The Floor of Heaven

A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush

By: Howard Blum

Narrated by: John H. Mayer

It is the last decade of the 19th century. The Wild West has been tamed and its fierce, independent and often violent larger-than-life figures – gun-toting wanderers, trappers, prospectors, Indian fighters, cowboys, and lawmen –are now victims of their own success. They are heroes who’ve outlived their usefulness.

But then gold is discovered in Alaska and the adjacent Canadian Klondike and a new frontier suddenly looms - an immense unexplored territory filled with frozen waterways, dark spruce forests, and towering mountains capped by glistening layers of snow and ice.

“Klondicitis,” a giddy mix of greed and lust for adventure, ignites a stampede. Fleeing the depths of a worldwide economic depression and driven by starry-eyed visions of vast wealth, tens of thousands rush northward.

Joining this throng of greenhorns and grifters, whores and highwaymen, sourdoughs and seers are three unforgettable men. In a true-life tale that rivets from the first page, we meet Charlie Siringo, a top-hand sharp-shooting cowboy who, after futilely trying to settle down with his new bride, becomes one of the Pinkerton Detective Agency’s shrewdest; George Carmack, a California-born American Marine who’s adopted by an Indian tribe, raises a family with a Taglish squaw, makes the discovery that starts off the Yukon Gold Rush – and becomes fabulously rich; and Soapy Smith, a sly and inventive predator-conman who rules a vast criminal empire.

As we follow this trio’s lives, we’re led inexorably into a perplexing mystery. A fortune in gold bars has somehow been stolen from the fortress-like Treadwell Mine in Juneau, Alaska, with no clues as to how the thieves made off with such an immensely heavy cargo. To many it appears that the crime will never be solved.

©2011 Howard Bloom (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“Full of suspense…an amazing real-life adventure story, peopled with characters that any novelist would be proud to have invented: first-rate entertainment. (Michael Korda, New York Times best-selling author of Hero, With Wings Like Eagles, and Ike)

“In the tradition of great history as great literature…highly recommended…readers will be richly rewarded by Blum’s masterful use of a colorful cast of genuine historical characters set in the majestic northwestern wilderness.” ( Library Journal)

"Wildly compelling...a truly memorable frontier tale."( Kirkus)

Better Than Fiction

What made the experience of listening to The Floor of Heaven the most enjoyable?

All three main characters were fully developed. I felt like I knew them, good and bad, and found myself wishing all three could get what they wanted (even the "bad" guy).

What did you like best about this story?

Very detailed and descriptive. I felt like I was there.
Also, the way the three different stories were weaved together. Nicely done.

Which scene was your favorite?

If I told you, it would spoil the whole book. Let's just say that the climactic scene is all the more enjoyable because...it really happened!!!

If you could rename The Floor of Heaven, what would you call it?

Three Men and a Pot of Gold

Any additional comments?

Great read/listen for summer vacations.

Could have been better…

This would have been a better story if the 3 men who’s story the book follows all met up at the end in the big shootout of Soapy Smith. Instead, the stories barely intertwined! And there were so many crazier than fiction stories that happened in the Klondike, I don’t know why making up a fake Treadwell theft and vaguely connecting it to Carmack was necessary.
I only kept listening because I’m familiar with the places so it was entertaining, but if I didn’t know the area well, I would not have kept listening.

A Masterpiece

A truly enjoyable blood-boiling saga of an era that forged the last of the West.
You will love it.

Skip to Part 2

Part 1 got dull as a litany of personal histories you couldn't figure out how would connect. If you start with Part 2, it holds attention more and you won't have missed much.

great read, didn't want it to end.

if you are intrigued by gold rush and detective stories this book is for you

The Last Frontier

From start to finish this was a great story…. The fact that this is all true makes it better than any fictional account of the Gold Rush. The author paints a graphic picture of the men, the cold and unforgiving landscape. There are characters galore to enjoy and I am going to learn more about Charley Siringo, and Soapy Smith. One a rascal con man, the other a hard working man who actually succeeds while Soapy…,

sad that it ended

such an interesting story, and I learned a lot about the surrounding history. I highly recommend!

I wish I could've been there.

Any additional comments?

I think most everybody is mesmerized by the concept of Alaska in the far North. When I came across this book I immediately knew that I wanted to listen to it. That Gilded Age when the cowboy's life was rapidly disappearing because of the financial conglomerates of the East is an exciting time in America's history. The boom towns and other large cities which were beginning to spring up and grow up provided many opportunities for lackadaisical entrepreneurs to assail themselves upon the public. The story of Johnny Suringo and the other real life characters in this story are amazing, so amazing as to the fact this could not happen, it was too dangerous, there were too many factors to bring their lives to and end. They survived and hopefully someday I will be able to visit some of those northern cities like Sitka, Jueanu and Dawson and see for myself the glaciers which cap the mountains valleys and hide the gold that is still there waiting to be found.

An Entertaining History

Just finished up Howard Blum’s newest release, The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush. This is a nonfiction Western that is a wonderful read. Along the way the reader is informed about the Yukon Gold Rush, how it worked, and how people lived in that time. The story is very interesting and Howard Blum’s narrative is exciting and rich with insight. The era comes alive from the very beginning. At the heart of the book is the gold rush of the late 1800s tied together through the stories of a Marine Corps deserted (George Carmack), a real life con man (Soapy Smith), and a cowboy who stumbles into becoming a Pinkerton (Charlies Siningo). If you have an interest in this era and would like to have some sugar to make the medicine go down, Howard Blum’s telling of this story is your Rx. The reading of John H. Mayer is excellent.

Love this book!

I bought this audible book after traveling to Skagway and the Yukon last summer. My husband grew up in Juneau and is familiar with the Treadwell mine and history of the gold rush. I grew up in Seattle so we were very much interested in this book. The story is wonderful with the adventures of Carmack, Smith and Siringo. We enjoyed listening each evening as John Mayer does a nice job reading the story.