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The Apache Novels #1
The War Chief
Arizona Territory... the country of red deserts, rocks, high buttes and mountains--a harsh land but still a land, the Apaches had chosen for their own.
The land made the men, and the Indiands were trained from infancy to match their strength, their cunning, their hunting ability against the rigors and pitiless cruelty against the wildest country.
For generations the Apaches raided into Mexico for horses and woman and cattle, but those creatures that they made their own they always treated with care and respect. And so when they found a squalling, black-haired baby boy in a white man's wagon and their chief Geronimo claimed it for thier own, the baby became an Apache.
At first he was only known as Ish-kay-nay--boy. In the Apache tradition he had a private name, which nobody would ever use, but his public name had to be earned. At ten Ish-kay-nay killed his first bear--singlehanded and with only a bow and arrow. So Ish-kay-nay became Shaz-Dijiji--Black Bear.
And this was only the beginning of a life filled with the danger and excitement of the hunt, not only for food but against enemies who had become increasingly threatening--and of all these enemies, the most satisfying to hunt were the white men who had now begun to ravage Apache country. To this hunt Shaz-Dijiji dedicated himself.
Apache Devil is a sequel to this story.
The land made the men, and the Indiands were trained from infancy to match their strength, their cunning, their hunting ability against the rigors and pitiless cruelty against the wildest country.
For generations the Apaches raided into Mexico for horses and woman and cattle, but those creatures that they made their own they always treated with care and respect. And so when they found a squalling, black-haired baby boy in a white man's wagon and their chief Geronimo claimed it for thier own, the baby became an Apache.
At first he was only known as Ish-kay-nay--boy. In the Apache tradition he had a private name, which nobody would ever use, but his public name had to be earned. At ten Ish-kay-nay killed his first bear--singlehanded and with only a bow and arrow. So Ish-kay-nay became Shaz-Dijiji--Black Bear.
And this was only the beginning of a life filled with the danger and excitement of the hunt, not only for food but against enemies who had become increasingly threatening--and of all these enemies, the most satisfying to hunt were the white men who had now begun to ravage Apache country. To this hunt Shaz-Dijiji dedicated himself.
Apache Devil is a sequel to this story.
190 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1927
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284 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Rice Burroughs
2,717 books2,746 followersEdgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 27, 2020
Edgar Rice Burroughs has created some of the finest adventuring heroes in all of literature, including house-hold names like Tarzan, John Carter, David Innes, and more. But many readers are surprised to learn ERB also wrote several fine westerns, including the “Apache novels” which consist of only two books. As a young man, Burroughs enlisted in the 7th Cavalry and saw active service in southern Arizona so he had some first-hand experience with the setting of the Apache Indians. First published in 1927, “The War Chief” is the first of the two books and is centered around the character Shoz-Dijiji or “The Black Bear”.
The novel opens swiftly with a pioneer family getting ambushed and slaughtered by a band of Apaches. All, that is, except for a young baby boy who doesn’t even cry when dangled by the ankle for all to see. Go-yat-thlay, the leader of the band of Apaches (and who will go down in history as “Geronimo”) thinks the young babe is unusually brave so decides to raise him as his adopted son. The first half of the book is a coming of age story as young Shoz-Dijiji learns the ways of the Apache, including hunting and tracking skills, extreme patience, religious beliefs and especially, their hatred for the Pindah-lickoyee (“White Eyes”). He grows to young adulthood, becomes an accepted warrior and eventually War Chief, still operating under the ultimate leadership of Geronimo. A central theme of the book revolves around the Apache way of bringing maximum fierceness through mutilation of their foes even after death and the purposeful slaughter of women and children, all for the purpose of becoming so feared that the white men will leave. Shoz-Dijiji, however sees no honor in doing this, choosing to define bravery by his actions against enemies that can fight back. The resulting strife combined with his white origins lead to all sorts of misadventure.
The novel is written in Burroughs’s unmistakable style and includes quite a few of his typical plot devices. In fact, for the first couple of chapters I thought I was reading “Tarzan among the Apaches” with very similar origin stories, (including earning his name by killing a black bear at the age of 10). Just substitute Apaches for the Great Apes. But soon, it became its own story and I was fully absorbed in its complexities. Reading through the various skirmishes from the Apache point-of-view was absolutely riveting.
Burroughs, I think was ahead of his time when it comes to describing the plight of these indigenous peoples and how both sides reacted to the other. Written in the 1920’s it is, of course, not entirely politically correct by today’s standards. But as long as readers can adjust to complex names like “Nakay-do-klunni”, “Be-don-ko-he” and “Chi-e-a-hen”, this one is definitely worth reading.
