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Shadow on the Sun
Western with supernatural horror elements.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
15 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
Richard Matheson
760 books4,771 followersBorn in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of whom (Chris, Richard Christian, and Ali Matheson) are writers of fiction and screenplays.
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 25, 2012
Richard Matheson was a writer for the original Twilight Zone, and most of his work shows why. Short and tight, his work has entertained, surprised and amazed whole generations. He became a writer's writer, with many citing him as inspiration and motivation to pursue their own dreams of writing.
A Shadow on the Sun, a short paperback western published in 1994, is not destined to become a classic, but certainly succeeds at being a piece of entertaining fiction, if short. I think that if we were to classify it, it might serve as a good example of the Weird West genre - where the work is a Western with the traditional staples of the genre, laced with elements of Weird Fiction, most commonly a supernatural occurence based on a mythology either borrowed from famous literary predecessors or invented by the author himself.
Matheson's prose style is very sparse, as in most of his other works. He's never the one to use 10 words when two will suffice, always giving the reader just enough detail to not be overtly vague, and leave enough for the imagination to conjure up. This is a great example of this - there's not a word that's unnecessary, and on the novel short lenght quite a lot of characters make an appearance and quite a lot happens.
I've read somewhere that this was originally a screenplay, and it seems it could be. It would do well as an extended episode of the original Twilight Zone, or a TV movie. The suspense is taut, the characters interesting, and you can't just not like a horror novel set in the Old West. It's a short and sweet example of the forgotten paperback novel, where the story was all that counted - it grabbed you by the opening hook and kept interested all the way through to the last page. A good piece of solid writing with an entertaining plot. A very entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
A Shadow on the Sun, a short paperback western published in 1994, is not destined to become a classic, but certainly succeeds at being a piece of entertaining fiction, if short. I think that if we were to classify it, it might serve as a good example of the Weird West genre - where the work is a Western with the traditional staples of the genre, laced with elements of Weird Fiction, most commonly a supernatural occurence based on a mythology either borrowed from famous literary predecessors or invented by the author himself.
Matheson's prose style is very sparse, as in most of his other works. He's never the one to use 10 words when two will suffice, always giving the reader just enough detail to not be overtly vague, and leave enough for the imagination to conjure up. This is a great example of this - there's not a word that's unnecessary, and on the novel short lenght quite a lot of characters make an appearance and quite a lot happens.
I've read somewhere that this was originally a screenplay, and it seems it could be. It would do well as an extended episode of the original Twilight Zone, or a TV movie. The suspense is taut, the characters interesting, and you can't just not like a horror novel set in the Old West. It's a short and sweet example of the forgotten paperback novel, where the story was all that counted - it grabbed you by the opening hook and kept interested all the way through to the last page. A good piece of solid writing with an entertaining plot. A very entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
June 20, 2022
Richard Matheson has always amazed, inspired, and genuinely interested me as a writer. His is a uniquely distilled sense of style, never wasting words, always concise and always in pure service of the story. He doesn’t often say what he wants to say, he lets the story do the saying on its own.
Shadow on the Sun is a great example of that. It’s a very short book, more of a novella, and gets straight to the point and ends as soon as things are resolved. There’s nothing especially remarkable about it, and I can’t say there’s much that will stay with me from it. And yet I enjoyed every moment, was unsettled by some of the events in the story, and found the characters and story compelling.
For such a short novel, there’s no shortage of character development even for minor characters; that is, each character is distinct and decidedly vivid, even with such minimal page time. That, and there’s something unique and satisfying about a horror western, especially one that so heavily includes Native Americans—their culture, their presence, their mistreatment, their myths.
In short, this is an awesome little book.
Shadow on the Sun is a great example of that. It’s a very short book, more of a novella, and gets straight to the point and ends as soon as things are resolved. There’s nothing especially remarkable about it, and I can’t say there’s much that will stay with me from it. And yet I enjoyed every moment, was unsettled by some of the events in the story, and found the characters and story compelling.
