First published 1971
Hal West stands at the crossroads of a vanishing era. The old West he knew is disappearing as railroads push across the landscape and settlements grow into towns. West must decide whether to adapt to these changes or hold onto the ways that shaped him. Schaefer places his protagonist in the familiar tension between wilderness and civilization that marked the author's earlier works. West encounters characters who represent different responses to progress and modernization. Some embrace the new opportunities while others resist the transformation of their world. The story explores how individuals navigate periods of dramatic social change. West's choices reveal the personal cost of historical transition and the difficulty of finding one's place when familiar landmarks disappear.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, man-vs-society
Setting: America, West
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
Paperback · Museum of New Mexico Pr