The novel opens swiftly with a pioneer family getting ambushed and slaughtered by a band of Apaches. All, that is, except for a young baby boy who doesn’t even cry when dangled by the ankle for all to see. Go-yat-thlay, the leader of the band of Apaches (and who will go down in history as “Geronimo”) thinks the young babe is unusually brave so decides to raise him as his adopted son. The first half of the book is a coming of age story as young Shoz-Dijiji learns the ways of the Apache, including hunting and tracking skills, extreme patience, religious beliefs and especially, their hatred for the Pindah-lickoyee (“White Eyes”). He grows to young adulthood, becomes an accepted warrior and eventually War Chief, still operating under the ultimate leadership of Geronimo. A central theme of the book revolves around the Apache way of bringing maximum fierceness through mutilation of their foes even after death and the purposeful slaughter of women and children, all for the purpose of becoming so feared that the white men will leave. Shoz-Dijiji, however sees no honor in doing this, choosing to define bravery by his actions against enemies that can fight back. The resulting strife combined with his white origins lead to all sorts of misadventure.
The novel is written in Burroughs’s unmistakable style and includes quite a few of his typical plot devices. In fact, for the first couple of chapters I thought I was reading “Tarzan among the Apaches” with very similar origin stories, (including earning his name by killing a black bear at the age of 10). Just substitute Apaches for the Great Apes. But soon, it became its own story and I was fully absorbed in its complexities. Reading through the various skirmishes from the Apache point-of-view was absolutely riveting.
Burroughs, I think was ahead of his time when it comes to describing the plight of these indigenous peoples and how both sides reacted to the other. Written in the 1920’s it is, of course, not entirely politically correct by today’s standards. But as long as readers can adjust to complex names like “Nakay-do-klunni”, “Be-don-ko-he” and “Chi-e-a-hen”, this one is definitely worth reading.
April 29, 2024
One of ERB's lesser known series (two books with Apache Devil as the second). Much of the background is taken from Burroughs' experience as an Army officer in some of the same locations. It makes for a more realistic feel. I'd call it similar to what Louis L'Amour did, but he did it much better than ERB.
Our hero of the Apache, Black Bear, was taken from his murdered parents by none other than Geronimo. I call him a hero since that's what he is to his people. Some may disagree, but that's fine. This story centers around his youth and first, heartbreaking experiences with his own people and the white people. Technically they are both his people, but those who raised him is far more important than those who birthed him.
This is a recurring theme with ERB and raises a lot of interesting questions. I once had a university professor reference Burroughs as a person who was as much a speculative anthropologist (his phrase not mine) as he was a writer. Since this is speculative fiction despite being set in the past, the description always made sense to me.
If you are looking for a good Western or are an ERB completist, this is definitely a book for you.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
Our hero of the Apache, Black Bear, was taken from his murdered parents by none other than Geronimo. I call him a hero since that's what he is to his people. Some may disagree, but that's fine. This story centers around his youth and first, heartbreaking experiences with his own people and the white people. Technically they are both his people, but those who raised him is far more important than those who birthed him.
This is a recurring theme with ERB and raises a lot of interesting questions. I once had a university professor reference Burroughs as a person who was as much a speculative anthropologist (his phrase not mine) as he was a writer. Since this is speculative fiction despite being set in the past, the description always made sense to me.
If you are looking for a good Western or are an ERB completist, this is definitely a book for you.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
January 22, 2021
A great surprise from Burroughs and from 1927. This is unlike anything else I've read from ERB. It replaces the fantasy and imagination that made him famous with an unexpected authenticity and attention to detail. And both an anger and compassion. A very good early "red indian" pulp novel written by a man who used to hunt them, and who had the courage to say it was wrong and to say something important about in the midst of the pulp.
July 27, 2008
A white boy raised as an Apache. The story has been done quite a few times but this is a good one. Lots of action and adventure. I'm sometimes amazed at how well ERB could shift between an alien planet like Barsoom and an old West tale. The key is his constant focus on adventure.
April 19, 2015
23rd book read in 2015.
Number 253 out of 451 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQPI...
Number 253 out of 451 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQPI...
January 1, 2026
Nykyisin aika harva taitaa tiedostaa, että Edgar Rice Burroughs kirjoitti myös kourallisen lännenkirjoja. Itselleni tämä oli jo varhaisteininä selvää, sillä luin Intiaanipäällikön ja Intiaanipäällikön koston sujuvasti muiden Burroughsien ohessa. Minulla on sellainen tuntuma, että olen Intiaanipäällikön lukenut kerran sen jälkeenkin, mutta vannomaan en mene.