For such a short novel, there’s no shortage of character development even for minor characters; that is, each character is distinct and decidedly vivid, even with such minimal page time. That, and there’s something unique and satisfying about a horror western, especially one that so heavily includes Native Americans—their culture, their presence, their mistreatment, their myths.
In short, this is an awesome little book.
April 18, 2025
Even at a lean 170 pages, and Matheson's always straight-to-the-point style of writing, this Western Horror novel failed to engage me. And it's a shame, because there's a germ of an interesting idea here.
There's some mysterious creature killing and picking people off in the old west, amidst the cowboys and apaches trying to come to a peace agreement, and naturally reigniting the strife between them.
The creature is implied to be some kind of supernatural creation caused by an Indian Shaman or something of the sorts.
Sounds cool, right? Well, even with this premise, Matheson somehow manages to completely botch this idea. With extremely uninteresting characters, and more time spent with the characters discussing the conflict and situation more than anything actually happening, I just felt bored the entire time and like I didn't give a rat's ass what happened.
To me, this book almost feels like a rough draft, or at the least, like something Matheson just didn't put much effort into.
Again, there's somewhat of an interesting idea here, but the only thing that kept me coming back to this book was its short length and knowing I could plow through it in a couple days.
Apparently this is one of 4(?) Westerns that Matheson wrote, and I'm not sure the consensus on the others, but I hope this isn't an indication of how those ones fare.
Overall I give this book a flat 2⭐
Far from one of the worst books I've read, but just kind of an in one ear and out the other type of read. Not recommended.
There's some mysterious creature killing and picking people off in the old west, amidst the cowboys and apaches trying to come to a peace agreement, and naturally reigniting the strife between them.
The creature is implied to be some kind of supernatural creation caused by an Indian Shaman or something of the sorts.
Sounds cool, right? Well, even with this premise, Matheson somehow manages to completely botch this idea. With extremely uninteresting characters, and more time spent with the characters discussing the conflict and situation more than anything actually happening, I just felt bored the entire time and like I didn't give a rat's ass what happened.
To me, this book almost feels like a rough draft, or at the least, like something Matheson just didn't put much effort into.
Again, there's somewhat of an interesting idea here, but the only thing that kept me coming back to this book was its short length and knowing I could plow through it in a couple days.
Apparently this is one of 4(?) Westerns that Matheson wrote, and I'm not sure the consensus on the others, but I hope this isn't an indication of how those ones fare.
Overall I give this book a flat 2⭐
Far from one of the worst books I've read, but just kind of an in one ear and out the other type of read. Not recommended.
June 21, 2018
Audiobook narrated by Mark Bramhall.
September 14, 2011
A pretty straightforward horror/western: the gruesome murders of two white men threaten a treaty between a band of warlike Apaches and the U.S. before the ink has even dried, but when Indian agent Billjohn Finley investigates, he discovers that the murderer may be supernatural.
Matheson's writing is pure story: he doesn't set up more than he needs to, and his characters get only as much detail as they need. This would make a good movie, though unlike many of Matheson's other stories, it hasn't been turned into a film, probably because Westerns are so out of fashion.
3.5 stars. This is a decent yarn, though even the ending is scripted like a Hollywood movie. Definitely worth reading or listening to for a few hours of entertainment, though it's not likely to rank as one of your all-time favorites.
Matheson's writing is pure story: he doesn't set up more than he needs to, and his characters get only as much detail as they need. This would make a good movie, though unlike many of Matheson's other stories, it hasn't been turned into a film, probably because Westerns are so out of fashion.
3.5 stars. This is a decent yarn, though even the ending is scripted like a Hollywood movie. Definitely worth reading or listening to for a few hours of entertainment, though it's not likely to rank as one of your all-time favorites.
