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Fire on the Mountain: Edward Abbey's Classic Western – One Tough Loner's Fight in the American Southwest
“The Thoreau of the American West.” — Larry McMurty, author of Lonesome Dove A half-century after its original publication, Edward Abbey’s classic 1962 novel, Fire on the Mountain , still retains its beauty, power, and relevance. Now with a new introduction by New York Times bestseller Douglas Brinkley ( The Wilderness Warrior , Walter Cronkite ), this extraordinary tale by the legendary icon of the environmentalism movement and author of The Monkey Wrench Gang proudly celebrates rugged American individualism, as it tells the story of one tough old loner’s stand against the combined, well-armed forces of government that are determined to clear him from his land.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
133 people are currently reading
2096 people want to read
About the author
Edward Abbey
77 books2,081 followersEdward Paul Abbey (1927–1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views.
Abbey attended college in New Mexico and then worked as a park ranger and fire lookout for the National Park Service in the Southwest. It was during this time that he developed the relationship with the area’s environment that influenced his writing. During his service, he was in close proximity to the ruins of ancient Native American cultures and saw the expansion and destruction of modern civilization.
His love for nature and extreme distrust of the industrial world influenced much of his work and helped garner a cult following.
Abbey died on March 14, 1989, due to complications from surgery. He was buried as he had requested: in a sleeping bag—no embalming fluid, no casket. His body was secretly interred in an unmarked grave in southern Arizona.
Abbey attended college in New Mexico and then worked as a park ranger and fire lookout for the National Park Service in the Southwest. It was during this time that he developed the relationship with the area’s environment that influenced his writing. During his service, he was in close proximity to the ruins of ancient Native American cultures and saw the expansion and destruction of modern civilization.
His love for nature and extreme distrust of the industrial world influenced much of his work and helped garner a cult following.
Abbey died on March 14, 1989, due to complications from surgery. He was buried as he had requested: in a sleeping bag—no embalming fluid, no casket. His body was secretly interred in an unmarked grave in southern Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
April 24, 2021
a truly ACAB bildungsroman and also a massively ranch-pilling read, fuck the feds let me live in a cabin on the outskirts of nowhere
August 27, 2017
Wonderful book, I can certainly see why "Fire on the Mountain" is considered a classic Western too.
Set in the early 1960's rancher John Vogelin now in his 70's is having a hard time adjusting to the modern changes affecting the ranch that has been in his family since the 1800's. And he certainly doesn't appreciate the young man from the Range Management Bureau who recently visited his ranch and tried to tell him what he's doing wrong all in the name of conservation.
To make matters even worse his ranch borders the Alamogordo Missile Range in New Mexico and in order to successfully counter communism the missile range needs more room to test all those rockets. Reluctantly all of Vogelin's fellow ranchers are selling out to the government because the government will take their land one way or another.
Told from the POV of Billy, Vogelin's young grandson visiting for the summer from Philadelphia, Vogelin takes on everyone from the county Sheriff to the U.S. Air Force and refuses to leave his land. Will Vogelin be successful in his attempt to save his ranch? You will be glued to this book and rooting for Vogelin to the last page.
Edward Abbey's beautiful description of the west alone is reason enough to read this book.
These very authentic characters will be staying in my mind for a long time.
Set in the early 1960's rancher John Vogelin now in his 70's is having a hard time adjusting to the modern changes affecting the ranch that has been in his family since the 1800's. And he certainly doesn't appreciate the young man from the Range Management Bureau who recently visited his ranch and tried to tell him what he's doing wrong all in the name of conservation.
To make matters even worse his ranch borders the Alamogordo Missile Range in New Mexico and in order to successfully counter communism the missile range needs more room to test all those rockets. Reluctantly all of Vogelin's fellow ranchers are selling out to the government because the government will take their land one way or another.
