Wait for Signs

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ten years ago, Craig Johnson wrote his first short story, the Hillerman Award-winning "Old Indian Trick". This was one of the earliest appearances of the sheriff who would go on to star in Johnson’s best-selling, award-winning novels and the A&E hit series Longmire. Each Christmas Eve thereafter, fans rejoiced when Johnson sent out a new short story featuring an episode in Walt’s life that doesn’t appear in the novels; over the years, many have asked why they can’t buy the stories in book form. Wait for Signs collects those beloved stories - and one entirely new story, "Petunia, Bandit Queen of the Bighorns" - for the very first time in a single volume, regular trade hardcover. With glimpses of Walt’s past from the incident in "Ministerial Aide", when the sheriff is mistaken for a deity, to the hilarious "Messenger", where the majority of the action takes place in a Port-A-Potty, Wait for Signs is a necessary addition to any Longmire fan’s shelf and a wonderful way to introduce new readers to the fictional world of Absaroka County, Wyoming.

©2014  Craig Johnson (P)2014   Recorded Books

read after “Hell Is Empty” and after/before "Crow"

Collection of Longmire short stories for fans only. Generally light and humorous. I’d read it after “Hell Is Empty” and right after or right before “As the Crow Flies” because that’s when the timing for some of the stories takes place, right around Cady’s wedding. The story that stood out for me was Thankstaking where a guy tries to rob Henry’s bar at Thanksgiving, and the one involving a national park outhouse, a family of bears and an owl is pretty memorable, too. Grade: A-

Perfect narration.

A great way to check out the series!

This collection contains 12 short stories about Sheriff Walt Longmire and his myriad of side kicks, set in the modern-day Absaroka County, Wyoming. There’s also an introduction by Lou Diamond Phillips, who plays Henry Standing Bear in the TV series. If you’ve been wondering if this series is for you, I think this is a good way to find out. The humor and intensity of the novels is well represented by this collection of short stories.

The story that stuck with me the most is Ministerial Aide in which a woman has been hanging out in a parked car in the cold of winter for a day or more. Walt, who’s underdressed for the occasion, sits and has a talk with her. She’s at the end of her rope and Walt can tell that. She’s also mistaken Walt for a deity and that makes for some humor in an otherwise intense story. Walt’s sense of right and wrong and what he can do about it is on top display in this tale.

Slicked-Tongue Devil surprised me twice, which I wasn’t expecting for a short story. A bible salesman comes knocking on Walt’s door with a special edition bible that Walt’s wife Martha ordered before she passed. Walt invites the man in for a chat and it’s clear he been drinking so I didn’t expect Walt to be at the top of his game. However, he quickly recognizes that not all is as it seems and I was surprised at the ruse. Then I was surprised again with how Walt dealt with the matter. That there shows you why I enjoy this author.

This book offers some food for thought. I don’t know if I would do the same thing as Walt or Henry in many of these stories and they leave me wanting to be a better person. Some stories are more humorous than others and some characters are more desperate than others. It’s a really good mix; the book isn’t weighed down by one note over another. The stories do jump around on the timeline for the series, but I didn’t mind this. I have read only two books in the series (Book 1 The Cold Dish and Book 9 The Serpent’s Tooth).

Here are the 12 tales included in this collection:

Old Indian trick
Ministerial Aide
Slick-Tongued Devil
Fire Bird
Unbalanced
Several Stations
High Holidays
Toys for Tots
Divorce Horse
Thankstaking
Messenger
Petunia, Bandit Queen of the Big Horns

Great short stories. LMAO, really.

For all of my adult life I felt that T.C. Boyle was the American Master of the short story. He certainly is the most prolific writer, but in these stories Craig Johnson shows us that he can do wonderful things with the form as well. Not all of them are terrific, of course, but several are just so fabulous that I will remember them forever. Messenger, for example, is astounding. It is so funny that I gave myself the hiccups. The story is about Walt, Bear and Vic rescuing a great horned owl from an outhouse. I won't spoil it for you, but it is unimaginably funny and wise and surprising as well.
OTOH, the story about the old woman who believes that Walt is the Second Coming: this is so tender and moving, and also surprising. Walt's unique abilities to empathize with so many people who suffer in their lives: I really can't think of another fictional character who embodies these, and other traits in so vivid a fashion. Also, the story about the woman who has walked away from a psychiatric institution is yet another example of Walt's sensitivity to people who are in distress. Further, the relationships that he has, particularly but not exclusively with Vic and Bear, are layered, full of love and respect and solid as bedrock.
I may be going on a bit here, but I am fine with that, because few author/narrator combinations work as masterfully as these two men. One of the most prolific reviewers (Jim the Impatient) says that George is a national treasure. That is bang-on. It is impossible to imagine anyone else voicing these characters. What virtuosity!
Having now read all of the books in the series is bittersweet indeed. I wonder how long Mr. Johnson is going to be able to do this. I truly hope it's for a very long time. These books are the ultimate in time well spent.