April 12, 2025
An overlooked gem
The Weird Western has long been a bountiful genre cross-polination - blending familiar Wild West elements (whether traditional or revisionist) with those of supernatural horror, the latter sometimes overt, sometimes more suggestive. Such tales at their best are often moody, atmospheric, creepy, thrilling, surrealistically nightmarish...though oddly enough, rarely just plain ol' flatout *scary*. That's where Matheson comes in with this finely tuned little page-turner, by first grounding us within what feels like a lived-in, authentic historical setting, inhabited by quickly sketched characters who none the less feel like living, breathing people...then letting the ominous otherworldly menace creep in and highjack the story, throwing everything and everyone nightmarishly off balance almost before you realize it. From there, the story just hits the ground running and doesn't stop.
The Weird Western has long been a bountiful genre cross-polination - blending familiar Wild West elements (whether traditional or revisionist) with those of supernatural horror, the latter sometimes overt, sometimes more suggestive. Such tales at their best are often moody, atmospheric, creepy, thrilling, surrealistically nightmarish...though oddly enough, rarely just plain ol' flatout *scary*. That's where Matheson comes in with this finely tuned little page-turner, by first grounding us within what feels like a lived-in, authentic historical setting, inhabited by quickly sketched characters who none the less feel like living, breathing people...then letting the ominous otherworldly menace creep in and highjack the story, throwing everything and everyone nightmarishly off balance almost before you realize it. From there, the story just hits the ground running and doesn't stop.
March 7, 2011
Though my interests in the genre has waxed and waned at various points in my life I’ve always been interested in Westerns. Growing up the Lone Ranger and Tonto were the first Western characters to ever capture my imagination. In my teen years I discovered the Westerns of Clint Eastwood and numerous other “Spaghetti” Westerns, a genre which I still find cool today. Then in my twenties I discovered the type of Western I loved best, the “Weird Western”. Weird West tales are usually a hybrid of Western and horror stories some times with fantasy and even steam punk science fiction elements thrown in. My introduction to “Weird Westerns” came in the form of the Jonah Hex stories published by DC Comics Vertigo Imprint and the “Deadlands” Roleplaying game. Both of these properties were so rich and mixed the genres so well that to me the “Weird Western” was like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of cool.
So I was very intrigued to discover that legendary horror writer Richard Matheson had penned a Weird Western novel titled “Shadow on the Sun”. I was familiar with Matheson’s horror writing but when I picked up the book I discovered he had penned several Western stories as well. So Matheson had background with both genres and in “Shadow on the Sun” he demonstrated a knack for mixing them together in a potent combination.
“Shadow on the Sun” takes place right around the time Indians are being forced upon reservations through out the country. In Picture City, Arizona Billjohn Finely, the local agent for the Bureua of Indian Affairs, has helped broker a peace treaty between the U.S. government and a band of Apache Indians. Shortly after the treaty is signed, two townsfolk are found savagely murdered. David Boutelle, a young southern Politician sent to town by the U.S. government suspects the Apaches have broken the treaty. Finley suspects something stranger and more sinister is going on. His fears are confirmed when a strange man comes to town; a stranger who is not exactly human.
So the bulk of the action unfolds as a mystery story as Finley and Boutelle try to figure out the truth behind the murders. Discovering the truth doesn’t take long though because “Shadow on the Sun” is a short novel and moves very quickly. Matheson doesn’t skimp on story though. The pacing of the story is incredibly satisfying.
The other aspect of “Shadow on the Sun” that made it a fun read was that it was essentially a buddy book. At the beginning of the story Finley and Boutelle don’t like each other. They’re the classic pair of mismatched heroes, but as they try to uncover what’s really happening in their town and the nearby wilderness a friendship grows. You also get the sense that the character of Boutelle, who starts of as your typical Indian hating rich city slicker, grows.
I only had two complaints about “Shadow on the Sun” and they were slight ones based more on personal preference than the quality of the writing. I thought the character behind the murders in the story was more interesting when we didn’t know who he was. I didn’t find Matheson’s back story for him to be as compelling as the one I concocted in my mind. Plus the climax of the book and the way Finley and Boutelle stopped the thing behind the murders, happened in a different manner that I would have liked. It was an interesting manner, but I would have preferred something a little more exciting.