Told from the POV of Billy, Vogelin's young grandson visiting for the summer from Philadelphia, Vogelin takes on everyone from the county Sheriff to the U.S. Air Force and refuses to leave his land. Will Vogelin be successful in his attempt to save his ranch? You will be glued to this book and rooting for Vogelin to the last page.
Edward Abbey's beautiful description of the west alone is reason enough to read this book.
These very authentic characters will be staying in my mind for a long time.
March 3, 2025
A few years back, I read Desert Solitaire, which is an autobiographical account of Edward Abbey’s love of the desert lands of the western United States. Therefore, it was not surprising to see Fire on the Mountain set in the White Sands area of New Mexico. And as expected, Fire on the Mountain is filled with descriptions of the natural beauty associated with the harsh desert environment. The story is all there, but the setting gets equal play, which can seem overplayed at times.
The lead character was solid in his composition, but he never grew into a fully believable person. He was the 70-year-old rancher, John Vogelin and was shown to be unbelievably stubborn. He was made too idealistic in respects to this attribute and thus appeared completely devoid of even a hint of reason, kindness, and compassion towards others. While I understand that the story needed this character depicted as he was, it led to questions concerning his ability to actually exist in real life.
Abbey’s focus of his story is on the nation-old concept of eminent domain wherein the government acquires private property through a forced sale for national purposes. The novel’s depiction of the process is fair and compassionate, which is why Abbey needed a main character who was an extremist in his beliefs.
It’s difficult to gauge Abbey’s views on this process as they apply to his story. On the one hand, the government simply steps in an assertively buys the rancher’s land, effectively kicking him out. One could think, as the main character does, that this is an act of government overreach at its cruelest. On the other hand, given the land’s completely passive use by the government as part of the White Sands Missile Range, such an acquisition would be good for the desert environment and would have been welcomed by Abbey. It is possible that this conflicting outcome of the eminent domain process made the novel less forceful towards either position and and as a result lessened the novel’s impact.
The lead character was solid in his composition, but he never grew into a fully believable person. He was the 70-year-old rancher, John Vogelin and was shown to be unbelievably stubborn. He was made too idealistic in respects to this attribute and thus appeared completely devoid of even a hint of reason, kindness, and compassion towards others. While I understand that the story needed this character depicted as he was, it led to questions concerning his ability to actually exist in real life.
Abbey’s focus of his story is on the nation-old concept of eminent domain wherein the government acquires private property through a forced sale for national purposes. The novel’s depiction of the process is fair and compassionate, which is why Abbey needed a main character who was an extremist in his beliefs.
It’s difficult to gauge Abbey’s views on this process as they apply to his story. On the one hand, the government simply steps in an assertively buys the rancher’s land, effectively kicking him out. One could think, as the main character does, that this is an act of government overreach at its cruelest. On the other hand, given the land’s completely passive use by the government as part of the White Sands Missile Range, such an acquisition would be good for the desert environment and would have been welcomed by Abbey. It is possible that this conflicting outcome of the eminent domain process made the novel less forceful towards either position and and as a result lessened the novel’s impact.
April 30, 2018
Much has changed since Abbey wrote Fire on the Mountain. Would he have written the same novel in 2018 after having witnessed armed militias repeatedly face off with federal officers at places like Malheur and Bunkerville? I have my doubts. Fire on the Mountain is beautifully written, but it’s difficult to identify with a protagonist who reminds you so much of Cliven Bundy.
September 14, 2024
Early anti-government screed disguised as fairly standard cowboy shit. An early anarcho ‘fuck you’ to the industrial military complex, all taking place where the maternal side of my family hails from and largely still live (those that aren’t dead, that being most). Sweet New Mexico, Land of Disenfranchisement.
Mind: this is Abbey before the acid kicked in, just in case you’re expecting his later gonzo, ecoterrorist fuckamaroll.
Mind: this is Abbey before the acid kicked in, just in case you’re expecting his later gonzo, ecoterrorist fuckamaroll.
