A much better book than Dead Man's Walk, it's McMurtry telling a good story. Second only to Lonesome Dove in the series, and better than the Berrybender series, I think. It's filling in the gaps with Gus and Call, but with some memorable characters in their own right, especially Buffalo Hump, Ahuamado, Inish and Inez Scull, Famous Shoes, Kicking Wolf. Gus and Call develop into the characters we know and love in Lonesome Dove, and the rest of the major cast is set for the book: Dietz, Pea-eye, Clara, of course, although not as prominently here as Dead Man's Walk, Jake Spoon, and Newt. Call's life with Maggie is outlined here, and presages his relationship with Newt in Lonesome Dove. Inish Scull is an interesting character that reminds me faintly, of the Judge (Holden) in Blood Meridian, without the evil. The scenes hanging in the cage and carving Greek hexameters from Homer into the stone wall to pass the time are very good, although his ability to catch doves and to survive in the situation is pretty far fetched. Overall, a very enjoyable experience for me.
Author: McMurtry, Larry
Date Published: 1997
Length: 23hr 57min
Narrator: Muller, Frank
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