All in all though. “Shadow on the Sun” was a fun, quick read. It also proved that Richard Matheson knows how to deftly blend the horror genre with a Western tale for a proper and compelling Weird Western.
So I was very intrigued to discover that legendary horror writer Richard Matheson had penned a Weird Western novel titled “Shadow on the Sun”. I was familiar with Matheson’s horror writing but when I picked up the book I discovered he had penned several Western stories as well. So Matheson had background with both genres and in “Shadow on the Sun” he demonstrated a knack for mixing them together in a potent combination.
“Shadow on the Sun” takes place right around the time Indians are being forced upon reservations through out the country. In Picture City, Arizona Billjohn Finely, the local agent for the Bureua of Indian Affairs, has helped broker a peace treaty between the U.S. government and a band of Apache Indians. Shortly after the treaty is signed, two townsfolk are found savagely murdered. David Boutelle, a young southern Politician sent to town by the U.S. government suspects the Apaches have broken the treaty. Finley suspects something stranger and more sinister is going on. His fears are confirmed when a strange man comes to town; a stranger who is not exactly human.
So the bulk of the action unfolds as a mystery story as Finley and Boutelle try to figure out the truth behind the murders. Discovering the truth doesn’t take long though because “Shadow on the Sun” is a short novel and moves very quickly. Matheson doesn’t skimp on story though. The pacing of the story is incredibly satisfying.
The other aspect of “Shadow on the Sun” that made it a fun read was that it was essentially a buddy book. At the beginning of the story Finley and Boutelle don’t like each other. They’re the classic pair of mismatched heroes, but as they try to uncover what’s really happening in their town and the nearby wilderness a friendship grows. You also get the sense that the character of Boutelle, who starts of as your typical Indian hating rich city slicker, grows.
I only had two complaints about “Shadow on the Sun” and they were slight ones based more on personal preference than the quality of the writing. I thought the character behind the murders in the story was more interesting when we didn’t know who he was. I didn’t find Matheson’s back story for him to be as compelling as the one I concocted in my mind. Plus the climax of the book and the way Finley and Boutelle stopped the thing behind the murders, happened in a different manner that I would have liked. It was an interesting manner, but I would have preferred something a little more exciting.
All in all though. “Shadow on the Sun” was a fun, quick read. It also proved that Richard Matheson knows how to deftly blend the horror genre with a Western tale for a proper and compelling Weird Western.
May 1, 2024
A solid little horror western. My only gripe is that it’s a huge buildup to a pretty quick ender.
November 24, 2016
Sooooo good!! Matheson was a genius. I am making my way through his whole catalog. This is my second favorite so far next to I Am Legend. Also a huge fan of the Twilight Zone. You can never go wrong with Matheson.
April 7, 2020
I love Richard Matheson, but I'm learning that I am not a fan of westerns. This one had a supernatural element to it, which helped a little. But in the end, the book and its characters just didn't hold my interest. I think I have gave it another read, I may enjoy it more.
March 23, 2021
I really enjoyed it, but the wrap-up seemed very abrupt and the monster wasn't so hard to destroy.
May 23, 2022
The book itself was well written but the story pacing was slow in the middle and the story itself was mediocre. (I was expecting a vampire western but this is about a "were-eagle" creature).
August 7, 2025
Pretty solid western horror. Slow start but then the pacing is nice.
3.25
3.25
July 8, 2021
I grabbed this (Audible Plus) because of the narrator. I knew the author's name was familiar, but I didn't instantly place him. Now I realize he wrote 'I Am Legend' (which I've read) and 'Somewhere in Time' (which I've not read, but the movie is a classic). His full bibliography is diverse and also includes 'Twilight Zone' episodes, a bunch of short stories, 'The Incredible Shrinking Man,' and 'What Dreams May Come' (I've not read either, but know of them, of course).