January 24, 2025
Edward Abbey's "Fire on the Mountain" is the story of an old man not willing to give up his ranch even to the US Government. This book has played a role in the anti-government rural west for years. The story itself turns out generally the way one would figure when going up against any government entity.
Abbey's prose are alive with the landscape. There are far more words dedicated to the beauty and sensibilities of the New Mexico desert in "Fire" than to anything else. The flora, fauna, weather, and geology of the region are a constant presence throughout. The plot is about a man who won't leave his home. The passages describing the land tells us why he won't leave.
Told through the eyes of the old man's grandson we feel the injustice of the situation. The reader will feel sympathy and a degree of understanding for the old man but we all know how this ends. Abbey ends the story with a Pyrrhic victory.
Abbey's prose are alive with the landscape. There are far more words dedicated to the beauty and sensibilities of the New Mexico desert in "Fire" than to anything else. The flora, fauna, weather, and geology of the region are a constant presence throughout. The plot is about a man who won't leave his home. The passages describing the land tells us why he won't leave.
Told through the eyes of the old man's grandson we feel the injustice of the situation. The reader will feel sympathy and a degree of understanding for the old man but we all know how this ends. Abbey ends the story with a Pyrrhic victory.
August 31, 2013
The premise of this book is interesting: the rugged individual takes on the overpowering state, David vs. Goliath, the stuff of old western comics. However the execution failed, in my view.
In a nutshell, an old rancher is being driven off his land in New Mexico to make way for a missile testing site. He resists and self-destructs. And the story reminds the reader that change is inevitable and those who resist it get run over. At a deeper level it also reminds us that America may be the home of the brave but is no more the land of the free than China is, especially when the government wants your land, and these are important lessons from the book.
Now let's get to the execution. The story is narratted by the old rancher's 12-year old grandson, and this was I believe the main mistake in the delivery. The boy comes across as a cross between a child and a 20-something in his voice and manner. He is also a bit of a cold fish until the very end when he starts to gush emotion. He parrots and emulates his grandfather and seems to have no mind of his own. We do not feel his fears when confronted with the might of the US government. The relationship of the friend Lee to the old man and the boy is also not clear, nor are his motives for putting his life on the line in their defence when he has a family of his own. And as for the old man, even though we feel sorry for his plight, he comes across as a bit of an intransigent ass for not taking the generous settlement offered, moving onto another chapter of his life and leaving a dying ranch.
As for the "fire on the mountain," the book's concluding scene, I think it was a bit overdone and melodramatic. But I guess forest fires in the '60's were not what they are today and not as devastating as how they are made to look in our current mass and social media, so the old man's exit via the fire may have been an acceptable "out" at the time. I still would have looked for a subtler ending.
The real hero is the land, which is evocatively portrayed by the author who seems to have been very much a part of it. And the villains are everyone who stole the land to call it their own since the beginning of time: the Indian, the white man, the railroad companies, the government; after all these players have passed, the land will prevail, it belongs to no one - that is the strong and clear message.
In a nutshell, an old rancher is being driven off his land in New Mexico to make way for a missile testing site. He resists and self-destructs. And the story reminds the reader that change is inevitable and those who resist it get run over. At a deeper level it also reminds us that America may be the home of the brave but is no more the land of the free than China is, especially when the government wants your land, and these are important lessons from the book.
Now let's get to the execution. The story is narratted by the old rancher's 12-year old grandson, and this was I believe the main mistake in the delivery. The boy comes across as a cross between a child and a 20-something in his voice and manner. He is also a bit of a cold fish until the very end when he starts to gush emotion. He parrots and emulates his grandfather and seems to have no mind of his own. We do not feel his fears when confronted with the might of the US government. The relationship of the friend Lee to the old man and the boy is also not clear, nor are his motives for putting his life on the line in their defence when he has a family of his own. And as for the old man, even though we feel sorry for his plight, he comes across as a bit of an intransigent ass for not taking the generous settlement offered, moving onto another chapter of his life and leaving a dying ranch.
