Dead Man's Walk

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In Streets of Laredo, McMurtry brought the story ahead, giving us Call in his old age. Now, in Dead Man's Walk, he takes us back to the days when Gus and Call were young Texas Rangers, first experiencing the wild frontier that will form their characters. We also meet Clara Forsythe, the unforgettable young woman whose effect on Gus McCrae is immediate and unshakable. Danger, sacrifice, comradeship, and love give them the strength and courage to survive against the almost insurmountable odds of the frontier.

In Dead Man's Walk, Gus and Call are not yet 20, young men coming of age in the days when Texas was still an independent republic. Enlisting as Texas Rangers under a land pirate who wants to seize Santa Fe from the Mexicans, Gus and Call experience their first great adventure in the barren great plains landscape, in which arbitrary violence is the rule -- whether from nature, or from the Indians whose territory they must cross in order to reach New Mexico.

From the Indians defending their land with unrelenting savagery, to the Texans attempting to seize and "civilize" it, and the Mexicans threatened by both, the reckless men of the untamed frontier make this at once a riveting adventure story and a powerful work of literature.

©2000 Larry McMurtry (P)2000 Simon & Schuster

Must read after Lonesome Dove

A compelling story from start to finish. McMurtry is Texas's literary master who has no equal. Dead Man's Walk is a textbook of what a good novel should comprise. We follow Texas Rangers Gus McRae and Woodrow Call, and a slew of other remarkable characters on a quest for survival, tension-wrought throughout as the Rangers contend with murderous Comanches and Apaches, and the Mexican Army displeased with the Rangers' ill-fated and ill-advised mission to invade New Mexico seeking riches. The descriptions and dialogue are marvelous, the action endless. I listened to the book on Audible, splendidly read by Will Patton. Highly recommended. I have now completed the seminal Lonesome Dove, and the prequel Dead Man’s Walk. On to Comanche Moon!

Riveting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I found myself driving much slower just to have more time to listen. It’s so interesting to catch a glimpse of Gus, Woodrow and Clara as young pups and have a little more understanding of Lonesome Dove.

Will Patton's voice paintes a vivid picture.......

Loved every second of this wonderful tale. A true masterpiece in my humble opinion. Thanks.

Great intro into the Lonesome Dove Series

This is a great book and the narration is very well done. Its starts off w/ a bang and just keeps going. I only wish Audible had Mr Patton to do the whole lot as I'm already a bit unsure of the next book in the series due the reviews of the narration.

amazing

this book was amazing, I love lonesome dove and it was great to hear about gus and call in their start in the rangers

Insightful!

I enjoyed this book. It truly helps you understand the personalities and motivations of Gus and W. Call.

Will Patton was genius as the reader. What an amazing talent! He's the sort of reader that would induce you to buy a book just because he narrated it.

Great story

This is a great western adventure, the story, characters, and narration are all great. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys westerns.

Lacks emotion. Walk and die, walk and die.

Narrator was great. Did good job switching accents both geographical and hierarchical.

Story was whoring, walking and dying repeated for 14 hours. Every time the main characters needed a fortuitous circumstance it would arrive. Lots of narrator spontaneously informing the reader of character's thoughts.

Great Story

Loved the beginning of the Lonesome Dove Saga! Great character development and exciting story. Will Patton never disappoints as one of my favorite narrators.

Couldn't stop listening!!! Great book.

One of best books I've listened to yet. The narrator is excellent. Now for Comanche Moon.