The Desert Crucible

The Rainbow Trail brings closure to the novel Riders of the Purple Sage. It answers the question, What happened to Jane and Lassiter? But more importantly, it opens up a new series of events and characters that a reader can identify with and become emotionally involved with. Zane Grey knew how to get the reader hooked and then keep him on the line to the finish, just like he knew how to fish for world record sharks in the ocean. With the back drop being the desert and plateau and canyon country of Utah and Arizona which Zane Grey could so vividly and memorable describe in words no other author has managed to emulate, he tells a story so unique and compelling that I am sure when it was published no one could resist to read it, especially since it brought Riders to a conclusion. Standing alone, it holds up just as well today. A defrocked minister comes west after hearing the story of Fay Larkin, and Jane and Lassiter, from two of his parishioners and decides to hunt for them, and in so doing find himself and his God. The twists and turns he faces in his search make for good mystery and good romance. I proudly recommend it.

I have read dozens of Zane Grey books over the years. There were 2 versions of this book and the 2nd version made more sense. At one time I had a 35 volume set of Zane Grey books and had read each book at least 4 time before relegating them to the attic. I thought that to be a 'great' waste, so I bagged them up and donated them to my local library where they are bringing joy to more people which is what I wanted. An unread book is no good to anyone!!

This book is the follow up to "Rider's of The Purple Sage". It is important to know that there is a new version (unedited) of Rider's of The Purple Sage. The son of Zane Grey has located and released the original draft of this novel. When it was first released it was seriously edited due to fear of offending certain groups of people (mainly the morman faith). The recent release is the way it was originally written. "The Desert Crucible" is the follow up (also the full unedited version). I loved the original book and was extremely anxious to read the sequel. I was not disappointed. It was fantastic and I couldn't put it down. I read this book through in record time, staying up late in my chair because I just had to know what happened next. Buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

The Desert Crucible, the sequel to Zane Grey's immortal Riders of the Purple Sage, is absolutely worth reading although it is somewhat quieter and tamer than the preceding work. The slower pace is difficult to adjust to at first, especially if one reads this book immediately after Riders of the Purple Sage. Not only does Grey use The Desert Crucible to tie up the loose ends of Lassiter, Withersteen, Venters and other characters in Riders..., but he also appears to make attempts to somewhat modify the harsh condemnation of Mormons that one is left with in Riders of the Purple Sage. He doesn't completely absolve this group, but he does leave one with the hope that the new generation of Mormons will not be as dispicable as the murdering, lieing, cheating, polygamists depicted in Riders of the Purple Sage. The Desert Crucible is the story of man's quest to find himself by following a dream. It also sensitively touches upon the plight of the American Indian. In the process Grey cannot help but denigrate the missionary work that helped destroy these people. Grey's characters in this book are more prone to introspection than they were in Riders of the Purple Sage. While his main character is running away from disgrace, he also finds strength from his Indian and Mormon friends. Again, Grey is not letting Mormons off in this book, but he does soften the blow.

Exellent follow-up to Riders of the Purple Sage. Details of Riders are followed through in this book. Zane Grey knows the West, the country and the people.

This has to be one Zane Grey's best works. If you have not read Zane Grey, start with Riders of the Purple Sage then read The Desert Crucible-you'll get possibly some of the best of any American writer. You just can't put either of these books down, Zane Grey will capture you and you'll feel what is what like to live in the American West. Enjoy!