Young Frank Reade (16 years old) follows up his co-creating of a steam man with the horse from the title and he, his cousin who steers the steam man and their assorted sidekicks head out for the prairies to test his new invention. Hi-jinks and a huge amount of violence then occur.

Clunky, old fashioned and incredibly non-pc, but a lot of fun. The book tries to juggle three separate storylines: a band of evil counterfeiters, an evil con man trying to get a hold of a vast fortune by kidnapping the young remaining heir and a band of wild indians that just seem intent on killing everybody. So, we jump around a lot, and you have to stop and remember which group is fighting which group.

If you are looking for an accurate portrayal of the old west, then keep going, but if you are a fan of steampunk, pulp adventure and cheesy dialogue this is one for you!

Harold Cohen (1854-1927), an American author, wrote science fiction novels under the pseudonyms Harry Enton and "Noname." He worked his way through college and earned a medical degree by writing dime novels. Cohen wrote the four Frank Reade Sr. novels, but the publisher, Frank Tousey, insisted they appear anonyously, as "Noname." Cohen wanted his pen name, Harry Enton, credited as the author. The two men parted ways, and Cohen hired 16-year old Luis Senarens, a Cuban-American, to continue the series. Senarens put Frank Sr. on the shelf, invented Frank Jr. and his extended family, and agreed to use "Noname."