Publisher's Synopsis
Imagine a parallel universe where most things are still set in the old west, including weapons. Although it is 2017, there is no internet or cell phones, only land-line telephones; there is no television or movie theaters, only radio; there is no e-mail or tweeting, only the local newspaper. Everything is either man- or steam-powered, with the exception of the medical field, which is similar to our universe. There are no federal governments; no presidents, no kings or queens, no prime ministers... nothing; only state-level governments and lawmen keep peace and order. "Rattler" is about a boy who grows up in a snake-wrangling family in Blackwater, Texas. Many generations have honed their skills of catching snakes for the purposes of creating anti-venom. They then sell the anti-venom to wealthy hospitals and private practices, as well as giving it away to free clinics and local doctors who treat the needy. This is how it has been for as long as he could remember. But, as the boy grows into a young man, he starts noticing supernatural abilities. Then a dark cloud begins to cover his family's hometown as an organization known only as "The Black Bull Society" starts manufacturing illegal semi- and fully automatic weapons. They plan on selling them to neighboring states and countries which will throw off the balance of power. This boy's father, uncle, and close family friends band together to stop them. A samurai, pursued by ninjas, flees Kyoto, Japan with the sacred Snake Blade and ends up in Blackwater. The nearby Blackfoot Indian tribe also joins in to protect their lands from the impending war that will inevitably follow. Who will win in the epic battle for the west?