As for the "fire on the mountain," the book's concluding scene, I think it was a bit overdone and melodramatic. But I guess forest fires in the '60's were not what they are today and not as devastating as how they are made to look in our current mass and social media, so the old man's exit via the fire may have been an acceptable "out" at the time. I still would have looked for a subtler ending.
The real hero is the land, which is evocatively portrayed by the author who seems to have been very much a part of it. And the villains are everyone who stole the land to call it their own since the beginning of time: the Indian, the white man, the railroad companies, the government; after all these players have passed, the land will prevail, it belongs to no one - that is the strong and clear message.
March 25, 2025
In the fashion of all Edward Abbey books, I started this one while on a backpacking trip. While the sage brush and verdant hills of Cottonwood Canyon were beautiful, this book filled me with a painful longing for the true, Southwest desert. It was quick read- the plot keeps a brisk pace, and build and builds to a climax that’s inevitable from the start. The climax was expected, sure. But my tears at the resolution were unexpected. I’m typing this true quiet sobs. I will hold this book dear for the rest of my life.
September 26, 2013
I am a fan of Edward Abbey. I like the way that he puts a story together, and this little story came together beautifully. The plot is simple, the outcome predictable. But Abbey drew me in and I enjoyed reading this not-overly-drawn-out novel.
Simply put, a young man from Philadelphia visits his Grandfather's New Mexico ranch on summer vacation. The ranch is about to be incorporated into the White Sands Missile Range, and the Grandfather refuses to sell under any condition. The old man is a stubborn old fool, and even when presented with viable options by the U.S. Government, he refuses to bend.
Mr. Abbey knows stubborn. So much so that his inability to recognize the advances of modern medicine may well have cost him his life when he passed in March of 1989 due to complications of esophageal hemorrhaging.
Maybe because I am a fan of the western genre set in today's times draws me to writers like Abbey, and to a lesser extent Cormac McCarthy. In any case, unlike several reviewers here, I enjoyed reading this book.
Simply put, a young man from Philadelphia visits his Grandfather's New Mexico ranch on summer vacation. The ranch is about to be incorporated into the White Sands Missile Range, and the Grandfather refuses to sell under any condition. The old man is a stubborn old fool, and even when presented with viable options by the U.S. Government, he refuses to bend.
Mr. Abbey knows stubborn. So much so that his inability to recognize the advances of modern medicine may well have cost him his life when he passed in March of 1989 due to complications of esophageal hemorrhaging.
Maybe because I am a fan of the western genre set in today's times draws me to writers like Abbey, and to a lesser extent Cormac McCarthy. In any case, unlike several reviewers here, I enjoyed reading this book.
August 5, 2019
GAB Re-read of an old classic about the government takeover of local ranches in the Tularosa basin and beyond in the early 1940's to make way for the Manhattan Project. Still today in southwestern New Mexico there are occasional times when the roads in our area are shut down to accommodate rocket firings.
November 27, 2018
Me ha gustado más por fuera que por dentro, la verdad. Ha envejecido regular el rollo Defiendo Mi Rancho Del Estado. Y que es más simple que un botijo el libro, vamos. ¡Mucho desierto y montañas, eso sí!
April 19, 2011
one of the worst books I have ever read
October 18, 2024
Ce roman me réconcilie (un peu) avec Abbey, que j'ai découvert avec Désert Solitaire (qui n'était pas un roman et que j'ai détesté pour des raisons tenant à la personnalité d'Abbey et son hypocrisie mais passons).
C'était une belle histoire, bien écrite, mais j'aurais aimé que l'ensemble soit un peu plus approfondi. Il aurait été intéressant de s'interroger sur la valeur non seulement économique, mais aussi historique, sociale, familiale de la terre que le grand-père de Billy refuse de céder au gouvernement des Etats-Unis. Lee fait une brève référence à la notion de propriété de cette terre (qui appartenait auparavant aux Apaches) mais ne va pas plus loin. J'aurais aimé voir un peu plus de réflexion autour de cette thématique, qui est clairement centrale dans le roman.