Anyway, this one is OK. I do like that he made a point of a western where the Native Americans are not the bad guys. But, I dunno, the overall story just kind of fell flat for me. It wasn't scary. It didn't really grip me. Maybe I should have listened in the dark instead of while doing chores?
As many of his books and short stories are available on Audible Plus, I'll be adding them to my listening list.
Anyway, this one is OK. I do like that he made a point of a western where the Native Americans are not the bad guys. But, I dunno, the overall story just kind of fell flat for me. It wasn't scary. It didn't really grip me. Maybe I should have listened in the dark instead of while doing chores?
As many of his books and short stories are available on Audible Plus, I'll be adding them to my listening list.
January 3, 2016
A rather disappointing read with shallow characters and a storyline that might have been more suited to a young adult’s first foray into the horror genre.
A treaty has been agreed with the Apache Indians and the frontier province of Picture City. Unfortunately no sooner is the treaty signed than the bodies of two mutilated white men is discovered and you can guess who those rootin tootin cowboys want to blame!! Into this mix strolls the Night Doctor a quiet dark stranger/demon with a rather odd deep scar around his neck. The race is on for our hero, and local Indian agent, Billjohn Finlay (named this way because his mum and dad could not decide which name they preferred....yawn...yawn..) and his trusty sidekick Boutelle to “out” the nasty stranger/demon and bring love and peace to the pretty province of Picture City....can you stand the excitement!!
By anyone’s standards this is a poorly written story. The content is shallow, both the characters and storyline is instantly forgettable and the conclusion very unsatisfactory. I gave the story two stars as I have great respect for the author and I rate “I am legend” as an all time classic. It is such a pity that Richard Matheson has to put his signature to such dross which Shadow on the Sun surely is.....
A treaty has been agreed with the Apache Indians and the frontier province of Picture City. Unfortunately no sooner is the treaty signed than the bodies of two mutilated white men is discovered and you can guess who those rootin tootin cowboys want to blame!! Into this mix strolls the Night Doctor a quiet dark stranger/demon with a rather odd deep scar around his neck. The race is on for our hero, and local Indian agent, Billjohn Finlay (named this way because his mum and dad could not decide which name they preferred....yawn...yawn..) and his trusty sidekick Boutelle to “out” the nasty stranger/demon and bring love and peace to the pretty province of Picture City....can you stand the excitement!!
By anyone’s standards this is a poorly written story. The content is shallow, both the characters and storyline is instantly forgettable and the conclusion very unsatisfactory. I gave the story two stars as I have great respect for the author and I rate “I am legend” as an all time classic. It is such a pity that Richard Matheson has to put his signature to such dross which Shadow on the Sun surely is.....
November 19, 2015
Richard Matheson is well-known for being a writer on the Twilight Zone. This novella could have been delineated in the course of a half-hour TV show, but that doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable!
Finley is an Indian Agent in the old west, and he has finally brokered a treaty between the white town of Picture City and Braided Feather's Apache tribe. However, the mutilated bodies of 2 townsfolk and the appearance of a odd stranger riding their horse, create a yarn of old west supernatural mayhem. As the bodies pile up Finley must figure out who the stranger is and how to keep more people from having their faces torn off.
Not as fantastic as Matheson's other western I read, Journal of the Gun Years, but pretty dang good.
Finley is an Indian Agent in the old west, and he has finally brokered a treaty between the white town of Picture City and Braided Feather's Apache tribe. However, the mutilated bodies of 2 townsfolk and the appearance of a odd stranger riding their horse, create a yarn of old west supernatural mayhem. As the bodies pile up Finley must figure out who the stranger is and how to keep more people from having their faces torn off.
Not as fantastic as Matheson's other western I read, Journal of the Gun Years, but pretty dang good.
