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136th out of 330 books
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Last of the Breed
Here is the kind of authentically detailed epic novel that has become Louis L'Amour's hallmark. It is the compelling story of U.S. Air Force Major Joe Mack, a man born out of time. When his experimental aircraft is forced down in Russia and he escapes a Soviet prison camp, he must call upon the ancient skills of his Indian forebears to survive the vast Siberian wilderness....more
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published
March 29th 2005
by Bantam Books
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Louis, where have you been all my life? Forty four years on the planet, probably thirty of those in an awareness of this author and this the first of his books I've read. It was pure, unadulterated story telling, artful in its simplicity and gripping with its sure-footed plotting, characterisation and knowledge of the wilderness. No sex, no swearing, no ultra-violence, and no need for any of it to keep your attention. I loved it, despite the feeling that it was from a different, simpler era, whe...more
I must admit, I am disappointed with this novel; it seems to be the exception to the rather excellent body of works produced in the author's later years. Though he was known for his westerns, the L'Amour novels I have read to this point have been either historical fiction (Sitka, The Walking Drum, The Lonesome Gods) or modern adventure (The Haunted Mesa). I have found each work to be a masterpiece, with all the facts - names, dates, locales - to be very well-researched and accurate, while the ac...more
My father's favorite authors were Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour. I'm not sure if anyone reads Zane Grey anymore but Louis L'Amour still remains popular. I read a couple of his westerns early in my life but was not impressed. They seemed rather formulaic to me. I was never that much on Western fiction to begin with, to be honest.
So recently one of the local book club members suggested Last of The Breed and I was excited to give it a try especially because it was not a Western, directly ...more
So recently one of the local book club members suggested Last of The Breed and I was excited to give it a try especially because it was not a Western, directly ...more
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If you think that Louis L'Amour only writes Westerns and you don't think that's your style, but if you like adventures filled with drama and intrigue, you should try "Best of the Breed". The story takes place during the Cold War, when a U.S. Air Force plane is shot down over Siberia and the pilot is taken to a secret Russian POW camp to be tortured for information. But the pilot is a Souix Indian who was raised by his grandfather in the mountains of Idaho and taught all the survival sk...more
I thought was an exciting book. I have never read a western type novel before and although this was not based in the wild west, it is based on an American Indian (Major Joseph Makatozi, USAF) who begins to rediscover his Indian heritage. Joe Mack is a strong willed individual who being captured by the Soviet Union for his knowledge of experimental air craft, as well as how to fly these. Joe Mack takes on the GRU Soviet army Col. Arkady Zamatev. Who is a very dangerous and Skilled Interrogator, A...more
This book is set in Siberia and is an exciting tale of a young Air Force test pilot who is captured by the Russians and incarcerated in Siberia for questioning. It turns out that the pilot is also and American Indian who has spent many summers in the mountains learning the survival skills of his forefathers. His incredible stamina and mental determination compels the reader to turn page after page wondering if the pilot will be caught or hif he will die of starvation, injury or exposure. A de...more
This book had a big impact on me at a pivotal time in my life. While struggling to fit at a new school during my eighth grade year I was assigned to read this book for my English class. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished with it (I was reprimanded several times for reading it during classes). At the time I identified closely with the hero in the story. This book gave me the courage I needed at the time and I ended up going out for the wrestling team and I had an undefeated sea...more
The book was enjoyed, despite it being outside of my usual reading habits. It was a real page turner! Could it really have happened? Yes, was the answer by a friend, who had met persons who had survived intense wilderness survival situations. The protagonist, Joe Mackatozi, a Native American USAF pilot, is shot down by Soviets over the ocean between Russia and Alaska and then captured. Some parts of the plot were repetitious, but then there is an appreciation of Louis L’Amour’s writing abil...more
In the Louis L'Amour tradition, the hero is strong, capable, and manly, not to mention he gets the girl. Unlike most of his westerns, this is set in Siberia, and he gives a wonderful feel to the landscape. The threat of freezing to death is very real once out in the snow.
