The Californios: A Novel

Disappointed, love his Westerns but this had a lot of "mystical" nonsense. Characters were not well developed so hard to connect with them. Thought it was boring compared to his other stories.

"The Californios" is a western with a different feel than most of Louis L'Amour's other novels. As usual, there is action, light romance, and suspense. However, "The Californios" has a mystical side that has similar elements as L'Amour's book "The Haunted Mesa." Overall, the book is fantastic and one both L'Amour fan, and those new to his writing, will enjoy. The story is about a man trying to help his mother keep her ranch. As she owes money to a scoundrel who would rather own her land, they are in a predicament. Years ago, her husband went into the desert with a man called the Old One, the last of an ancient people, and returned with gold. Now, they believe finding the Old One may help them again. "The Californios" is an amazing book worth reading. You will learn about life in the early 1800s California without trying. Perhaps the most enjoyable part was the philosophical statements and the mystical elements sprinkled throughout the book. Furthermore, the book peaked my interest in learning more about ancient people who were in America before the Indians. To top it off, the suspense runs from the beginning to end and is truly exceptional reading.

L'Amour masterfully describes the beautiful California scenery, the situations, and the characters, as he unfolds the plot in his reader's mind's eye. Included in this mix is the ever-present set of challenges facing the protagonists. As one of his characters says in this novel, "there is always trouble. One learns to live with it. A man grows through enduring." A few chapters over one of his characters observes "men must struggle or they deteriorate." Which leads to the addition of philosophy or worldview, another component of L'Amour's works. I agree with some of his sermonizing, i.e., issues such as a strong work ethic and bravery. I strongly disagree when he tries to subtlely preach acceptance of mysticism which is anti-Christian. Moving back to a more positive matter, L'Amour inserts elements of human relations in his works. For example in talking about Mariana visiting with Sean in this book he notes "she listened more to the man than to the words." In synergistically observing people and location, he notes how one impacts the other by writing "in New England and in northern Europe the seasons were short and the air brisk. One had little time to do what needed to be done. In California the seasons merged, dreamed one into the other, and what was not done today could be done tomorrow." If taken in context, i.e., specifially if one ignores his advocacy of anti-Christian spiritualism, he has a colorful, adventure story of the old West to tell.

This one doesn't really fall into the Western category, but it's full of hammering action, informative local California history, and mystic goings-on. Seacoast adventures, early Califronia ranching, great good-guys and really bad bad-guys, and mysterious appearances by silent, unknown characters fill this one to the brim! Best of all, L'Amour introduces in this story, for what I believe was the first time in his writings, the famous "portal to the other side," which really sets this story apart from almost all of his other works. Excellent yarn through and through. You won't forget it for a long time after you first read it!

I have read fourteen books of Louis L'Amour's writings and this one happened to be one of the best books I read. It's different, and keeps you wondering about what's goin' to happen next, and in the end leaves you with a big smile drawn upon your face!. If you haven't read The Californios, then you'd better go get it! It's one of his finest writings! I usually keep my books on a shelf but I stored this one among my most-loved possessions! Louis L'Amour is by far the greatest storyteller, and this is how he's going to be remembered until the end of time!.

I often wonder why someone like Steven Speilberg never cared to read such literary talent...I re-read Californios in my late twenties and wondered if SS could make a movie out of this. It would probably become every kid's fantasy in the truest sense of the word if only every word of this book is translated using computer graphics...recall that JAWS and ET were runaway blockbusters that dealt with a shark and an extra-terrestrial as such. The SETI project is 40 years old and still no luck...it's time to become fascinated by our own kind I guess! And Louis Dearborn L'Amour is definitely the last of the breed!!