December 13, 2012
To amend my two stars, I should say that Matheson is a talented enough writer that it kept me up all night turning pages. But a lesson that book publishers should learn by heart: just because a book makes you turn pages doesn't mean its worth reading. This is a slight-horror Old West book that features a strange spirit called into play. It read more like a penny-dreadful than Matheson's other horror book I read, "I Am Legend" which is a true classic.
September 19, 2013
A great Weird Western, folding in grim commentary on the federal government's handling of the Native Americans with Apache mythology and curse magick.
A quick read, and very enjoyable.
A quick read, and very enjoyable.
September 13, 2015
its different that any thing that I ever read ....
the horror of a unknown man that kills like am animal
the horror of a unknown man that kills like am animal
November 5, 2015
Thoughtful cross genre horror with a heavy dose of post-colonial history and politics.
April 25, 2023
What a treat this book is. Matheson throws you right into the social turmoil of the situation that he's painted. There's a newly signed treaty between a guerilla community of Apaches and a the US government in proxy for a presumptuous settlement camp; everyone is happy for the bloodshed to end. But soon all parties discover that there's no end to the violence, and it's up to the Indian Authority to figure out how to maintain the peace while the bodies start stacking up.
There's not a wasted word. His bold use of the Omniscient Narrator puts you into all the characters' heads where he wants you. He flits around through everyone to see what the reader needs to see. You are always in the thick of the action without plot armor to protect anyone from the body count.
The monster is great, the folklore is fun, and it is handled remarkably respectful of Native Americans (despite including a white savior). If you have any interest in a mash-up of classic pulp westerns and creature features you owe it to yourself to check it out.
It's a super fun page turner. All killer, no filler.
There's not a wasted word. His bold use of the Omniscient Narrator puts you into all the characters' heads where he wants you. He flits around through everyone to see what the reader needs to see. You are always in the thick of the action without plot armor to protect anyone from the body count.
The monster is great, the folklore is fun, and it is handled remarkably respectful of Native Americans (despite including a white savior). If you have any interest in a mash-up of classic pulp westerns and creature features you owe it to yourself to check it out.
It's a super fun page turner. All killer, no filler.
April 15, 2022
ร้อยปีก่อนในแอริโซน่า หลังจากชาวเมือง Picture City กับอะแพชีทำสัญญาสงบศึกไม่ทันข้ามคืน มีชาวเมืองสองคนถูกฆาตกรรม อินเดียนแดงคนหนึ่งซึ่งถูกขับออกจากเผ่าก็ถูกฆ่า สภาพศพทั้งหมดน่าหวาดกลัว ใบหน้าบนศพ (ถ้ายังหลงเหลือให้ตีความได้) ก็แสดงออกถึงความหวาดกลัวสุดขีด Billjohn Finley ต้องค้นหาความจริงก่อนสงครามระหว่างชาวเมืองกับอะแพชีที่ดูเหมือนกำลังจะยุติจะร้อนระอุอีกครั้ง ในเหตุการณ์ช่วงคืนวันวุ่นวายกลับมีชายประหลาด บอกไม่ได้ว่าอยู่ฝ่ายไหนโผล่เข้ามา เขาถามหาศาสตราจารย์ผิวขาวคนหนึ่งและหมอผีอินเดียนแดงคนหนึ่ง เขารูปร่างสูงใหญ่มีแผลเป็นรอบคอ อ้างว่าเคยถูกตัดหัวมาแล้วหนึ่งครั้ง และสวมเสื้อผ้าของชาวเมืองที่ถูกฆ่า ไม่มีใครกล้ายุ่งกับเขา อะแพชีกลัวเขาจนหลบหนีเข้าป่า Billjohn Finley เชื่อว่าเขาไม่ใช่คน
นิยายของ Matheson เรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างสั้น แต่อ่านเพลิน สนุกมาก ... Billjohn ไม่เพียงต้องค้นหาความจริงเพื่อช่วยแก้ความเข้าใจผิดต่ออะแพชี แต่เขาต้องเอาชนะความช่างสงสัย ความสมัยใหม่ และความมีการศึกษาของ David Boutelle เด็กหนุ่มไฟแรงว่าที่นักการเมืองใหญ่ในดีซีผู้ไม่รู้อะไรเกี่ยวกับอินเดียนแดง และตั้งข้อสงสัยทุกอย่างต่อโลกส่วนที่เดินช้ากว่าส่วนอื่น ๆ