Les descriptions des paysages époustouflants de l'Ouest est toujours aussi exceptionnelle par contre, Abbey possède un véritable talent pour transporter le lecteur dans son univers avec les sons, les odeurs et les sensations qui s'y rattachent.
C'était une belle histoire, bien écrite, mais j'aurais aimé que l'ensemble soit un peu plus approfondi. Il aurait été intéressant de s'interroger sur la valeur non seulement économique, mais aussi historique, sociale, familiale de la terre que le grand-père de Billy refuse de céder au gouvernement des Etats-Unis. Lee fait une brève référence à la notion de propriété de cette terre (qui appartenait auparavant aux Apaches) mais ne va pas plus loin. J'aurais aimé voir un peu plus de réflexion autour de cette thématique, qui est clairement centrale dans le roman.
Les descriptions des paysages époustouflants de l'Ouest est toujours aussi exceptionnelle par contre, Abbey possède un véritable talent pour transporter le lecteur dans son univers avec les sons, les odeurs et les sensations qui s'y rattachent.
March 3, 2018
Is there a better, more descriptive nature/environmental writer than Edward Abbey? I've (unfortunately) only managed to read this and 'The Monkey Wrench Gang' up to this point in my life. The way he writes about the desert makes you think you're right there being beat down by the sun with the characters.
This is the story of the small rancher vs. the big U.S. government. In the interest of national security, the government is hoping to build a missile range in the midst of John Vogelin's ranch. Vogelin refuses to sell, be bought out, or be pushed out. Vogelin is what the Bundy's wish they were: a man of integrity and character who sticks to his guns (and probably pays his taxes to boot). Billy lives the life every 12 year old boy wishes he could live, and Lee holds the middle ground between old world and new. A quick, easy read with simple yet thought provoking dialogue. Looking forward to 'The Brave Cowboy' and 'Desert Solitude' in the near future.
"Here lies John Vogelin; Born Forty Years Too Late, Died Forty Years Too Soon."
Why?
Because "I figure in forty years civilization will collapse and everything will be back to normal. I wish I could live to see it."
This is the story of the small rancher vs. the big U.S. government. In the interest of national security, the government is hoping to build a missile range in the midst of John Vogelin's ranch. Vogelin refuses to sell, be bought out, or be pushed out. Vogelin is what the Bundy's wish they were: a man of integrity and character who sticks to his guns (and probably pays his taxes to boot). Billy lives the life every 12 year old boy wishes he could live, and Lee holds the middle ground between old world and new. A quick, easy read with simple yet thought provoking dialogue. Looking forward to 'The Brave Cowboy' and 'Desert Solitude' in the near future.
"Here lies John Vogelin; Born Forty Years Too Late, Died Forty Years Too Soon."
Why?
Because "I figure in forty years civilization will collapse and everything will be back to normal. I wish I could live to see it."
November 23, 2025
Edward Abbey’s Fire on the Mountain is a small book that tells an interesting story. Abbey captures the stubborn love people feel for a place, and what it costs when that place is threatened by “progress.” The relationship between the old rancher and the boy is simple and beautiful, and the ending hits with the kind of quiet force Abbey is known for. Sparse, rugged, and full of that desert honesty - this one is memorable.
April 8, 2018
I enjoyed this classic book very much. Set in the southewest, old man on his land for his entire life is being moved off to make room for more military space near White Sands, New Mexico. Classic story. Very much a budding envirinmental, anti establishment tale. The characters are very believable. Same story has played out in many forms as our country has grown and changed.
November 25, 2020
The plot is overly simplistic--the political rantings of a junior high school student, on par with Ayn Rand's drivel. But damn can this man write about the desert. Small moments about horses, big cats, and not much water make this a great read.