Intiaanipäällikkö (The War Chief) ilmestyi alkujaan Argosy All-Story Weekly -lehdessä huhti–toukokuussa 1927. Kirjaversio ilmestyi jo saman vuoden syksyllä. Tämä oli Burroughsin uran keskivaiheen alkua, jolloin teosten laatu oli vielä pääsääntöisesti korkea. Esimerkiksi edellinen kirja oli kerrassaan mainio Marsin nero, joka oli hieman ”tieteellisempi” hänen Mars-kirjoistaan.
Intiaanipällikön kontekstina lienee syytä mainita, että bedonkohe-apassien päällikkö Geronimo oli kuollut vasta vuonna 1909, joten kirjan ilmestyessä hän ja muut suuret intiaanipäälliköt olivat vielä vähänkin varttuneemman lukevan yleisön muistissa. 1890-luvun alussa Burroughs oli puolisen vuotta töissä cowboyna ja 1890-luvun lopulla hän palveli hetken aikaa ratsuväessä Arizonassa. Intiaanipäällikön tapahtumapaikat olivat siis hänelle osin henkilökohtaisesti tuttuja, ja kuvatunlaisesta elämästä hänellä oli muutenkin omakohtaista kokemusta.
Intiaanipäällikkö on siinä mielessä poikkeuksellinen Burroughsin kirja, että se on periaatteessa hyvinkin realistinen teos. Geronimon lisäksi myös moni muu kirjassa tavattu intiaani, kuten keskeisinä hahmoina esiintyvät Cochise ja Juh, olivat todellisia historiallisia henkilöitä, samoin kuin heitä jahdanneet ratsuväen upseerit. Kirjan tapahtumien suuret puitteet vastaavat myös todellisia tapahtumia apassien viimeisistä vuosista. Siten Intiaanipäällikköä voi aivan hyvin pitää paitsi lännenkirjana, myös historiallisena romaanina. Näin ollen minusta on myös aivan selvää, ettei Intiaanipäällikkö tapahdu samassa laajassa Burroughs-universumissa kuin valtaosa hänen muusta tuotannostaan.
Geronimon sijasta kirjan varsinainen päähenkilö on hänen kuvitteellinen ottopoikansa, cherokee-verta suonissaan kantava valkoinen Andy MacDuff. Geronimon johtama joukkio murhaa Andy-vauvan vanhemmat, mutta Geronimo säästää Andyn ja kasvattaa hänet kuin oman poikansa. Andystä tulee Shoz-dijiji, Musta Karhu, eikä hän tiedä olevansa alkuperältään mitään muuta kuin apassi.
Intiaanipäällikössä ei ole kovin paljon varsinaista juonta, vaan kyseessä on enemmänkin kasvutarina, jossa seurataan Shoz-dijijin varttumista seikkailujen myötä pikkulapsesta nuoreksi mieheksi. Shoz-dijijistä kasvaa Burroughsille tyypillinen fysiikaltaan lähes ylivoimainen soturi.
Intiaanipäällikössä ja Shoz-dijijissä on kuitenkin poikkeuksellista se, ettei Shoz-dijiji ole yksiselitteisen puhtaasti hyvä hahmo. Hän ei kiduta ketään eikä tapa naisia tai lapsia, mutta valkoiset miehetä eivät häneltä armoa saa, vaikka paikoin olisivat sitä ehkä ansainneetkin. Burroughs kertoo tarinan intiaanin näkökulmasta, ja hänen sympatiansa ovat hyvin vahvasti heidän puolellaan. En ole lukenut 1920-luvun westerneitä, mutta olen antanut itseni ymmärtää, ettei tämä todellakaan ollut valtavirtaa tuolloin. Burroughs oli (tässäkin) edellä aikaansa.
Burroughsin vahvoja naisia Intiaanipäällikössä on kaksi, Mustan Karhun nuoruuden rakastettu Ish-kay-nay, ja tilallisen tytär Wichita Billings. Tarjolla ei siis ole kirkuvia ja pyörtyileviä prinsessoja (kuten ei Burroughsilla käytännössä koskaan), vaan toiminnan naisia, jollaisia Shoz-dijijin kaltainen uljas soturi voi kunnioittaa ja rakastaa.
Intiaanipäällikkö oli selvästi tylympää ja realistisempaa menoa kuin muistelin. Sodassa kumpikin osapuoli syyllistyy julmuuksiin, valkoiset toki enemmän, ja sen lisäksi valkoiset tietysti pettävät kaikki lupauksensa. Näin ollen Intiaanipäällikköä ei voi kutsua hyvän mielen romaaniksi, vaikka se toki eskapistista lännenseikkailua tarjoaakin.
