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Titus Bass #3
Crack in the Sky
Crack in the Sky continues the development of the young Titus Bass as he gradually learns the lore of the mountain man. From a raucous rendezvous of trappers to a searing fight with Comanche, from a frigid winter's chill to the angry heat of a chase with horse thieves, Titus Bass's West comes alive in the pages of this remarkable novel--and in its final scene, Titus Bass will meet young Josiah Paddock and form the deep friendship explored in the pagers of Carry the Wind.
672 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
35 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Terry C. Johnston
77 books101 followers 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 27, 2022
Oh man, just when a book in a series can’t be topped the next one is even better.
It’s so amazing i ended up buying the entire series in hardcover for my personal library. (9 volumes)
Vivid scenes, likable and unlikeable characters, the hero of the story taking knocks but getting up again.
I’m almost hesitating to start the next book because I don’t want it to end.
5 big stars.
It’s so amazing i ended up buying the entire series in hardcover for my personal library. (9 volumes)
Vivid scenes, likable and unlikeable characters, the hero of the story taking knocks but getting up again.
I’m almost hesitating to start the next book because I don’t want it to end.
5 big stars.
January 10, 2016
This was a difficult book to read. Instead of a story, its more of a rambling narrative, a sort of biographical account of fictional mountain men heavy in jargon with pidgeon language thrown into the dialog so thick at times it is difficult to read.
One part of this dialect is the use of the word "nigger" among the mountain men as a colloquialism meaning "bro" or "dude" in modern slang which might be very shocking to modern eyes. However I didn't think the slang dialect was done very comfortably, like someone who used it often, but instead deliberately and carefully like someone who saw it in a book and was trying to replicate it.
There were several early passages featuring lyrics and songs that were very powerful, and the musings of the main character on events, history, and speculation on the future were effective, but in the end the book was a struggle and not very enjoyable for me.
One part of this dialect is the use of the word "nigger" among the mountain men as a colloquialism meaning "bro" or "dude" in modern slang which might be very shocking to modern eyes. However I didn't think the slang dialect was done very comfortably, like someone who used it often, but instead deliberately and carefully like someone who saw it in a book and was trying to replicate it.
There were several early passages featuring lyrics and songs that were very powerful, and the musings of the main character on events, history, and speculation on the future were effective, but in the end the book was a struggle and not very enjoyable for me.
February 26, 2018
This was about the mountain men. I believe it was historically very accurate giving dates and places and names of the fur trading companies in control in the 1830’s. I believe it is also very accurate in its descriptions of the mountain men’s battle for life. And everyday was a battle, if not with Indians, then with mother nature, from the weather to the wildlife. The main character is Titus Bass, who I believe is a fictional character, but many of his friends in the story are real mountain men, including Jim Bridger. The book is very graphic in its battle scenes:not for the squeamish. Many times it got too much for me and I would have to set the book down for a little time. It was a good book and I enjoyed it. There were parts that were a little dry and slow when the character started philosophizing about his life.
October 31, 2018
I've long been a fan of the late Mr Johnston. Books like this one are the reason why. Crack in the Sky is an epic story, with all the colour of the mountain man era, and flesh and blood characters. Scratch Bass is not an angel, he is a man learning to find himself and understand the people around him. He comes a long way in the years covered by this book - 1828 - 1832. If you are a fan of the Old West and the Mountain Men this book is a treat. And if you want believable characters and a strong emotional journey, you won't be disappointment. Bravo Terry C Johnston
August 19, 2010
This book was about the life of the "mountain man". Presented in a good way. Interesting even if that sort of story is not really my favorite. Glad I read and learned quite a bit about that lifestyle.
September 1, 2019
FINALLY! I finished this monster of a book. The scope is phenomenal. This writing so precise and descriptive the mind pictures it evokes stay with me for a long time. The hardships and dangers of these early mountain men is beyond my understanding.
May 12, 2025
Maybe I've overdosed on Titus Bass, but this third book in the series frustrated me quite a bit. It picks up right where the previous book left off and it goes until Titus meets up with Josiah Paddock from the first-published book four, Carry the Wind. The story itself is still good and I enjoyed it.
My problem is Johnston's adolescent obsession with sex. We all know how it works by this point. And then, Titus constantly has to run through his body count in his memory, the attributes and traps of every woman he's been with since he was 16 years old.
That brings me to the rest of my issues. We've read the story, Terry. Please, please, please stop reminding us of everything Bass has done since he was born.
We can also do without the rhapsodizing about how only a certain kind of man can live out there in the American frontier, catching those flat-tails, and Titus Bass was one of those men. We get it.
The book could have been half the length without all the recollections and deifying of Titus Bass. But overall, I still liked it and, after a break to read some other books, I'll return to this series.
My problem is Johnston's adolescent obsession with sex. We all know how it works by this point. And then, Titus constantly has to run through his body count in his memory, the attributes and traps of every woman he's been with since he was 16 years old.
That brings me to the rest of my issues. We've read the story, Terry. Please, please, please stop reminding us of everything Bass has done since he was born.
We can also do without the rhapsodizing about how only a certain kind of man can live out there in the American frontier, catching those flat-tails, and Titus Bass was one of those men. We get it.
The book could have been half the length without all the recollections and deifying of Titus Bass. But overall, I still liked it and, after a break to read some other books, I'll return to this series.
July 11, 2022
3rd book in series. I'm hooked!!! Johnston continues to bring Titus Bass through his journey to the challenges of living in mountains. About the time one begins to tire of Johnston's detailed historical descriptions of all that was going on at this time in Titus's life he crates an adventure that raise the hair on the back of one's neck. Great pace....
June 22, 2024
Never thought I was a western type
May 9, 2025
I love the vivid picture the series paints of the mountain West! Makes me want to visit the states of Wyoming and New Mexico
July 28, 2014
Currently reading this awesome novel for a second time. This author puts you there riding, trapping and surviving right along side Titus Bass. I can almost smell the woodsmoke as I read these novels. Such a shame that Terry C. went under back in 01. I miss his creative output.
June 8, 2025
Super great read
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews