Half-Moon and Empty Stars

Gerry Spence, known mostly for his hard-edged, frontier approaches to some of the most famous court cases of our time, proves that he can write excellent fiction as well.Half-Moon and Empty Stars was well written, entertaining and provocative. Spence approaches a controversial subject that needs airing. Not just a western story, Spence's novel addresses the plight of Native Americans and their unwarranted reputation as being lazy, good-for-nothing liars. Besides, all students of western lore are painfully aware of the fact that it was the white men who had trouble telling the truth and sticking to their promises. In that vein this book might be an irritating wake up call to any who might believe that Native Americans have gotten what they deserve.As noted in my subject line, the writing is superb and would stand up in favorable comparison to the works of Louis L'Amour, John Grisham and Larry McMurtry. In Spence's case he seems to bring the best of all three under one cover and Abner Hill, Spence's heroic cowboy lawyer in Half-Moon and Empty Stars, stands up nicely to all comers in any other work of western fiction.I'm waiting for the movie!Douglas McAllister

My dream would be to write a book like this. There is such a high degree of truth here that it can be very difficult to take simply because truth-real truth-many times,indeed, is unpleasant. Yet, you will devour this book even though the truth that it reveals about our judicial system might indeed make you ill. This book deserves to be both loved and also to be a rallying point for change within our judicial system. This masterpiece is the "To Kill a Mockingbird" of our generation. It indeed is that great. One of the lead characters,the defense lawyer Abnor Hill, faces many private devils. Realizing that he is a small town lawyer who has never been involved with a capital murder case, questions abound within his mind. Some of the ethical nature. He comes face to face with himself. I litterally asked myself what I would do when the ethical questions arose. He wonders to himself if it would indeed be ok to do something unethical and against the law in a courtroom if not to do so would mean that the probabilities would be high that your client, who is not guilty, would be convicted and more than likely receive the death penalty? What if the greater good would prevail if this unlawful act was indeed done? What if that client was almost like a child of yours? Even though a lawyer knows that it is viewed as being wrong for counsel to represent a client who he or she has strong attatchments for, is it alright to do so if a lawyer feels that to not represent this person would mean that they would receive very incompetent representation? Tough questions. This work of art will also help people to gain a better understanding of Native Ameican culture. There are times that the book has a quiet beauty and other times there will be beauty that will horrify you. The horror will roar like a lion. Beauty is not alway pretty. This work is so very beautiful because it very entertainly and effectively shows us the horror. Every American needs to read this book. The beauty is in how the horror is revealed.

Gerry Spence is more than just a good story teller. The difference between a story and an unforgettable story is that it goes beyond the mere reporting of events. He evokes emotions and puts us in the shoes of his characters. The key to this story is the dilemma faced by a lawyer who is determined to be truthful. He knows beyond a doubt that his client is innocent of the crime for which he is charged. He also knows that the district attorney is using perjured testimony. He has the opportunity to use perjured testimony to save his client. The question is, should he use the perjured testimony to save his client, or should he remain honest and allow his client to be executed? This story and it's resolution are not quickly forgotten.

Most novels about The Law and the courts within which the stories unfold are as complete and realistic as their vacuous television counterparts. The crime is committed, the trial is held, and justice is done in 60 minutes minus the obligatory commercial refuse. And if this alone is not absurd enough there is always some contrived trick or last minute bit of information that either seals the doom or grants the freedom of the defendant. The book versions are almost universally as bad although they cost the reader more in money and time. The credentials of those who write these books that are consumed by the millions are about equal with the mediocre product they write. These are mass produced production line tales written to be everything from a novel, to a television adaptation, to a feature length movie. Since they strive to be many things they result in being nothing.Mr. Gerry Spence has the credentials to speak about the law and how it unfolds in a courtroom. Unlike others who write in this genre, he has spent his life in courtrooms while some pretenders have never seen the inside of one. "Half-Moon And Empty Stars", is not just about a trial. Mr. Spence brings the reader along to experience all that a trial can mean to those involved, and the reality is most of these events take place outside the courtroom. The pain the victims feel is felt most painfully when spoken of at the kitchen table. It is the sight of a Mother spending years to gain signatures for her Son's pardon. It is reading of the young son of the accused as he learns to cope with the taunting and cruelty in his first years of school. It is the destruction of families and friends who spend years trying only to correct a wrong and prevent a racist, selfish, political, "Justice", from carrying out its final affront to a community, to a people, and to itself.Mr. Gerry Spence has written widely in his works of non-fiction of his experiences and his opinions of how our legal system works and about those entrusted to see the law is practiced with fairness and equality. Our legal system is far from the utopian version that some may believe it to be. Your wealth will alter how the law treats you. How much of your wealth is spent on those who hold office or sit in judgment will alter the law's view of you. Fame can greatly diminish the punishment of a guilty party, or in a recent trial where a double murder was committed; in one courtroom the law can find you not guilty of the crime and then find you responsible for the same deaths in a different room. One depraved common factor is that the accused walks out of both courtrooms free. However as he said in another of his writings, "we must celebrate the verdict". We may not like or agree with the outcome, however this system works and is beyond value even as it is far from perfect.This story deals with events that contribute to the main trial and its aftermath over decades, not hours or days. It deals with the political nature of our legal