Täällä Goodreadsissä joku katsoi tarpeelliseksi arvioida Intiaanipäällikön rasistiseksi yhden tähden roskaksi sillä perusteella, että Burroughs oli jossain yksityiskirjeessä puhunut loukkaavasti intiaaneista. Todettakoon tuohon vain se, että itse löysin kirjasta tämän verran rasismia (s. 99): ”Luonnon ystävinä apassit tajusivat kauneuden, jota parempaan rotuun kuuluvien sortajien tyhmät pioneerimoukat eivät pystyneet näkemään.”
Intiaanipäällikkö on sen verran erilainen kuin tutummat Burroughsin kirjat, että Burroughs-faneille kirjaa voi ehdottomasti suositella, mutta ainoastaan sillä varauksella, että nyt ei miekka heilu, kirjassa ei ole yhtään dinosauruksen kaltaista olentoa, eikä viidakostakaan nähdä vilaustakaan. Vanhan lännenkirjallisuuden ja pulpin ystäville tätä sen sijaan voi suositella ilman minkäänlaisia pidäkkeitä.
5-/5
Intiaanipäällikkö (The War Chief) ilmestyi alkujaan Argosy All-Story Weekly -lehdessä huhti–toukokuussa 1927. Kirjaversio ilmestyi jo saman vuoden syksyllä. Tämä oli Burroughsin uran keskivaiheen alkua, jolloin teosten laatu oli vielä pääsääntöisesti korkea. Esimerkiksi edellinen kirja oli kerrassaan mainio Marsin nero, joka oli hieman ”tieteellisempi” hänen Mars-kirjoistaan.
Intiaanipällikön kontekstina lienee syytä mainita, että bedonkohe-apassien päällikkö Geronimo oli kuollut vasta vuonna 1909, joten kirjan ilmestyessä hän ja muut suuret intiaanipäälliköt olivat vielä vähänkin varttuneemman lukevan yleisön muistissa. 1890-luvun alussa Burroughs oli puolisen vuotta töissä cowboyna ja 1890-luvun lopulla hän palveli hetken aikaa ratsuväessä Arizonassa. Intiaanipäällikön tapahtumapaikat olivat siis hänelle osin henkilökohtaisesti tuttuja, ja kuvatunlaisesta elämästä hänellä oli muutenkin omakohtaista kokemusta.
Intiaanipäällikkö on siinä mielessä poikkeuksellinen Burroughsin kirja, että se on periaatteessa hyvinkin realistinen teos. Geronimon lisäksi myös moni muu kirjassa tavattu intiaani, kuten keskeisinä hahmoina esiintyvät Cochise ja Juh, olivat todellisia historiallisia henkilöitä, samoin kuin heitä jahdanneet ratsuväen upseerit. Kirjan tapahtumien suuret puitteet vastaavat myös todellisia tapahtumia apassien viimeisistä vuosista. Siten Intiaanipäällikköä voi aivan hyvin pitää paitsi lännenkirjana, myös historiallisena romaanina. Näin ollen minusta on myös aivan selvää, ettei Intiaanipäällikkö tapahdu samassa laajassa Burroughs-universumissa kuin valtaosa hänen muusta tuotannostaan.
Geronimon sijasta kirjan varsinainen päähenkilö on hänen kuvitteellinen ottopoikansa, cherokee-verta suonissaan kantava valkoinen Andy MacDuff. Geronimon johtama joukkio murhaa Andy-vauvan vanhemmat, mutta Geronimo säästää Andyn ja kasvattaa hänet kuin oman poikansa. Andystä tulee Shoz-dijiji, Musta Karhu, eikä hän tiedä olevansa alkuperältään mitään muuta kuin apassi.
Intiaanipäällikössä ei ole kovin paljon varsinaista juonta, vaan kyseessä on enemmänkin kasvutarina, jossa seurataan Shoz-dijijin varttumista seikkailujen myötä pikkulapsesta nuoreksi mieheksi. Shoz-dijijistä kasvaa Burroughsille tyypillinen fysiikaltaan lähes ylivoimainen soturi.
Intiaanipäällikössä ja Shoz-dijijissä on kuitenkin poikkeuksellista se, ettei Shoz-dijiji ole yksiselitteisen puhtaasti hyvä hahmo. Hän ei kiduta ketään eikä tapa naisia tai lapsia, mutta valkoiset miehetä eivät häneltä armoa saa, vaikka paikoin olisivat sitä ehkä ansainneetkin. Burroughs kertoo tarinan intiaanin näkökulmasta, ja hänen sympatiansa ovat hyvin vahvasti heidän puolellaan. En ole lukenut 1920-luvun westerneitä, mutta olen antanut itseni ymmärtää, ettei tämä todellakaan ollut valtavirtaa tuolloin. Burroughs oli (tässäkin) edellä aikaansa.
