Killoe: A Novel

Louis L'Amour wrote many novels and short stories, none left anything to be desired. This book is no exception. It's a story of survival, life and love. To anyone who may need to read someone else's opinion and rating of this or any other book written by this author, take it from me, buy the book, read the book and love it like so many other people already have.

This western was published by Bantam Books in 1962. Essentially an interesting and fact-filled story of a group of Texans after the war with Mexico in the late 1850's who decide to move west. In the spring and summer of 1858 they decide to move further west to New Mexico in the vicinity of Fort Stanton, built in 1855, and Bosque Redondo. While Louis L'Amour offers many aspects of their subsequent cattle drive, this story equally concerns this group of people and their relocation from Cowhouse Creek, Texas, near Austin, over the rough, arid Llano Estacado, or Staked Plains area, which is between Horsehead Crossing and the Palo Duro Canyon. Their final destination for resettlement will be near Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. While there exists the potential of trouble along their westward route from Comanche Indians, Comancheros in the Palo Duro, possibly Apache Indians, and even a group of ruffians from back home trying to steal their cattle herd, the most pressing danger facing this group of settlers comes from an 80-mile stretch containing no water. Three days without drinkable water for neither themselves nor their cattle, with much of the available water in this Pecos River country full of "concentrated alkali" and "It's death if they drink it." (pg 73). Horsehead Crossing, an ancient area of Comanche Indian activity when driving herds up from Mexico, has been the death of hundreds of men and horses. As with so many of Louis' westerns, his concerns are strongly focused on the social organization and inter-family relationships that it took to go or travel west. As he says at one point, moving west was hard work, with many men and animals perishing, never to reach their destination. While this group does reach its desired location, it is not without loss, and many travails. Louis seemed to be very interested in what it took for people to build once they reached their destinations; with one book, 'Bendigo Shafter', being dedicated to building a town from scratch. This book is one of his better ones, without a reader's need to suspend the ole disbelief. His heroes and heroines here are all pretty much flesh and blood believable characters. A quick read of only six long chapters, but one that is well worth the reading. Semper Fi.

In 1858 because Texas was getting crowded Dan Killoe, his parents and friends plus all of their cattle headed west to find new, untouched land. Along their travels they ran into the (BAD) guys who wanted to take their cattle as well as the Comanches who wanted their hair. The comancheros would steal and kill everything they could get their hands on. A mean story to keep you on yoiur seat.

Texas ~ 1858. Dan Killoe ramrods a ragtag group of ranch families who pull up stakes and push their herds west. Searching for new country, they fight rustlers, Comanches, and raiding Comancheros. This is an ambitious novel. The story has gunfights, cattle stampedes, and a dollop of romance. In the grim desert, the water shortage for the great herd is severe. Breeding stock dangerously diminishes. Failure and lonesome death loom. Courage, loyalty, and survival are common themes. The action is swift and hard. The plot is busy. The rapid pace of L'Amour's pulp magazine origins is evident. Character development is still emerging when the book rather abruptly ends. Louis L'Amour breathes new life into the familiar elements of the Western story. Iron men and stoic women prevail. The writing has an air of authenticity that adds to the reader's enjoyment. This quick hit of lite reading rises above the mixture as before pitfalls. Excellent for armchair adventurers. ;-)

This is the first book I've read by the author and certainly not the last. Western literature is not really my forte, but I'm sure if you read this book, you will become a fan. My only complaint is that the chapters were too long and there was'nt any good stopping points to close the book. Anyone who reads as sporadically as I do, knows what I'm talking about. Great characters as well.