The story is about an American pilot who is shot down and then taken prisoner in a camp in Siberia. He escapes, rather remarkably by poling over the wall the way people do at track meets. He is then trying to get back home...more
The story is about an American pilot who is shot down and then taken prisoner in a camp in Siberia. He escapes, rather remarkably by poling over the wall the way people do at track meets. He is then trying to get back home...more
Last of the Breed is an exception to L'Amour's usual Western genre. That's a good thing for me because it's the only Louis L'Amour novel I ever read ... AND I thoroughly enjoyed it. An acquaintence pointed out to me some 20 years ago that the author dedicated the book to someone with the exact same name as mine (as it appears on my birth certificate) & another friend. I've always been curious about the lady that shares my name ... just one of those silly coincidences in life ... I'm not sure ...more
A non western Louis L'Amour this book follows the trail of an American Air Force pilot forced down and captured by the Russians. Maj. "Joe Mack' Makatozi is an American Indian brought up with a rich heritage of his ancestors abilities of living off the land. The Russians have him in a Siberian prison and hope to gain information on new aircraft from him. The first night he makes his escape and the tale follows his journey eastward across the vast northern wilds of Russia. A good story and...more
My first Louis L'Amour I've ever read. I enjoyed this book a lot, but it had one of those hanger endings that don't exactly show what happens, doesn't wrap things up. It was still a good story though, very worth reading.
It's about an American who has Native American heritage living in the pre-cold war era. He is a jet pilot who goes out on a test flight of a new type of airplane and is shot down and captured by the Russians. Using his skills and knowledge, he escapes and tries to e...more
It's about an American who has Native American heritage living in the pre-cold war era. He is a jet pilot who goes out on a test flight of a new type of airplane and is shot down and captured by the Russians. Using his skills and knowledge, he escapes and tries to e...more
I reviewed this book for the 'Bookin' it' book club. I have a complete set of Louis L'Amour books, but this is one of my favorite. I never have to wonder who is the good person and who is the bad, because it's quite clear. Learned a lot about Soviet topography, especially the area of Siberia. Learned how people live there, etc. The book was well written, as are all of his. I read this to my husband who was bedridden in a hospital, and when I'd leave for the night and come back the next mor...more
It was a cool story, and definitely different than I had anticipated. It sort of drug along, with bits of excitement thrown in the middle to keep you going. The best part was the very end. There weren't very many pages left, but there was still no resolution. More pages, more pages, and nothing. Finally, in one paragraph on the very last page, it closes the story off, and it was awesome. I'm a little bummed that we never heard from Natalya again, because she was cool, but knowing Joe Mack (the m...more
This was one of my grandpa's favorite books so when I came across it in a pile for a loonie, it was was a must read. It has a rugged peacefulness to it that made even me, the animal lover not cringe during the hunting scenes. The book was well-written and definitely took me the closest I will ever be to camping out in Siberia. It also provided a glimpse into the political climate of the Soviet Union during the 1980's. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a slow, methodical b...more
LOVED this! a kid in school who i hardly ever talked to (wish i could remember who) gave this to me and said "hey = you read a lot you'll probably like this." well- he started a small obsession. i made a vow to read every louis l'amour book EVER written. i got pretty far (as evidence by the louis l'amour shelf) but i started with the best one so the rest were slightly disappointing. after awhile i realized all of them were fundamentally the same story just with different names and pla...more
Fun read! Lamour has a way of writing that makes you not want to put the book down (my poor family suffered for a few days). I think it could have used a bit more character development and depth. Though there was some. The story was centered around his escape, not him or anyone else, or 1980s Russia, or ideas, or issues. I like a lot of meat to my novels. If you like Man vs. WIld you will love this book. It is a typical guy book. Surviving northern Russian wilderness for a whole year. M...more
This was my first Louis L'Amour book to listen to. I can honestly say, I don't think his books are my style, but it was interesting in it's own ways. The story line was interesting, and I really liked the way L'Amour added little details of survival throughout the book.
However, it moved really slow. Could have been because I was the traveling on a 13 hour drive, though. I will give more of his stuff a chance if I come across a real book form of it. I think the audio version is hard f...more
However, it moved really slow. Could have been because I was the traveling on a 13 hour drive, though. I will give more of his stuff a chance if I come across a real book form of it. I think the audio version is hard f...more
I read this one way back when so to speak. I'd forgotten it till it came up in another conversation.
Joe Mack a Major and an American pilot is shot down and has to escape through Siberia finally across the Bering Strait. He has to depend on his skills as a Native American as well as his training. It's a good outdoors/adventure story.
This isn't a western as most of L'Amour's books are. It's well written and what is usually called a "page turner". May be a bit of ...more
Joe Mack a Major and an American pilot is shot down and has to escape through Siberia finally across the Bering Strait. He has to depend on his skills as a Native American as well as his training. It's a good outdoors/adventure story.
