Slaughter (Texas Tradition Series)

Slaughter #1

by Elmer Kelton, W. C. Jameson (Afterword)

In the 1870s, buffalo hunters moved onto the High Plains of Texas. The Plains Indians watched hunters slaughter the animals that gave them shelter and clothing, food and weapons. The battles at and near the ruins of a trading fort, Adobe Walls, became symbolic of the struggles between hunters and the Comanche.

In this aptly titled novel, Texas novelist Elmer Kelton shows his uncanny ability to present both sides of a clash between cultures. With a firm grasp of Comanche life, Kelton presents The People as very human and very threatened. Equally clear is the picture of Anglos found on the high plains in those days—Jeff Layne, a Confederate veteran and now a fugitive; Nigel Smithwick, an English “second son” and gambler, Arletta, the lone woman among these men (one woman was at Adobe Walls).

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

374 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Llano Estacada has a lot of history and I have read many books about it. Kelton writes about real people.
Since I grew up in West Texas, I know the Caprock and also the rolling land below it to the East. I have been right at the Double Mountain where this tribe of the People camped. Later, this same Double Mountain became a landmark that pioneers looked for. They wanted to stay South of it, because of the Indians. But on a clear day it can be seen from a long way from many directions.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent western by one of the masters. This novel tells the story of the hide hunters who decimated the buffalo herds. The story is told from the viewpoint of both the Comanche and the hunters. It also tells the tale of the Adobe Wells Massacre. There are plenty of good guys and plenty of bad guys and the love story is an unusual one. Highly recommended.

[Richard Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea how many of Kelton’s books I have read. My travels, while working, have taken me to many parts of West Texas, the South Plains and Panhandle. One afternoon a detour I took to Adobe Walls site. The stillness of that afternoon conjured up Kelton’s vision of the battle. Good read written by a master, RIP Mr.Kelton, you were a good’un.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the two narrative viewpoints. Of the Comanche's, and the other of the men seeking the Buffalo further south. The story had adventure and drama enough for me try reading faster to find out what happens. Full spectrum of emotions can be experienced reading haha.

[William Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have not read a western novel in a long time an I could not have picked a better one then this. Loved the characters and the setting and the story line which had a lot of truth in it. Looking forward to reading more westerns thid year.

[Pa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a western about the conflict between the buffalo hide hunters and the Comanche. Some interesting characters and quite a good plot. Comes close to a 4 star.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best case scenario for a good Western if you ask me! Learned good history without realizing I was.

[Wayne Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Kelton novel I ever read, and perhaps his best! I've read 25 or 30 more by him and have enjoyed all of them. Highly recommended, book and author.

[John Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Elmer Kelton book and it was incredible. He tells the story of the points of view of Buffalo skinners as well as the Indians to the point where you feel sorry for both sides and don’t know which side is right or wrong. He includes romance, betrayal, thievery, gallantry, and internal conflict with integrity. My favorite character was Smithwick although his integrity got in the way of what I wanted him to do sometimes.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the stories by perhaps the best conventional Western writer in the generation after Louis L'Amour. A well-told story with none of the customary modern anacronisms that plague modern historical writing. Just a great story with great characters.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I didn't realized how much I like to read Westerns! Or maybe it's George Guidall's voice that I enjoy so much. I added historical fiction to the tags for this book because I learned more about the Wild West (yes, it was) in this story form.

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelton did it again. This an outstanding novel of the west with a dual story line of Native Americans and the White buffalo hunters. My biggest problem was I read Far Canyon first, so the resolution was known before hand. I liked Kelton's demything the Battle of Adobe Wall. Great novel.

[Rebecka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this, despite the sad reality of what it depicts. There were many likeable characters on both sides, and it felt very authentic.

[TJ Pool · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough but not great. Story climax was uneventful.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Susan Grunenwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book from perspective on how author made me feel as a reader it. Powerful gripping and emotional on both sides of the characters

[Sequoyah Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer Kelton writes a story from both the Buffalo hunters perspective and the Indians perspective.
It’s a story that came to life in my mind’s eye but also drew me to consider a part of our history.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Elmer, how I love you. By far, one of my favorite Texas writers and I think I'm just going to have to read all of his books. One of these days. . .
Not an easy tale, which you can probably figure out from the title. The slaughter is of both buffalo and people. Kelton follows both the Commanches, trying to figure out why there are so many fewer buffalo and the buffalo hunters, starting to notice that there aren't quite as many to shoot. Some wonderful character studies of both the hunters and the Commanches.
While the ending wasn't quite as tragic as perhaps it should have been, it's a very powerful book.

One of my favorite bits:
Once the guns began their talking and the skinning knives started their work, this peaceful place would be transformed by destruction and waste, death and decay. Never again would it look as he saw it now. He tarried, staring, wishing he might leave as it was, a secret all his own.

But that was a futile wish, for more hunters followed behind the Cregar and Browder wagons. If his group did not claim this canyon and take these buffalo, others would. Colonel Creager would say they were but the instruments of history, doing whad had to be done for the manifest destiny that dictated the taming of the land, the conversion of the wilderness to the needs of civilized men.

Gazing down upon the contented animals scattered as far as he could see, visualizing the slaughter that awaited them, he did not feel civilized.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slaughter, Elmer Kelton (western)
Jeff Book Review #134

Kelton's 1992 Spur Award winner "Slaughter" features competing Comanche and white buffalo hunters in the west as the buffalo are greatly reduced in number and both groups are desperate to find more to survive. The perspectives of the two groups are well-done and there are relatable characters in each as tension within their ranks works against them before they come into direct conflict halfway through the story.

The sense of fear, worry, and unavoidable doom and dread pervades this story that we know from the jump won't have a happy ending. I mean, it is named "Slaughter" after all. But that dreadful undercurrent is offset by a good mix of stereotypical characters we're rooting for and their adventures.

Verdict: A good western with some interesting if tropey characters, and a lament about how life and the world around us is ever-changing, for better and worse.

Jeff's rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bufflao heards have been killed off and both the Indians and hide hunters are suffering the consequences. For the Indians the struggle for life goes on while the hide hunters fight for ecomonic survival. The two clutures clash. Add to the mix jealousy and men's lust for women.

[Henry]

A good western. Would have been great if it had been a little faster paced. I want to read the sequel. First Kelton book I've read - it looks like he writes a pretty solid book, I'll probably read a bunch of them.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't up to Kelton's usual fast-moving storytelling - I had to work to make myself get through it.

[DocHolidavid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elmer seemingly sticks to the facts of history. This was a good listen. Guidal is always excellent.