The Singing Wire by René Goscinny

Why read the book?

The first telegraph line is broken between Nevada and Nebraska, and Abraham Lincoln orders it joined. Two crews set out, one east from Carson City and one west from Omaha, both bound for Salt Lake City, and a reward of one hundred thousand dollars goes to whoever arrives first. Lucky Luke signs on with the eastbound team after leaving the Pony Express.

With money on the line the journey turns dangerous. A hidden saboteur keeps cutting the wire, native attacks slow the poles, and Luke has to guard the work while chasing the man behind the damage. The title catches the wonder of voices humming down a wire across an empty land.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

There is something grand about building a line of poles across a continent, and Goscinny ties real history to a tight little mystery.

The race between two crews keeps the pages turning, and the gag of folk amazed, or terrified, by talking wire is lovely. Morris draws the endless plains beautifully, and the hunt for the saboteur gives the journey a satisfying spine.

Key Takeaway

Stringing a wire across America is half engineering and half gunfight.

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