Native Americans, disturbed by the mysterious activities on their land. As the days pass and work on the atom bomb progresses, the clash between Pena and the insanely bigoted captain becomes unavoidable. It occurs at the peak of suspense and leaves a lasting impact on the reader. This is a monumental thriller in which the tormented Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, General Leslie Groves and other historic figures live again. Equally memorable is Joe Pena, a genuine hero. 125,000 first printing; major ad/promo; BOMC alternate. (May 2)

Library Journal

Switching from mystery/intrigue to straightforward character novel, author Smith ( Gorky Park ) roughly outlines the development, under J. Robert Op penheimer, of the first nuclear weapon at Los Alamos, New Mexico. The im pending test blastwith its foregone historical conclusionserves as little more, however, than anchor and chro nological end frame to an otherwise aimless plot exhibiting muted prose, wistful philosophy, and nonexistent suspense. In central focus, yet not fully realized as character, stands Sergeant Joe Pena, an independent Pueblo Indi an and self-contained veteran of mili tary action (mostly as boxer and pia nist) in the Philippines who drives for ``Oppy. '' Joe's episodic antics (he likes to flout authority) juxtapose natural (i.e., Indian, the desert) and unnatural (i.e., U.S. Army, the bomb). Evocative at times, but largely unsympathetic and ultimately inadequate. BOMC alter nate. Rex E. Klett, Anson Cty. Lib., Wadesboro, N.C.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170481828
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	04/30/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

NOVEMBER
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Stallion Gate"
by .
Copyright © 1987 Martin Cruz Smith.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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