Burroughsin vahvoja naisia Intiaanipäällikössä on kaksi, Mustan Karhun nuoruuden rakastettu Ish-kay-nay, ja tilallisen tytär Wichita Billings. Tarjolla ei siis ole kirkuvia ja pyörtyileviä prinsessoja (kuten ei Burroughsilla käytännössä koskaan), vaan toiminnan naisia, jollaisia Shoz-dijijin kaltainen uljas soturi voi kunnioittaa ja rakastaa.
Intiaanipäällikkö oli selvästi tylympää ja realistisempaa menoa kuin muistelin. Sodassa kumpikin osapuoli syyllistyy julmuuksiin, valkoiset toki enemmän, ja sen lisäksi valkoiset tietysti pettävät kaikki lupauksensa. Näin ollen Intiaanipäällikköä ei voi kutsua hyvän mielen romaaniksi, vaikka se toki eskapistista lännenseikkailua tarjoaakin.
Täällä Goodreadsissä joku katsoi tarpeelliseksi arvioida Intiaanipäällikön rasistiseksi yhden tähden roskaksi sillä perusteella, että Burroughs oli jossain yksityiskirjeessä puhunut loukkaavasti intiaaneista. Todettakoon tuohon vain se, että itse löysin kirjasta tämän verran rasismia (s. 99): ”Luonnon ystävinä apassit tajusivat kauneuden, jota parempaan rotuun kuuluvien sortajien tyhmät pioneerimoukat eivät pystyneet näkemään.”
Intiaanipäällikkö on sen verran erilainen kuin tutummat Burroughsin kirjat, että Burroughs-faneille kirjaa voi ehdottomasti suositella, mutta ainoastaan sillä varauksella, että nyt ei miekka heilu, kirjassa ei ole yhtään dinosauruksen kaltaista olentoa, eikä viidakostakaan nähdä vilaustakaan. Vanhan lännenkirjallisuuden ja pulpin ystäville tätä sen sijaan voi suositella ilman minkäänlaisia pidäkkeitä.
5-/5
May 15, 2017
Everyone who writes about this book says that it is one of Burroughs's best. Best is a relative term. Perhaps it is one of the best, but it is still crap.
The book has a two part structure. In part one, Shaz-Dijiji, part Indian and part white, grows up and becomes an Apache war chief. In part two, he goes against everything he had struggled to achieve, though each betrayal is presented as Shaz-Dijiji making the noblest choice. I may agree with those choices, but that is not the point.
Burroughs wrote a letter in which he says that it is Shaz-Dijiji's white blood (red or blue, surely) that prompts his higher nature. This is racist, obviously. Burroughs was wise to keep such an overt statement out of this book, otherwise I would been so repulsed that I would not have finished it. I imagine that others feel the same. Note: Shaz-Dijiji's white blood is mentioned numerous times in the book, but that is not stated as the reason for his softer side.
Burroughs had certain themes that he reused with boring regularity. The protagonist must be so physically splendid that he has more prowess than his peers. Check. The protagonist is a mighty hunter and warrior. Check. Indeed, Burroughs referred to Shaz-Dijiji as an Apache Tarzan in his correspondence about this book. Burroughs had the bad habit of troubling love stories with rival suitors and many, many of those rival suitors were the enemies of his protagonists and the protagonist kills the rival suitor when his rival attacks him. Check. I could make a much longer list of the Burroughs chicles that are in this book, but I trust by now that you get the point. Sure, this is about Apaches in the Southwest, but most of the clichés that apply to the Tarzan, Barsoom, and Pellucidar books are here.
Spoiler in the rest of this paragraph: Perhaps the most inexcusable plotting shift comes with the death of Shaz-Dijiju's girlfriend. Nothing builds to it. The incident comes out of the blue. She deserves better than that, but Burroughs liked to have his protagonists marry somebody from outside their culture, or more accurately, the women marry heroes from outside of their culture, so a newly introduced character is invented for that role and the old girlfriend has to go. This is so awkwardly handled that it reads as if Burroughs changed his mind about the plot half way through and revised badly to accommodate his new idea, but it is worse than that. Burroughs was quite clear in his correspondence that the plot was outlined in advance and he adhered to the story. The new woman was to marry Shaz-Dijiju in the third book of the series, which in the end Burroughs did not write. The first girlfriend, a better mate for Shaz-Dijiju, surely, was sacrificed for a Burroughs cliché.
