About the author
Reginald Alec Martin (1900–71) wrote several lengthy series for children, including the science fiction Kemlo series (as E C Elliiott), the Pocomoto books (a cowboy series, under the name Rex Dixon) and the Joey series, aimed at younger readers, under the name Robert Martin.
He didn’t write classic pony books: his Joey book is more an adventure story in which a pony happens to figure. The Pocomoto books are set in the American West, and are about Pocomoto, the only survivor of an Indian massacre. He is found as a baby and brought up by two old timers. He is then adopted by the Martin family, so that he can learn to be ‘civilised’. He comes to love his adoptive family, as well as his animals: his palomino Goldflash, and his burro Horace, who is cantankerous, but a survivor.
Finding the books
Joey and the Magic Pony is easy and cheap to find. Some of the Pocomoto series are very pricey: Texas Pioneers, Lady Sheriff, Warrior Braves, Buffalo Hunter, Canyon Treasure, Spanish Steed and Night Riders are the most expensive. A few titles are easily available and cheap: Robber’s Trail, Pony Express, Tenderfoot, Texas Ranger and L’il Fella are amongst them. The remaining titles can vary quite dramatically in price.
Sources and links
Many thanks to Patrick Baker for the photographs – much appreciated!
Information on the author’s other series: Children’s Series Fiction, NCC, 2004
Bibliography
Joey and the Magic Pony
Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, London, 1958, 122 pp.
“It ain’t natural to want to be on your own in a lonely old farm place,” says Clapper when Joey tells him he is going for a holiday on a farm in Somerset. But Joey has Jas, his dog, to keep him company and he soon discovers
that you are never really alone on a farm. In fact a good deal more happens than Joey had bargained for!
The Pocomoto Series
Pocomoto – Bronco Buster, 1953
Pocomoto and the Night Riders, 1953
Pocomoto – Brush Popper, 1954
Pocomoto Buffalo Hunter, 1954
Pocomoto and the Canyon Treasure, 1954
Pocomoto and the L’il Fella, 1954
Pocomoto – Pony Express Rider, 1955
Pocomoto and the Lazy River, 1955
Pocomoto and the Snow Wolf, 1955
Pocomoto – Tenderfoot, 1955
Pocomoto and the Indian Trails, 1956
Pocomoto and the Robbers’ Trail, 1956
Pocomoto and the Circus Folk, 1957
Pocomoto and the Desert Gold, 1957
Pocomoto and the Spanish Steed, 1957
Pocomoto and the Lazy Sheriff, 1958
Pcomoto and the Texas Pioneers, 1958
Pocomoto – Cowboy Cavalier, 1959
Pocomoto and the Lost Hunters, 1959
Pocomoto and the Golden Herd, 1960
Pocomoto and the Texas Ranger, 1960
Pocomoto and the Desert Braves,1961
Pocomoto and the Warrior Braves, 1961
