Last of the Breed

By: Louis L'Amour

Narrated by: David Strathairn

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

“For sheer adventure L’Amour is in top form.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Here is the kind of authentically detailed epic novel that has become Louis L’Amour’s hallmark. It is the compelling story of US Air Force major Joe Mack, a man born out of time. When his experimental aircraft is forced down in Russia and he escapes a Soviet prison camp, he must call upon the ancient skills of his Indian forebears to survive the vast Siberian wilderness. 

Only one route lies open to Mack: the path of his ancestors, overland to the Bering Strait and across the sea to America. But in pursuit is a legendary tracker, the Yakut native Alekhin, who knows every square foot of the icy frontier - and who knows that to trap his quarry he must think like a Sioux.

©1986 Louis L'Amour (P)2010 Random House Audio

Excellent, Great entertainment, well written.

Would you consider the audio edition of Last of the Breed to be better than the print version?

I had not realised how good this audio book was until I discovered the next few I tried to listen. Not this one, I was hood from beginning to end and the readers voice was clear. Excellent, Great entertainment, well written. One of the best.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Action adventure

Any additional comments?

My husband would love this book too.

Last of the Breed

I have listened and read many of Louis L'Aour's books. In my opinion this is the best of his books. However I must say the ending was written for a sequel that was never written. Be prepared for an amazing ending.

Not A L'Amour fan, but love this book

I never read the 'western' genre but first ran into this novel in the late 1980s, when I was taking a Modern American Literature class and this was an option. I really couldn't believe that the proof was touting a 'Amour book..after all, 'oaters 'aren't exactly literature..but this isn't a typical 'oater' at all.
Written during the end of the cold war era, the novel is full of typical us vs them dialog-younger readers may have a difficult time getting over the lack of tech and the dated verbiage but hold on there..the book becomes quite exciting and has a tense thrilling end.
The protagonist is a 'half-breed- Air Force Major whose super secret spy -plane has been shot down over the USSR. One of the bad guys wants to interrogate the Major about his plane and plans on torture to achieve his end..then the major escapes and an exciting, year long chase thru the Siberian wilderness begins.
I liked the novel when I first read it, enjoyed it again a couple of decades later and once again it thrilled me listening to the Audible offering. Don't know why I'm so hung up on this but I am..go figure!
The book needed a follow up book, however as it was written at the end of L'Amours life, that wasn't to happen. Still I can envision the follow up book, and at the end of "Last of the Breed" you will also.
Enjoy!

A salute to All American Indians

Among the truly great authors in American literature such as Zane Grey, Mark Twain and Louis L’Amour. This will become a milestone in the genre of western writers.

A western "indian" story set in Siberia

As Louis L'amour is known for his "western" books, this book may seem a little out of place. It's not. It's basically a western set in Siberia Russia. The main character is of native American descent and uses his knowledge of the wilderness to survive in Siberia. Knowing that Siberia is larger than the United States, it is slightly farfetched that the Russian officers are able to track Joe Mack as his transverses the entire Asian continent. Time and time again they find him and I kept saying, "you must be kidding". It's similar to finding one person in all of the Canadian wilderness, or millions of square miles. While Joe is escaping he also manages to acquire a " love interest" that even makes it more farfetched. Although a decent listen, all the tromping through the woods gets tedious at times.

The Magician Weaves His Magic Again.

As a L'Amour die-hard I had my doubts about purchasing this book, but my fears were soon alleviated as Louis wove his magic at intertwining the past with the present. Although not a western, this book has much about the Souix Indians, adventure, living off the land in extreme conditions, as the main character Joe Mack treks through Siberia, to escape the Russian military and KGB. No one but Louis L'Amour could write this book, and as usual very good narration by David Stratharin. As said by in a reveiw by another Audible listener this book ends as if there is to be a sequel, I wait "impatiently" for that sequel!

Enjoyable light entertainment.

I have not read a great deal of Louis L'Amour, but from what I understand, this book has his typical resolution, but not his typical subject (Russians and Indians instead of cowboys and Indians). The book will not cause you to rethink your worldview by any means, but it is enjoyable light entertainment.

Strathairn has the ability to vary his vocals so you usually know which character is speaking even before the narration informs you. He has been in a number of movies (notably, "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "The Bourne Ultimatum", so when you first hear his voice, it may cause you to scratch your head and wonder where you've heard that voice before.

L'Amour's writing style is easy to listen to, and Strathairn does an excellent job of narration, so all in all, it is an excellent package.

True Louis L'Amour book

This is a great book in the Louis L'Amour tradition. Once started hard to put down.

Wonderful Classic!

I loved this book years ago and I still do! Great recoding, job well done!

Needed a better editor... interesting plot

Honestly my first Louis L'Amour book and it is his only non-western. Part of it felt a little cheesy and redundant, nothing that a good editor with a red pen couldn't fix in a few hours.The plot was interesting and kept me listening right up to the non-ending end. Probably won't go on my listen to again list... but that said it was an interesting survival story and would make a good movie.

Read it decades ago, hearing it now was a pleasure

Loved it many years ago, this revisit was a pleasure.
The narration was good, apart from the occasional slightly irritating distraction due to carelessness (emphasis on the wrong word sometimes, or the hero sometimes speaking English with the wrong accent). Does Audible employ no editors?
As to the story - it may be LL"s best. It's a mid-20th century Western ; it begins with the hero, a Sioux American Air Force pilot, captive in Soviet Russia after being shot down. There are of course a series of incredible incidents in the plot but you might find, as I did, that it's easier than in most of his stories to suspend one's disbelief and just sink into this novel as into a warm bath.

Brilliant entertainment

Excellent and unusual story and superb performance by David Strathairn. a master of his craft.

Great story

Great story, well read. Evocative imagery set in a Cold War world. Louis L’Amour at his best.

Compelling story

This is a story that keeps you listening way after you should be asleep! I wish Louis Lamour had written a sequel though - my only disappointment with this story,

Cold war thriller

What made the experience of listening to Last of the Breed the most enjoyable?

The story gripped you from the start. Louis L'Amour's American Indian expertise woven into a Cold War iron curtain thriller. Sounds unlikely but really works.

What other book might you compare Last of the Breed to, and why?

I suppose most Louis L'Amour wilderness books.

Which character – as performed by David Strathairn – was your favourite?

The Siberian tracker with the awesome reputation of always finding his man and rarely bringing them back alive......very very scary character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You can't listen to it all in one sitting as it is about 15 hours long. I did look forward to listening every day and 'heard' it all within a week.

Any additional comments?

As usual with Louis L'Amour I am amazed there was not a sequel as it was perfectly set up for there to be one....wish there was.