This isn't a western as most of L'Amour's books are. It's well written and what is usually called a "page turner". May be a bit of ...more
This is the ultimate survivor story. Not only does the main character have to trek across Siberia (after which it will be an easy hop across the Bering Strait to Alaska), armed with only his survival skills (which are remarkable, admittedly), he is being chased by people who want to torture information out of him before they kill him. A survival story is not really a survival story unless you're being chased by fanatics as well as, you know, hunting food with a homemade spear and looking for a b...more
I had to read this book for AP human geography. It turned out to be really interesting. It is fiction and I would consider it an adventure book. The theme was not really clear to me, but I am guessing it is either "never give up" or "you can out smart your opponet." I think the book is a success because I'm not into adventure type books and I liked it. The mood, to me, was exciting because the book kept you wanting to read more. The use of characterization was very good becau...more
The best thing that can be said for this book is that it is mercifully short. It is nothing more than a several hundred page explanation of why the American indians were so awesome, filled with prejudide and unfair accusations and assumptions about lighter skinned people. It starts out with a description of the life of a native american, comparing them, as a peacefull and utopian society, to the 'white men', a barbarric, godless, wasteful, and power hungry pack of animals. Okay.
It th...more
It th...more
My husband's grandfather gave him this book in 1987 and it has sat unread on the shelf since then! He would have loved it as a 11 year old boy and I think still will if he ever gets around to reading it. A Native American Army Pilot crashes on an arctic training flight and is captured by the Russians. This cold war era thriller is filled with description of life and survival on the frozen tundra. The political aspects of the plot were not as interesting, but overall an enjoyable read.
Hannah
rated it
Recommends it for:
Science Fiction and Western Lovers
Shelves:
absolute-favorite,
keeper
A long book full of questions and answers where the reader is almost satisfied never finding out the true ending. A complete twist from L'Amour's traditional western writing showing the complete mastery that Louis L'Amour has achieved by this point in time. 'Last Of The Breed' lingers on the old story of revenge and vengence. L'Amour toes the line of Western and Science Fiction. He writes a novel where the main character is both savage and sophisicated, not many can do that. Absolute Favorite.
Ray and I listened to this book while on a trip and it was really interesting. An American pilot is shot downnear the Bering Strait, captured and imprisioned by the Russians. Because he tests experimental aircraft the Russians want information from him. Joe Mac was an athlete in college, is a Sioux Indian as well as a Colonel in the US Airforce. He escapes from prison and has to survive two winters in Siberia in the Taiga. Very captivating reading.
This was a very well written adventure novel about a redman, modern though he might be, succeeding in the Siberia cold and wilderness while defeating the best man hunters the Russians could throw at him. It is a tribute to the redman and a great adventure tale.
Louis Lamour is out of his element writing about a crashed Navy Pilot in Siberian Russia, this book rivals anything he has written about the old west. It is a page turner of the first degree.
Louis Lamour is out of his element writing about a crashed Navy Pilot in Siberian Russia, this book rivals anything he has written about the old west. It is a page turner of the first degree.
stormhawk
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommended to stormhawk by:
tester-san
Shelves:
kindle
Louis L'Amour is known for his Westerns. This might be a Western, if you stretch things a bit ... Siberia is to the West of the Western United States, after all, and the main character is a Native American.
The reader is kept turning pages by a taut storyline of escape and evasion, which is saved from being a clinical recitation of survival technique by contacts with others who aid Major Joseph Makatozi in his trek through the Siberian wilderness.
The reader is kept turning pages by a taut storyline of escape and evasion, which is saved from being a clinical recitation of survival technique by contacts with others who aid Major Joseph Makatozi in his trek through the Siberian wilderness.
Loved it! This book reminded me of a Rambo movie (speaking of which I'm told that there's a Rambo book so I'll definitely be checking that out!) and was action packed like the other Louis L'Amour book I read. I'm really liking L'Amour books but haven't decided if I want to read his westerns yet. It seems like a huge commitment since he's written about 500 of them. Anyways, great book and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an action-type book.
My first, but not my last Louis L'Amour book. I could not put it down. Stayed up way too late several nights in a row. Wonderful descriptions of Siberia which seems like an amazingly beautiful country. The main character makes a remark at one point that if Russia would change how they, as a country relatr to the rest of the world it could become a tourist attraction and people from all over the world to come in droves.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern technonogy compared with older technology | 3 | 6 | Jan 07, 2012 01:08pm | |
| Last of the Breed | 4 | 21 | Jul 01, 2011 08:20pm |
Louis L'Amour was an American author. L'Amour's books, primarily Western fiction, remain enormously popular, and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death all 101 of his works were in print (86 novels, 14 short-story collections and one full-length work of nonfiction) and he was considered "one of the world's most popular writers".
-Wikipedia
More about Louis L'Amour...
-Wikipedia
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