Borderlords

Titus Bass #5

by Terry C. Johnston

The eagerly-awaited sequel to Carry The Wind, this is the second volume of Terry Johnston's award-winning saga of mountain men Josiah Paddock and Titus Bass, who here meet new challenges and new loves in the western wilderness of the 1830's.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

About the author

Terry C. Johnston was born January 1, 1947 in Arkansas City, Kansas.
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.

He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three of this series are free for Audible-UK-Plus members. Don’t let them slip by.

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Here is a book centered around trappers, Native Americans and the competing forces seeking control of both the fur trade and the land itself. The story can be viewed as one of adventure as well as a source of fascinating information. Interest never lags. One learns about the settlement of the American Northwest. The timeframe is the 1830s. There is much about the fort in Vancouver, competing trade and fur companies, warring tribes and the traditions and customs of Native Americans. I am betting there is information here you have not heard before. A love thread is thrown in. The beauty of the wild and still unconquered land is an important element in the telling.

Two men and their close friendship evolve as the story progresses. The men’s reflections on life are as valid today as they were more than one and a half centuries ago! I like character studies that lead readers to think about the choices they make in their own lives. Without this connection, a book about the past has less relevance.

This book has interesting facts—it teaches. It has exciting portions as well as sections of wise philosophical content. For example, that healing must come from within. that friendship is based on trust and the importance of being the master of one’s own destiny. I like this book for what it says.

So why not five stars? The beginning starts with a repetition of what has occurred before. Get on with it, give me something new is what I was thinking at the start. Others might like this repetition.

Problem number two--the word “nigger” is used excessively. It is not used in reference to Blacks. The trappers speak of themselves as “niggers”. Native Americans are referred to as “red niggers”. We are told that the trappers used this expression. I have not run into this before. It’s jarring.

On the other hand, the author utilizes different manners of speech in a good way too. The roughnecks, bosses, Native Americans don’t and shouldn’t express themselves in the same manner. They don’t here in this book, and I like this. I smiled at the way one English character speaks. It becomes amusing when comparing his and the trappers’ speech. It’s the contrast that is funny. The author, Terry C. Johnston, writes well. His characters come across as being genuine.

I like this book a lot. That is why I am giving it four stars. My rating system is very simple.

It should perhaps be mentioned that portions of the book are bloody and violent, but that was the reality of the day.

The audiobook is narrated by Alex Boyles. It too is very good. He intones the different accents well. He reads clearly. Four stars I have awarded the narration.

I don’t want to put the book down. That says something. Keep in mind that all three volumes mentioned below are long. Few authors can pull this off successfully. The reader is continually given new, fascinating information. The relationship between the two central characters evolves; their friendship goes through rough patches but with the passage of time it grows stronger. There is no cliffhanger ending. Nevertheless, I am compelled to know now, right away, what will happen next. And I don’t want to leave the two friends. I have picked up the third book right off the bat.


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*Carry the Wind 4 stars
*Borderlords 4 stars
*One-Eyed Dream currently reading

[Joe L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m running short of great things to say about these books. Great action and adventure with bass and friends. Some rough language and sexual scenes FYI.

[Skip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book.The author really draws you into the story,which is the continuing saga of "Carry The Wind". The beginning is somewhat repetitious, but I think it serves well to make this a stand alone novel. The interaction of the characters , the description of the hard life of beaver trappers,the beauty of the western mountains ,and the love shared between partners and wives all serve to enthrall the reader. Johnston vividly paints a picture of the brutality of wilderness life in the early days of the west. Please note; there are some descriptions of violent death and maiming, all part of this 19th century story. I don't see how the 3rd novel of the trilogy can get any better, but I'm hopeful.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dove into Borderlords with high hopes immediately after finishing Carry the Wind. The first half of this book, though, seemed to drag forever as Titus Bass relived moments from the first book while making a trek to Vancouver to exorcise the ghost of Asa McCafferty. I'm still not sure I understand the point of all that. The second half of the book, though, really picks up steam and saved it from getting a two-star review from me. Although I still have to say there was way too much talking during that climactic knife fight. Shut up and start stabbing! Overall, it was an enjoyable book that finished on a high note that will bring me back for more of the series.

September 2025 Reread Update: There's a really good novella in this novel, but damn! You hafta read massive cut-and-paste scenes from the previous book, then prop your eyelids open for in-depth, story-stopping history lessons to get to the story. Oh, and let's not overlook the cringy sex scenes between 40-year-old Titus Bass and his (maybe) 17-year-old Crow wife. I'm not prude, but if I want every thrust and squirt described, I'll read erotica, not Westerns. But, I'm leaving my review at three stars. I'm taking a break before I continue the series, though.

[Cathy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I did not get to read the first book in the set, but came into this one without any background. But it was easy to follow the storyline. The characters were fitting, but to have Titus keep calling himself old throughout the story, was disconcerting. A forty year old is not old, even though they thought so back then. But I kept having to rethink because he seemed like he was in his 70's the way he spoke and acted. Also, as many times as he and Josiah got hurt/cut, you'd think they were scarred from head to toe. I like that they both had Indian women, but they should have been able to protect themselves better with a knife, etc. I do want to read the next one, because I cannot figure out why no one has mentioned the baby that Bass's woman had, and where it is, or what happened to it. After her hard labor, the baby was never mentioned again. WHY? But I enjoyed the book much, and now want to read the next for all my questions to be answered!

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tale gives a vivid account of the hard life of the mountain man. At the same time, it is balanced by the beauty of the wild country, and even more so by the love discovered by the Indian women. This truly is a saga of a particular way of life in the 1830s. The characters are so real, alive, and constantly alert in a land full of dangers. Exciting and thoughtful as you follow the characters in their daily lives. As I listen, I can’t believe Josiah Paddock did what he did to Titus Bass, aka Scratch. An apparent thoughtless act! I temporarily lost all interest in Paddock from that point. Naturally, this episode is explained later. You folks with the N-word phobia have been PC-brainwashed. The author even went out of his way for Scratch to explain that the word nigger did not refer to a “niggra” person, it was said to be a common expression used at the time by his kind. It is part and parcel of the story.

[Wayne Wilson]

This book is a revelation. If you want to feel what it felt to be a Mountain Man trapping beaver and trading pelts. Living with the native Americans and surviving and thriving in the dead of winter in the Rockies than this is the book that will begin the transport.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently listened to Borderlords because my boyfriend recommended it to me in 2024. I have to say that I thought it was just "okay at best." Mr. Johnston spins a story that could have been told in a novella, but instead, he turns it into a dissertation filled with extra words and irrelevant details. In addition to his overuse of words and details, he seems to have a fondness for including themes of rape, profanity, vulgar language, and a very narrow racial perspective. I would not recommend this book, I would not read it again, and honestly, I hope I can forget it soon.

I know the affinity is due to Johnston being a Montana Resident, and my partner supports all things Montana, but this book just hit me wrong and I don't think any season would matter.

If he cut the book in half, I might have not been so put off by the writing.

[Jim]

First rate. No one writes about the days of the Mountain Men as well as Terry C.Johnston. Titus Bass is one of my favorite characters in fiction

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story

[Charlene]

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