A comfort listen for me

Between Craig Johnson and George Guidall they have created a book I want to keep on my kindle so I can listen again and again. These short stories are every bit as charming as the rest of the Longmire series, they are funny, touching and revealing gems. He really knows how to write a short story! George Guidall is as always absolutely wonderful! I've heard the entire series so far, and am familiar with the characters, but George always finds a way to delight me with his depiction of an emotion, or of something funny. I listen again to these when something has upset me, or when I have finished a tense book. It is wonderfully distracting.

Wonderful - as are all Craig Johnson's books!!

Craig Johnson's characters all have such interesting qualities that make you want to know more and more about each one. This collection of short stories gives the reader extra tidbits about Walt, Vic, Henry, Dog and others. And George Guidall gives voice to each character that brings a visual picture and further creates interesting people that you want to be friends with. I only wish Craig Johnson would write faster!! And that there could be more writers who could create characters and stories that are so ordinary yet so much beyond that.

More of the same

Wonderful as always. Good story, good narration. Much like the others: mystery, almost get killed, get saved through spiritual providence, wrap up.

Not a short story fan

I love Craig Johnson's Longmire novels, but I think I suffer from the opposite of a short attention span. I made it through only because I knew and already loved many of the characters and settings. Longmire basically came off as a smug, know-it-all in these vignettes, not the likeable, capable, hard-working cowboy I fell in love with. The writing was good enough, but short stories just are not my cup of tea

Excellent Bedtime Stories for Adults!

What did you love best about Wait for Signs?

Since I love all of Craig Johnson's books - I'm quite sure I would like KMart ads if he wrote them - I have to say it is the tried and true character. Walt, Henry, Vic, Sancho - and the entire population of Absaroka County. These short stories are tiny flashes into days we have not seen before except if you have read all the Post-Its. This is why I say they make excellent bedtime stories. You could read just one short story. Of course, if you are a Walt/Craig addict - you will stay up until you read them all!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This question doesn't really apply - there are 12 plots.

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

It is always a toss up between Walt and Henry. After "Longmire" became a TV show - I now think of Robert Taylor's voice as also being Walt but George's Henry will always be my favorite with the deep voice and deeper thoughts. Geroge's Walt is also funnier than the TV character which makes it a sentimental favorite with me.

Any additional comments?

It would have been a blessing to have Lou Diamond Phillips read his introduction. LDP would have known how to pronounce "Absaroka County" which the person reading the introduction kept calling "Absorka" - it was like fingernails on a blackboard for me everytime he said it!! If you are going to read it - and Absaroka County IS a main character - you best know how to pronounce it!

Delightful! Begging for More!

Only five hours for one credit? I hesitated momentarily. Then I clicked the button, downloaded Wait for Signs and snuggled into my comfy spot to listen.

Loved, loved, loved these very short stories! Laughed out loud at some! Listened to the whole thing in only two "sittings." When it was done I was literally heartbroken that there weren't more "new" Longmire stories to hear.

As always, Craig Johnson's depiction of Sheriff Longmire and his company of friends is absolutely the best. He is truly a master of story-writing.

Don't hesitate. It's worth it!

WE HAVE TO SAVE THIS OWL

THE HONEY WAGON
There is not one single bad story in the collection. Some are better than others, but all are a pleasure to listen to. The main character lost his wife some years back and as someone who has been married over 38 years and who would not know what to do if I lost my best half, I found myself tearing up at times. It is nice to listen to stories that older persons can enjoy. All ages can enjoy, but I believe those that have lived life longer, will get more out of them. Recently I read Centennial by James Michener and this is a great modern companion piece.

George Guidall is a national treasure.