นิยายของ Matheson เรื่องนี้ค่อนข้างสั้น แต่อ่านเพลิน สนุกมาก ... Billjohn ไม่เพียงต้องค้นหาความจริงเพื่อช่วยแก้ความเข้าใจผิดต่ออะแพชี แต่เขาต้องเอาชนะความช่างสงสัย ความสมัยใหม่ และความมีการศึกษาของ David Boutelle เด็กหนุ่มไฟแรงว่าที่นักการเมืองใหญ่ในดีซีผู้ไม่รู้อะไรเกี่ยวกับอินเดียนแดง และตั้งข้อสงสัยทุกอย่างต่อโลกส่วนที่เดินช้ากว่าส่วนอื่น ๆ
October 27, 2021
In 2012, I listened to a collection of short stories written by Richard Matheson titled, The Box: Uncanny Stories by Richard Matheson, which was my first experience with Matheson's writing. I enjoyed The Box and have been meaning to read something else written by Richard Matheson ever since.
I finally decided to give the unabridged audio version of Shadow on the Sun by Richard Matheson a go and loved this western/horror themed novel a lot... I enjoyed it more than I thought I would actually as generally westerns and horror books aren't big draws for me as a genre.
I really liked the setting for Shadow on the Sun. This novel is set in the southwest in the 1800s. It deals with the tense relations between Native Americans and a remote frontier community. A supernatural being begins to cause major trouble shortly after a truce agreement is drawn between the Native Americans and a remote frontier community making the frontier community fear that the Native Americans have decided not to uphold their end of the truce agreement between the two communities. When an unknown stranger arrives at the frontier community looking for a particular individual and acting strangely, the people begin to take notice... especially, when supernatural events start occurring.
I loved how Richard Matheson builds tension and suspense throughout Shadow on the Sun. Shadow on the Sun is a short read, but filled with great writing and storytelling.
I finally decided to give the unabridged audio version of Shadow on the Sun by Richard Matheson a go and loved this western/horror themed novel a lot... I enjoyed it more than I thought I would actually as generally westerns and horror books aren't big draws for me as a genre.
I really liked the setting for Shadow on the Sun. This novel is set in the southwest in the 1800s. It deals with the tense relations between Native Americans and a remote frontier community. A supernatural being begins to cause major trouble shortly after a truce agreement is drawn between the Native Americans and a remote frontier community making the frontier community fear that the Native Americans have decided not to uphold their end of the truce agreement between the two communities. When an unknown stranger arrives at the frontier community looking for a particular individual and acting strangely, the people begin to take notice... especially, when supernatural events start occurring.
I loved how Richard Matheson builds tension and suspense throughout Shadow on the Sun. Shadow on the Sun is a short read, but filled with great writing and storytelling.
March 3, 2018
I enjoy Matheson's work quite a bit, but this is not his best. It's a quick read with an interesting premise--the world needs more horror westerns!--but it feels rushed, especially the race to the finish line in the last few pages. It does have its moments, most notably the relationship between Finley the "Indian agent," and government agent Boutelle as it evolves on their journey. But the natives get short shrift in the rush to The End.
If you have a hankerin' for Matheson's westerns, check out his brilliant Journal of the Gun Years instead. For more of his horror, the new short story collection from Penguin can't be beat. This novel attempts to bridge the gap between genres and, while interesting, doesn't quite succeed.
If you have a hankerin' for Matheson's westerns, check out his brilliant Journal of the Gun Years instead. For more of his horror, the new short story collection from Penguin can't be beat. This novel attempts to bridge the gap between genres and, while interesting, doesn't quite succeed.
