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Aces & Eights

Aces and Eights is a novel by Dorothy M. Johnson, first published in 1962. It tells the story of a young man named Kid Dakota, who is looking to make a name for himself in the Wild West. He travels to the town of Deadwood, South Dakota, where he meets a group of outlaws led by Doc Holliday.

Kid Dakota is quickly drawn into the outlaw life, and he soon finds himself involved in a dangerous game of high-stakes poker with a ruthless gunslinger named Cy Tolliver. Kid Dakota knows that the odds are stacked against him, but he is determined to win, even if it means risking his life.

The novel is set in the real town of Deadwood during the Gold Rush era, and Johnson does an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere of the time. The town is full of outlaws, gunslingers, and gamblers, and the streets are dangerous and unpredictable.

Kid Dakota is a complex and well-developed character. He is young and naive, but he is also brave and resourceful. He is determined to make a name for himself in the Wild West, and he is willing to take risks to do it.

Doc Holliday is another well-developed character. He is a ruthless gunslinger, but he is also a complex and intelligent man. He is Kid Dakota’s mentor, and he teaches him how to survive in the Wild West.

The novel is full of suspense and excitement. The poker game between Kid Dakota and Cy Tolliver is a highlight of the novel, and it is one of the most suspenseful scenes in all of Western literature.

The novel also explores themes of violence, revenge, and redemption. Kid Dakota is forced to confront his own violence in order to survive, and he must learn to forgive himself for his mistakes.