Customer Reviews

Shalako

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This western from Louis L'Amour first saw light-of-day in 1962 as a Bantam soft cover, and has since been reprinted in both soft and hard covers. The action of the novel takes place in the year 1882 with the main character, Shalako, being as lean as 'a famine wolf', a person who could be 'a brooding man, a wary man,' who had little trust in him. He was the quintessential loner of the west, especially the Apache west. He was strong as many of Louis' most memorable characters were, and I believe him to have been patterned on Louis' himself.

With Louis L'Amour's death in June, 1988, we have no further 'new' material from his pen. But thankfully we have many westerns such as this one that can be read, and reread.

And after innumerable readings, this is yet one of my favorite ones. The character appeals to me, as does the time frame of the Apache wars in Arizona, and the international European collection of people. For me this book has as much character development as you will ever find in any of L'Amour's work. But again, I read Louis L'Amour for fun, for adventure, for escapism, not for a lesson in literature such as I found in college. I think too many people look for things in L'Amour's writings that he never, ever intended.

As a man who really knew the desert from experience, books such as this one come across reeking of love of desert and experience. Sometimes when reading a L'Amour such as this one, I pull out one of my hundreds of Arizona Highways magazines to soak up the visuals of his desert writing.

If you read this L'Amour and do not find it favorable, I find it hard to think that any of his writings could please. This is pretty much what the man was and did.

Read this one of the Sonoran Desert and the Apache and enjoy. Take a full bandoleer of cartridges and full canteen along though, for it can get mighty dangerous and thirsty out there in the desert, roaming around with the Apaches on the rampage.

Semper Fi.

This story hits the ground running and never stops. The story takes place over just a couple days. The hero Shalako is out riding the countryside when he comes across a beautiful woman, Irina. Irina is with a group of tenderfoots who are in the way of Apaches on the warpath. Skalako ends up helping Irina and her friends survive the Apaches, and other troubles.

"Skalako" is a well told story. Louis L'Amour learned his craft well. If you enjoy a good western, this is a good one to read.

Originally published in 1962 this book ranks right up there with L'Amour's other early works like Hondo and Fallon before he was cranking out so many books per year under a contract with his publisher. Chief Cato is leading war parties of Apaches out of Mexico across the border into the desert, hoping to draw some braves off the reservations. A party of European big game hunters far from the nearest Army post is in their path. Shalako, a real character who is wise in the ways of the desert and the Apaches, stumbles across the group and agrees to try and help them get out safely. Lots of Indian skirmishes in this one, plenty of action. Highly recommended.

Despite the three star rating, I like this book. The problem is L'Amour has a way of killing off the Indians like they were of no more importance than a fly being swatted on the wall. It's like the guys on Star Trek that get beamed down and you just know they're gonna get zapped. That's how his Indian chararcters are. They are there just to be zapped. Their lives are meaningless. It's a shame, because he was a pretty good storyteller, if not somewhat cliche at times.

In the Cinema Hall of Shame, there should be a branch for books that Hollywood screwed up. One of them would the Louis L'Amour "Shalako." The novel is excellent but the film - even with the great Sean Connery - is awful. Shalako - one of L'Amour's gritty, intelligent Western heroes - runs across a European hunting party that is soon trapped between Indians and outlaws. It takes all of Shalako's skill and bravery to get some of them to safety.
L'Amour was not enamoured of aristocrats but his portrait of them is honest and nuanced. A few may be snobs but, in the book, they display good traits too. In the film version, the party is second-rate stick figures. The Indians - in L'Amour's time they were called Indians and it wasn't a pejorative term - are savage but they, too, are fully rounded in the novel. They have different values than whites and some of those values are not admirable - which is why L'Amour books are not politically correct - but realistic.
One of the author's best.

Arrived in great condition. I couldn't put it down until I was finished reading it.

Louis Lamour's book Shalako is a very interesting book. It is very easy to read. It is about a man named Shalako and he rescues a group of European hunters from Apaches. The setting is the Mohave Desert and along the Mexican Border.
The hunting parties' leader is a wealthy general. There is women in the group to and other wealthy men. Shalako first meets the group when he helps one of the women of the group back the parties' campsite and this is when he discovers they are going to be attacked by Apaches. Shalako then runs away from the group. But is instincts tell him to help the group escape and to take them to safety because of a beautiful woman traveling with the group and the other women in the group.
The book is as exciting as all of Lamour's other books. This book will make you get lost in it sometimes. You know like you're the main character and you can hear and see everything he does. The book is very easy to read and not boring. The book will keep you wanting to read it and find out what happens at the end. Some parts of the book will keep you on your toes because of the danger and excitement. Also the book is not very long only about 150 pages. Personal I don't like long books because it seems like they go on for every and every. I think if you a person that likes short book and a exciting story this is the one for you.
I have read many of Lamour's books and I think he is a very good author. He also brings back a exciting time in your history with his novels. I really did enjoy the book and if you don't want to read the book the check out the movie "Shalako" that is based off the book.

This story has all the usual L'amour traits, revealed such a way that you simply cannot put it down.

For a change of pace, I thought I'd go back to read some westerns. Where better than old Louie L'Amour's vast collection of works. This title was fast paced, lots of action, interesting characters (the Sean Connery film was pretty close to this novel's storyline) and the usual deadly Apaches and ruthless gunmen out for themselves. L'Amour's novels are condensed, so don't expect a sprawling epic for the most part, just tight stories and lots of gunplay and galloping stallions and sweat. One major problem with this one, his main characters are constantly 'squatting on their heels'. This happens a lot in this one. A minor point, but why know kneeling or one one knee or some such. Lots of hot coffee gets consumed also. Still, a solid action-packed western with a fleshed out lead characer that was nicely done.

I really enjoy reading Louis LaMour's books and am trying to collect all his books (except for the Hopolong Cassidy books, don't care as much for them).