December 12, 2023
Good book
March 28, 2021
Edward Abbey never disappoints. Never.
July 17, 2024
Abbey remains the best. Quick novella, no clue where it’s going until it gets there. Inflames the soul at the mere thought of government injustice.
February 2, 2022
It did not dawn on me until I was about 85% done with this piece that this book has been used by scourge of the Earth types to stake out a claim that they were reliving this story in modern times. I'm glad I didn't realize it, however. It gave me a chance to see the story through my own lens without the gnawing fact that a bunch of moochers that like to play cowboy held this book as a semi-manifesto. Edward Abbey was a lover of nature, obviously Western nature at that. Those craven ranchers that claim this book as their own would implode if Abbey were around today to crassly deny them recognition of courage. He'd promptly let them know they are nothing more than land destroying profiteers with an inferiority complex that would make Napoleon blush.
I thought this story was much like a slow burn with a beautiful, yet sad crescendo ending. This wasn't a libertarian wet dream, but I can see how that could be misinterpreted. Unlike the mouthbreathers that clasp to this book on the extreme right, there was more to this book than just individual liberty in the face of the tyrannical 'guvment.' It was a stand against the decrepit modernity that is supposed to reflect some higher form of civilization with the law and killing wing of the U.S. government enforcing it from the front. It was also about instilling the question in the reader's mind of where they would draw the line in the proverbial sand when everything dear to you is going to be sacrificed for a greater bad.
Instead of salt flats, junipers, the purple sunsets splattered across ancient rock, the new "civilized" use would be for testing bombs of all scope in order to make imperialism more efficient. Of course the military brass characters in this spoke of "freedom" and "defense" and "security" and "being a responsible, patriotic citizen," as they have to justify any illegality and moral repugnancy. While the intelligence services were around, they didn't yet sink their teeth into operations of this kind in the time period it took place, but they would be included in this type of grooming as well. It is this contrast that I interpreted Abbey making. The new Manifest Destiny rolling over the previous. He even alludes to the fact when the grandfather and his best buddy are discussing his last stand when he said the land has been stolen over and over again to get to his ownership and now the U.S. government through its military is coming next.
Not only a contrast between individual rights and the violent apparatus of the US government's war machine was story line in this book, but also the enthrallment of the desert southwest environment as always in Abbey's writings. As per usual, he paints your cranium with the paint of his words. It also suffers from the encroaching imperial forces and what was part of a desert ecosystem becomes cannon fodder due to the paranoid shot callers running this society into the ground. These two storylines connected at the ranch of the main character's grandfather.
I recommend this book as the pages seem to turn faster as you progress along, especially if you're already a fan of Ed Abbey. Don't let the slackjaw moochers of the Bundy clan elbow you out of reading this. It is time to reclaim this literary work as well as the environment in which it talks about from the goose-stepping march of our military-industrial complex.
4/5
I thought this story was much like a slow burn with a beautiful, yet sad crescendo ending. This wasn't a libertarian wet dream, but I can see how that could be misinterpreted. Unlike the mouthbreathers that clasp to this book on the extreme right, there was more to this book than just individual liberty in the face of the tyrannical 'guvment.' It was a stand against the decrepit modernity that is supposed to reflect some higher form of civilization with the law and killing wing of the U.S. government enforcing it from the front. It was also about instilling the question in the reader's mind of where they would draw the line in the proverbial sand when everything dear to you is going to be sacrificed for a greater bad.
Instead of salt flats, junipers, the purple sunsets splattered across ancient rock, the new "civilized" use would be for testing bombs of all scope in order to make imperialism more efficient. Of course the military brass characters in this spoke of "freedom" and "defense" and "security" and "being a responsible, patriotic citizen," as they have to justify any illegality and moral repugnancy. While the intelligence services were around, they didn't yet sink their teeth into operations of this kind in the time period it took place, but they would be included in this type of grooming as well. It is this contrast that I interpreted Abbey making. The new Manifest Destiny rolling over the previous. He even alludes to the fact when the grandfather and his best buddy are discussing his last stand when he said the land has been stolen over and over again to get to his ownership and now the U.S. government through its military is coming next.