Credit Burroughs for one thing: The books lacks a coherent plot, but that allows him to vary the incidents. A few pages of peaceful hunting lead to a troop of Mexican soldiers on an Apache hunt. That battle over, the next scenes are about moving through the desert. Then more whites show up and they need killing. And so it goes, action scenes naturally alternating with more peaceful scenes. This book may be crap, but I'll give credit where it is due.
The book has a two part structure. In part one, Shaz-Dijiji, part Indian and part white, grows up and becomes an Apache war chief. In part two, he goes against everything he had struggled to achieve, though each betrayal is presented as Shaz-Dijiji making the noblest choice. I may agree with those choices, but that is not the point.
Burroughs wrote a letter in which he says that it is Shaz-Dijiji's white blood (red or blue, surely) that prompts his higher nature. This is racist, obviously. Burroughs was wise to keep such an overt statement out of this book, otherwise I would been so repulsed that I would not have finished it. I imagine that others feel the same. Note: Shaz-Dijiji's white blood is mentioned numerous times in the book, but that is not stated as the reason for his softer side.
Burroughs had certain themes that he reused with boring regularity. The protagonist must be so physically splendid that he has more prowess than his peers. Check. The protagonist is a mighty hunter and warrior. Check. Indeed, Burroughs referred to Shaz-Dijiji as an Apache Tarzan in his correspondence about this book. Burroughs had the bad habit of troubling love stories with rival suitors and many, many of those rival suitors were the enemies of his protagonists and the protagonist kills the rival suitor when his rival attacks him. Check. I could make a much longer list of the Burroughs chicles that are in this book, but I trust by now that you get the point. Sure, this is about Apaches in the Southwest, but most of the clichés that apply to the Tarzan, Barsoom, and Pellucidar books are here.
Spoiler in the rest of this paragraph: Perhaps the most inexcusable plotting shift comes with the death of Shaz-Dijiju's girlfriend. Nothing builds to it. The incident comes out of the blue. She deserves better than that, but Burroughs liked to have his protagonists marry somebody from outside their culture, or more accurately, the women marry heroes from outside of their culture, so a newly introduced character is invented for that role and the old girlfriend has to go. This is so awkwardly handled that it reads as if Burroughs changed his mind about the plot half way through and revised badly to accommodate his new idea, but it is worse than that. Burroughs was quite clear in his correspondence that the plot was outlined in advance and he adhered to the story. The new woman was to marry Shaz-Dijiju in the third book of the series, which in the end Burroughs did not write. The first girlfriend, a better mate for Shaz-Dijiju, surely, was sacrificed for a Burroughs cliché.
Credit Burroughs for one thing: The books lacks a coherent plot, but that allows him to vary the incidents. A few pages of peaceful hunting lead to a troop of Mexican soldiers on an Apache hunt. That battle over, the next scenes are about moving through the desert. Then more whites show up and they need killing. And so it goes, action scenes naturally alternating with more peaceful scenes. This book may be crap, but I'll give credit where it is due.
August 30, 2023
Excellent historical, geographic and anthropologic details of the Apache Indians and their guerrilla warfare with civilians and soldiers of Mexico and the United States.
The story is tragic and compelling. Superb writing and scene setting.
For me the gruesome details of the Apache habit of torturing every victim they did not kill made it impossible to see any Nobility of the Savage despite ERB's sincere efforts to Apologize for their behavior.
The torture was unbelievably brutal, unforgettable and sadistic.
The hero of the story is the son of wretchedly poor white emigrants who foolishly push West to find greener pastures in their rickety wagon only to be murdered and of course brutally tortured by Geronimo who abducts and adopts the white infant.
I found it Impossible to regard the main character or any member of his tribe as honorable.
According to ERB, the Apache live by marauding, pillaging, deception and theft. The Apache simply murder and torture any non apache man, woman or child he meets, then steal their stuff.
Laughable that Burroughs would expect us to root for a thrilling romance with the lovely and delicate white rancher's daughter that the main Character-Black Bear- decides to spare and protect when he sees her dazzling smile.
Crazy book.
Liberal use of Apache words and fascinating descriptions of their lifestyle, history, religion and philosophy from an author who Joined the 7th Cavalry and was stationed in the desert of the southwest.
I'll skip the sequel, there are no good guys to cheer for and I now know enough about the habits and philosophy of the War-worshipping Apache.
The story is tragic and compelling. Superb writing and scene setting.
For me the gruesome details of the Apache habit of torturing every victim they did not kill made it impossible to see any Nobility of the Savage despite ERB's sincere efforts to Apologize for their behavior.
The torture was unbelievably brutal, unforgettable and sadistic.
