Fearless Warriors

Edward L. Edmonds is a professor of education at the University of
Prince Edward Island and honorary chief of the Mi’kmaq of Prince
Edward Island.

These 12 stories may seem to have a local setting, the Otter Lake
Reserve; but it might equally be any reserve. Throughout, there is a
pervasive awareness of how life is lived there, of how acceptance of
habitat and upbringing so often determine the course of events. Taylor,
who has many skills as a raconteur, favors plain, simple language and is
often content to let his characters express motivation in direct speech.
He never pontificates, preferring to allow readers to judge for
themselves, as in “Heat Lightning” and “Someday.”

Woven into the stories is a persistent feeling of disparity between
aboriginal and nonaboriginal culture. This theme expresses itself not
through overt bitterness or rancor, but rather through the veiled aside,
the sly dig, the good-humored banter, a jocular reference to “the
white guys.” “The Man Who Didn’t Exist” pokes fun at the whole
system of federal governance. And the title story is a subtle, ironic
commentary on Taylor’s people—a commentary reinforced by Adam
Swica’s striking cover design. This collection is strongly recommended
for inclusion in high-school, university, and public libraries.