Comanche Moon : A Novel by Larry
McMurtry
Comanche Moon
In a book that serves as a both a sequel to Dead Mans Walk and a
prequel to the beloved Lonesome Dove, McMurtry fills in the missing
chapters in the Call and McCrae saga. It is a fantastic read, in many ways
the best and gutsiest of the series. We join the Texas Rangers in their
waning Indian-fighting years. The Comanches, after one last desperate
raid led by the fearsome-but-aging Buffalo Hump, are almost defeated,
though Buffalo Humps son, Blue Duck, still terrorizes the relentless flow of
settlers and lawmen. As Augustus and Woodrow follow one-eyed,
tobacco-spitting Captain Inish Scull deep into a murderous madmans den
in Mexico, their thoughts turn toward the end of their careers and the
women they love in remarkably different ways back in Austin. Whats
amazing about McMurtrys West is that he sees beyond the romance.
Neither his Indians, his cowboys, his gunslingers, nor his women act the
way they did in either Zane Grey novels or John Wayne movies. Incredible
beauty and lightning-quick violence are the bookends of his West, but it is
the in-between moments of suffering and boredom where McMurtry

shines. The suffering is poignant and heart-rending; the boredom
tempered with doses of Augustus McCraes sharp humor. Dont be
surprised if you find yourself crying and laughing on the same page.
Personal Review: Comanche Moon : A Novel by Larry McMurtry
The adventure continues for, now veteran, Texas Rangers Woodrow Call
and Augustus (Gus) McCrae on the plains of Texas in the mid-1800's. We
follow these two best friends through many adventures and hardships in
this second installment of Larry McMurtry's epic Lonesome Dove series.
This book takes place a number of years after Dead Man's Walk left off. At
this point Gus and Call are now part of the Ranger troop led by the
Infamous Inish Scull. Scull and his troop's sole purpose are to destroy their
abhorred enemy: The Comanche Indian and their Great War chief, Buffalo
Hump. Both of which are formidable opponents especially the dreaded
Buffalo Hump who is known for not only killing incredible amounts of white
men but torture as well.
When urgent business calls Captain Scull he (almost haphazardly) assigns
Gus and Call to captain of his beloved troop, who then leads their troop to
the safety of Austin. This marks the beginning of their new career as
captains of the Texas Rangers, a cherished and long sought-after position
by many a Texan. But they soon learn it isn't as glamorous as it appears.
Between low wages, crooked governors, men and close friends dying, and
countless other obstacles Gus and Call start wondering if this is really what
they want to do for the rest of their lives and if not what will be the next
step for these two men who know nothing but rangering?
Most books over 700 pages can start to feel like a chore and often times
make you question if it's worth actually getting to the top of the never-
ending mountain. This was not the case for Comanche Moon. At no point
did I feel obligated to finish it but rather turned the pages as quickly as if I
was looking a word up in the dictionary and was a couple pages away. The
characters are extremely well-defined and you are brought to a personal
level with nearly a dozen different characters. Some loveable, some
likeable, some so venomously evil you couldn't imagine being in the
situation where you had to actually face them.
The aforementioned Inish Scull has become one of my favorite literary
characters to date. His quick-wittedness and genius will have you laughing
and rooting for this complicated man. Especially when he is faced with the
most perilous situation one can imagine.
Also we dig much deeper into the lives and heads of our two heroes, along
their loves, their pains, their triumphs, and their regrets. Both seem like
simple men, neither are.
The point of the book where McMurtry really shine is in the last 50 pages,
when he describes the grizzly murder of the now elderly Buffalo Hump by
his banished son. I wouldn't have thought possible if the smartest literary
minds all told me but McMurtry actually made you sympathize with the
aging Indian. Throughout the previous 1000-1100 pages (spanning two
different books) he has described this man as such a hated villain and

feared individual that his death should be a triumph for the Rangers, but
you actually have to hold back a tear. It was that good.
I've yet to read Lonesome Dove and all I hear is that it is such a
cornerstone of literary history. If it is actually better than Comanche Moon it
must be. Bottom line: read this book. Might be my favorite book ever.
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