The hero of the story is the son of wretchedly poor white emigrants who foolishly push West to find greener pastures in their rickety wagon only to be murdered and of course brutally tortured by Geronimo who abducts and adopts the white infant.
I found it Impossible to regard the main character or any member of his tribe as honorable.
According to ERB, the Apache live by marauding, pillaging, deception and theft. The Apache simply murder and torture any non apache man, woman or child he meets, then steal their stuff.
Laughable that Burroughs would expect us to root for a thrilling romance with the lovely and delicate white rancher's daughter that the main Character-Black Bear- decides to spare and protect when he sees her dazzling smile.
Crazy book.
Liberal use of Apache words and fascinating descriptions of their lifestyle, history, religion and philosophy from an author who Joined the 7th Cavalry and was stationed in the desert of the southwest.
I'll skip the sequel, there are no good guys to cheer for and I now know enough about the habits and philosophy of the War-worshipping Apache.
June 15, 2024
Jerry and Annie MacDuff leave Missouri in a covered wagon in 1861. Outside of New Mexico, they are attacked by a band of Apaches led by Geronimo, war chief of the Bedonkohe. They are butchered, but their newborn son, Andy, is taken.
He is given the name, Shoz-Dijiji, or Black Bear, and raised by Geronimo. He becomes a warrior and later war chief of the Apache. Juh, a war chief of the Ned-ni, hates Black Bear, as he is white. Juh becomes a mortal enemy of Black Bear. He saves a Mexican wood-cutter who is injured and later Wichita Billings when she is attacked by thugs. He is displeased by the willingness of Geronimo and others to torture and butcher those they come across. Geronimo justifies his actions by telling of the killings of his wife and daughters and that of Mangas Coloradas.
Black Bear is in love with Ish-kay-nay. He goes off to steal fifty horses to pay the bride price to her father. He is harassed by US Cavalry soldiers and loses the horses he has stolen. He makes his way back to his camp to find Ish-kay-nay has been killed in a raid.
He is a changed man. He joins a raid on Fort Thomas and finds Wichita there.
The big question is: does he ever discover he is not an Apache by blood?
Burroughs uses the word ‘savage’ quite frequently. One might think this is in some ways racial. It is hard to say as he spends so little time amongst the Mexican and US soldiers. And the Apache generally have the upper hand and superior numbers in the encounters with them. He admires their resourcefulness and their knowledge of warfare and the land and their bravery. He does not look kindly on their savagery.
June on the Range 2024 #5
He is given the name, Shoz-Dijiji, or Black Bear, and raised by Geronimo. He becomes a warrior and later war chief of the Apache. Juh, a war chief of the Ned-ni, hates Black Bear, as he is white. Juh becomes a mortal enemy of Black Bear. He saves a Mexican wood-cutter who is injured and later Wichita Billings when she is attacked by thugs. He is displeased by the willingness of Geronimo and others to torture and butcher those they come across. Geronimo justifies his actions by telling of the killings of his wife and daughters and that of Mangas Coloradas.
Black Bear is in love with Ish-kay-nay. He goes off to steal fifty horses to pay the bride price to her father. He is harassed by US Cavalry soldiers and loses the horses he has stolen. He makes his way back to his camp to find Ish-kay-nay has been killed in a raid.
He is a changed man. He joins a raid on Fort Thomas and finds Wichita there.
The big question is: does he ever discover he is not an Apache by blood?
Burroughs uses the word ‘savage’ quite frequently. One might think this is in some ways racial. It is hard to say as he spends so little time amongst the Mexican and US soldiers. And the Apache generally have the upper hand and superior numbers in the encounters with them. He admires their resourcefulness and their knowledge of warfare and the land and their bravery. He does not look kindly on their savagery.
June on the Range 2024 #5
September 7, 2023
I was so thoroughly engrossed in this novel that the pages flew by. The War Chief is the first of three Apache novels that Burroughs penned and if this is how they all go, I anticipate excellent reviews. Not that Burroughs needs my help, I just feel so bad that the guy was only able to write four westerns. He was soooooo bogged down with Tarzan and John Carter. 😜
Here, the reader is treated to an atypically, culturally respectful, realistic, western, communicating the story of Andy MacDuff, a kidnapped white infant raised in the ways of the Apache, adopted by Geronimo and given the name Shoz Dijiji or Black Bear. Due to his rapid learning of hunting and fighting, he cruises through the Apache male rites of initiation to the chagrin of Juh, who is another warrior that is envious of the perceived preferential treatment the "White Eyes" is afforded.
The rivalry turns more intense as the years pass when it becomes more apparent to Juh that a gorgeous young Apache squaw named Ish-Kay-Nay is set on becoming the woman of Shoz Dijiji. The Apache way is to be in constant competition with each other and that situation gets even more complicated when the warriors set on a war path with the pin-dah-lickoyee (traitorous white men).