Not only a contrast between individual rights and the violent apparatus of the US government's war machine was story line in this book, but also the enthrallment of the desert southwest environment as always in Abbey's writings. As per usual, he paints your cranium with the paint of his words. It also suffers from the encroaching imperial forces and what was part of a desert ecosystem becomes cannon fodder due to the paranoid shot callers running this society into the ground. These two storylines connected at the ranch of the main character's grandfather.
I recommend this book as the pages seem to turn faster as you progress along, especially if you're already a fan of Ed Abbey. Don't let the slackjaw moochers of the Bundy clan elbow you out of reading this. It is time to reclaim this literary work as well as the environment in which it talks about from the goose-stepping march of our military-industrial complex.
4/5
August 20, 2012
Once upon a time there was a desert. In this desert there were yucca plants. And jackrabbits. And timothy grass.
John Vogelin didn't want the U.S. government to take away his farm. So he sat on the porch and had a told the guy that he wasn't going to give it up. Then the next day, a new man came by to persuade him. He sat on the porch and talked to him once more. And while he was doing this, his grandson Billy fetched them ice water.
I wouldn't call this a young adult novel, even though Billy's twelve and he's the narrator. All he ever does is fetch ice water for people.
I've heard people wonder why characters in young adult literature talk back/sneak off/run away/make their own decisions. And now I've found out why. If they don't, they become dull and bland and boring like Billy. At least a third of his dialogue consists of the phrase "Yes, sir." The only thing I liked about him was his name: Billy Vogelin Starr. Perfect cowboy name.
I couldn't figure out why Billy was ever in the story. It's not a kid's story. And for that matter, it's not an adventure story, antigovernment story, or even a cowboy story. It's a book about the desert of New Mexico. Grass. Cows. Mountains. The humans are minor characters.
John Vogelin didn't want the U.S. government to take away his farm. So he sat on the porch and had a told the guy that he wasn't going to give it up. Then the next day, a new man came by to persuade him. He sat on the porch and talked to him once more. And while he was doing this, his grandson Billy fetched them ice water.
I wouldn't call this a young adult novel, even though Billy's twelve and he's the narrator. All he ever does is fetch ice water for people.
I've heard people wonder why characters in young adult literature talk back/sneak off/run away/make their own decisions. And now I've found out why. If they don't, they become dull and bland and boring like Billy. At least a third of his dialogue consists of the phrase "Yes, sir." The only thing I liked about him was his name: Billy Vogelin Starr. Perfect cowboy name.
I couldn't figure out why Billy was ever in the story. It's not a kid's story. And for that matter, it's not an adventure story, antigovernment story, or even a cowboy story. It's a book about the desert of New Mexico. Grass. Cows. Mountains. The humans are minor characters.
December 17, 2015
As you might expect, this book features some of the author's amazing and brilliant descriptions of the natural world - in this case southeastern New Mexico. It also is the story of one old man's fight to keep the US Government from seizing his cattle ranch that had been in the family for years and making it part of the White Sands Missile Range during the Cold War. However, the thing that makes this story special is the relationship between the old man and his grandson Billy. Billy's parents who live in the East send him off to live with his grandfather each summer during his vacation from prep school. During these times, Billy learns more about life and how things really work and becomes fiercely loyal to his grandfather.
What becomes apparent to me after reading this book is that it is often difficult to separate a person from a place. The attachment becomes so great that the person will go to any length to preserve the connection. I live near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington. The land for this area was taken away from the original owners who had only a very short time to vacate. I think I can better understand their anguish at having to move.
This is a great story that will tear your heart out.