November 11, 2021
Western-horror that reads like a half-hour episode of the Twilight Zone TV show. An exiled Apache shaman seeks revenge on his tribe by calling forth a half-human half-eagle demon who then goes on a killing rampage against citizens in a neighboring town. US Indian agents Finley and Boutelle along with the son of the chief, Lean Bear, must find the shaman and have him recall the demon. There is a battle in a cave in the cliffside and the demon is eventually destroyed. The most curious aspect is a visiting professor who knows exactly what is going on but refuses to tell Finely and Boutelle anything for reasons unknown, and he is killed by the demon.
July 17, 2022
A great Weird Western tale with a unique monster--The Wild West backdrop felt real and gave the book a sense of time and place. I could see and feel the mud on my boots! It took a chapter or two to center on the main character. The precarious, recently brokered treaty and suspicion added a constant sense of tension to the story. The monster was original and interesting, like something I might expect in a late 1970s low-budget horror movie. I assumed Matheson made the creature up completely but was surprised to look it up and find it is adapted from an actual Native American legend which I’d never heard! This made me appreciate it even more!
January 27, 2021
A quick and enjoyable read.
In the hands of another author, this novel would have been twice the length. Matheson does not spend a great deal of time on character development and back story, nor does he go in for long philosophical descriptions of the events and locations. SHADOW ON THE SUN is a very straightforward western legend/ horror novel with a solid cast of characters and very simple, but believable, plot structure. The ending was, perhaps, a little abrupt, but Matheson chooses to end the tale when the action ends, and I can respect that in his writing.
In the hands of another author, this novel would have been twice the length. Matheson does not spend a great deal of time on character development and back story, nor does he go in for long philosophical descriptions of the events and locations. SHADOW ON THE SUN is a very straightforward western legend/ horror novel with a solid cast of characters and very simple, but believable, plot structure. The ending was, perhaps, a little abrupt, but Matheson chooses to end the tale when the action ends, and I can respect that in his writing.
October 9, 2021
On the eve of a peace treaty between an Apache tribe and the US, a pair of young men are brutally murdered. The one honest Indian Agent in the whole world sets out to make sure the Indians don't get blamed for what turns out to be a nasty monster out of ancient myth.
There's a lot of pleasure to be gotten from Matheson's sheer sraft and his facility with genre conventions. The story rips along with an economy of pace and scene that's pure pulp married to cinema, and the treatment of the Indians is progressive for the time - we still get a white saviour, though.
There's a lot of pleasure to be gotten from Matheson's sheer sraft and his facility with genre conventions. The story rips along with an economy of pace and scene that's pure pulp married to cinema, and the treatment of the Indians is progressive for the time - we still get a white saviour, though.
December 30, 2022
My final book of the year! This was a fun, breezy read, with two of my favorite genres mixed together: that of sci-fi and westerns. Also my third by Richard Matheson; it’s not as good as I Am Legend by any means, but I still very much enjoyed its take on ancient Indian legends in the old west. Some well-developed characters as well, even if I wish we had more an insight into the Native American characters themselves.
I’m inspired to read more Matheson books after this and the other two I’ve read. Oh and also I will definitely attempt to increase my book count in 2023. Yay books!
I’m inspired to read more Matheson books after this and the other two I’ve read. Oh and also I will definitely attempt to increase my book count in 2023. Yay books!
November 30, 2023
An entertaining novella set in the Old West. I will say the head-hopping was distracting--and I don't mean head-hopping as in one character in one chapter and then another in the next ... no, you will go from one character in a paragraph to another and then back, and so on. This wasn't a deal-killer for me, but it was kind of tough to stay invested in the characters.
The story itself is simple but enjoyable. I can't think of many horror stories set in the Old West, and while this isn't Matheson's best work (Hell House, I Am Legend) it was still fun to read.
The story itself is simple but enjoyable. I can't think of many horror stories set in the Old West, and while this isn't Matheson's best work (Hell House, I Am Legend) it was still fun to read.
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