I would take special note here to write that despite being a work published in 1927 (almost 100 years ago) Burroughs takes special care to write both positives and negatives of the Apache and the white man in a culturally sensitive way that is distinct from other great western writers like Grey, Brand, and Lamour. To my mind this is not just a classic, but definitely a stand out for the western genre. The War Chief gets my highest recommendation.
Here, the reader is treated to an atypically, culturally respectful, realistic, western, communicating the story of Andy MacDuff, a kidnapped white infant raised in the ways of the Apache, adopted by Geronimo and given the name Shoz Dijiji or Black Bear. Due to his rapid learning of hunting and fighting, he cruises through the Apache male rites of initiation to the chagrin of Juh, who is another warrior that is envious of the perceived preferential treatment the "White Eyes" is afforded.
The rivalry turns more intense as the years pass when it becomes more apparent to Juh that a gorgeous young Apache squaw named Ish-Kay-Nay is set on becoming the woman of Shoz Dijiji. The Apache way is to be in constant competition with each other and that situation gets even more complicated when the warriors set on a war path with the pin-dah-lickoyee (traitorous white men).
I would take special note here to write that despite being a work published in 1927 (almost 100 years ago) Burroughs takes special care to write both positives and negatives of the Apache and the white man in a culturally sensitive way that is distinct from other great western writers like Grey, Brand, and Lamour. To my mind this is not just a classic, but definitely a stand out for the western genre. The War Chief gets my highest recommendation.
April 22, 2023
Much of this book assimilates the culture of the Apache as a byproduct of the story. I was a little turned off with the idea of a white guy trying to describe native American culture, including many of the stereotypes demonstrated in 1950s westerns. The plot is not overly complicated and includes several ingenious battle strategies employed by the Apache to maximize the odds of success. The ending left the reader hanging a bit, suggesting a sequel was planned. I enjoyed this enough to put Apache Devil on my reading list.
March 17, 2025
Edgar Rice Burroughs is amazing! We know he creat unearthly cultures and characters, such as those on Barssom, or Pellcidar. But here he does the same thing with very believable characters and cultures of our own world, highlighting the Apaches of the Southwest in the late 1800's
The inclusion of the well known warrior, Geronimo carries the story to tragic ends, but the final events will be explored in the sequel
Get this book, read it and savor the amazing story the Burroughs has given us, You won't be sorry.
The inclusion of the well known warrior, Geronimo carries the story to tragic ends, but the final events will be explored in the sequel
Get this book, read it and savor the amazing story the Burroughs has given us, You won't be sorry.
April 4, 2025
Basically Tarzan translated to the American West. Edgar Rice Burroughs really knew what he was doing. Good enough that I'll read the second book. It didn't always keep my attention, but by the end it was thrilling and even romantic.
The depiction of the Apaches is sometimes painfully outdated, but it's actually more flattering to them than to the white folk, in general. The Apaches are described as inhumanly stoic and perfect in their cruelty. But they're also fiercely intelligent and incredibly skilled at survival and warfare.
The depiction of the Apaches is sometimes painfully outdated, but it's actually more flattering to them than to the white folk, in general. The Apaches are described as inhumanly stoic and perfect in their cruelty. But they're also fiercely intelligent and incredibly skilled at survival and warfare.
July 7, 2017
Good to see Burroughs trying to write "well" for once. Sadly the book lacks his usual flights of fancy and the story, which is more a series of vignettes anyway, gets bogged down with far too many non-English, allegedly Apache, words.
May 11, 2017
It is formulaic, but I like the forumula.
August 25, 2018
Good historical book. I dont think he wrote many western novels. This one is good I can recommend it to anyone.
July 14, 2012
One of Burroughs better novels. The inherent racism of the day is evident, but he treats the Indians with great sympathy. Whether accurate or not, I cannot say, but it is a darned good read.
July 11, 2009
The best of Burroughs books. He almost transcends his racism, but in any case does view the plight of Native Americans in the Old West with more sympathy than his contemporaries usualy did.
June 9, 2012
Great book, good read, looking forward to book 2 in the series.
July 28, 2014
Enjoyed this more than I expected. Burroughs is far superior to his fellow pulp writers despite constantly repeating the theme of the innocent thrust into unfamiliar settings.
March 22, 2019
Another great fast paced action book by Burroughs. You always get caught up in these and swept along. recommended
November 17, 2018
read some time in 1984
January 9, 2024
Returned to read a favorite from my youth. It's still a very enjoyable read even after these many years.
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