What becomes apparent to me after reading this book is that it is often difficult to separate a person from a place. The attachment becomes so great that the person will go to any length to preserve the connection. I live near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington. The land for this area was taken away from the original owners who had only a very short time to vacate. I think I can better understand their anguish at having to move.
This is a great story that will tear your heart out.
December 6, 2010
Hard when the rating system goes from "really liked it" to "amazing" - a much over used word here in Los Angeles- but I did really love this book. Seen through the eyes of an adolescent visiting his grandfather's desert ranch one summer- it has drama and tension, excitement and struggle- and the choice to view it all through the eyes of a child seems a perfect one. The US wants to expand it's nuclear test grounds to include the ranch and the grandfather will not stand for it. Rather than use a heavy hand the author makes use of the perspective and shows us the story through the inexperienced and naive' eyes of the young boy. wait, I already said that- anyway- the story is enhanced in that the reader is allowed to interpret events for themselves along with the boy rather than be presented with the adult perspective which would tend to be more set (not necessarily of course but generally IMO)
In any event- when you include Abbey's style, sensibilities, and sense of humor you end up with a great book.
In any event- when you include Abbey's style, sensibilities, and sense of humor you end up with a great book.
February 23, 2009
His grandson, Billy, tells the end of New Mexico rancher John Vogelin’s life. Billy’s annual summer visit to the Box V Ranch is disrupted by the United States. The government seizes the ranch to expand the White Sands Missile Range. Despite the arguments of his friend, Lee Mackie and the increasing show of force demonstrated by courts, law enforcement and military, John Vogelin refuses to leave his former property, a decision that leads to his death. The fire in the title is his funeral pyre. The back cover copy hails this 1962 novel as “a powerful and moving tale that gloriously celebrates the undying spirit of American individualism.” It could also be characterized as a well-written, realistic cautionary tale about the dangers of self-centered stupidity.
Abbey’s prose is clear and clean. His descriptions of the New Mexico landscape are precise and beautiful.
Abbey’s prose is clear and clean. His descriptions of the New Mexico landscape are precise and beautiful.
July 12, 2018
Though I admit the book is well written, it is just not to my taste. There are long passages of descriptive prose. I am not a fan of such passages, unless they are both poetic and symbolic, or at least amusing or touching as such passages are found in Dickens or Hugo. Part of the problem is that the descriptions in this novel is supposed to help us understand the love that the protagonist has for the desert country that his grandfather inhabits. I have lived in two deserts, and I have no love for such land. I can only accept that there are people who have such love for desert. I cannot sympathize. This makes the character one that is not easy to sympathize with. I accept that this is highly subjective. Others may find this much easier than I have. If so, they will possibly enjoy the book more than I did.
October 19, 2009
This is certainly not Abbey's best, but it was entertaining nonetheless. I know The Brave Cowboy was his first novel, but in many ways this feels like it as written first. It has a much more juvenile feel (of course, the narrator is 12, but the plot itself feels less complex as well).
Abbey's other writing is significantly better, but if you just want a quick escape into the New Mexico desert, this is a fun, fast read.
Abbey's other writing is significantly better, but if you just want a quick escape into the New Mexico desert, this is a fun, fast read.
November 23, 2020
The fire on the mountain turned out to be a fire I did not anticipate. In my view, the grandson was not old enough in real years to do the things he did in this story. I understand the choices of the grandfather, even if I do not agree with the way he executed his decisions. What I would like to read is the sequel about how this story makes an impact on his grandson's choices in the future. I appreciated the prose and the symbolism.
July 21, 2022
This is a great story about a young man who comes to the wilds of New Mexico to spend a season with his grandfather. The U.S. Airforce wants the land owned by the grandfather and when he refuses to sell, they take the land. This is a tale of stolen freedoms.
October 29, 2019
Quick read and a great story. Abbey’s depiction of the desert is deeply immersive and his development of the characters excellent. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a classic American western and has a liberal resistance to the forward motion of man against nature.
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