The Marauders Of Pitchfork Pass

5.0 out of 5 stars Western Adventure 

A fictional 1926 personal narrative by one Curly Barns, the saloonkeeper of Silver Vein, Texas, recounting his experiences in a range war occurring in the lawless Texas midlands after the Civil War. 

Partway thru Clay Shivers engaging book, I thought a 1960's screen adaptation might have featured Andy Devine as the hapless, befuddled narrator and central figure. But soon, after the heroic sheriff of Silver Vein, Jim Shepland, is killed, Curly emerges in heroic form, ultimately replacing Sheriff Jim in this most dangerous job. Dangerous all the more because the villainous Thorp Mayfair, owner of the Triple R Ranch, is always engaged in efforts to expand his holdings by whatever means.

Marauders is an intelligent western tale with salty language but a modern treatment of Native Americans and their relationships to the white invaders. It includes colorful characters like Curly's flatulent Texas Quarter Horse, Molly; the local girl hellion Dee Dee Yonder; Comanche leader nicknamed "Rattles" and his son, "Scout;" Texas Rangers Frank Kilhoe and Hap Morgan and, of course, Johnny Ringo and the Calico Kid, to name but a few.

In a modern-day film, who would play Curly Barnes? I would pick Jeff Bridges based on his Rooster Cogburn in the 2010 adaptation of Charles Portis' True Grit. Marauders is an adventurous and fast-paced read.

 -S. Charles