The Scout

Rating:
Summary: The Scout
Review: A seven-hundred-page Western winner!

I read very few Westerns, but I decided to challenge myself with something practicing the look of intimidation: Harry Combs' gigantic novel The Scout. I thought "a Western this long has got to be dull". Not so. I was never daydreaming about which mystery or sf book I would get to next; I was never kicking myself for making some big mistake. This was a supremely enjoyable rawhide experience, sorry to see it done. Good to know there's a previous entry called Brules.

First off, Cat Brules is a terrifically-fashioned narrator. He can't read, but Harry Combs has him tell a great story. With my lack of Western comparisons, I'm forced to link Brules's simple yet compelling narration to some of Jim Thompson's "tell it like it is" storytellers. Brules shoots words from the hip, definitely avoids pithiness, and gives honest reactions to scouting for the likes of Generals Crook, Custer, Sherman, and Sheridan. His relationship with Crook is especially complex and interesting, the whole mutual respect thing, stoic military-man relying on free-spirited scout. And every scouting campaign, as experienced by Brules the deadshot, is unique in flavour, stirring different emotions in the man. Certain victories induce pride, and respect for the Generals. Certain slaughters, on either side of the "Indian Wars", do stir regret in Brules, or shock at the incompetence of those military planners recklessly leading their soldiers to their doom. And through it all, Brules' actions, and reflections, build up a three-dimensional character, with the reader being left to assess just how brave and noble Brules really is.

The scenery is great. I mean, Brules gets around: mountains, deserts, the great plains, treacherous high passes, and Western cities or towns of all sizes. Our narrator is savvy enough to note the changes occuring over the years covered here--the effects of the railroad, the telegraph, the depletion of buffalo (for recreation, but also to starve the Indians, who cannot make the transition to farmer).

Surprisingly, some of my favourite portions of the novel come in the latter half, when Brules is often taking a break from scouting. Finally done grieving for his lost Shosone bride, Wild Rose, Brules develops affection for a the young wife of a strict Mormon rancher. Brules and Melisande cannot deny their love for each other, and it begins to work profound changes on Brules' attitudes and lifestyle. Meanwhile, there is a delightful chapter where Brules must go on a mini-quest to retrieve his lost mule, ugly Alfred, who got sold to a gypsy with a cruel whip while Brules wasn't looking. Nevertheless, the bigger challenge comes when Brules feels he is losing his wife to the charms of San Francisco, and a certain entrepreneur named Endicott who lures Melisande to that city while Brules is off in Mexico, tracking Geronimo. Endicott and Melisande are supposedly teamed for business purposes, but Brules comes home to some strange letters from his wife, and is forced to look into things, and ultimately make tough decisions about whether or not he can finally settle down.

The whole book pulses with a certain unbridled energy, and it was a thrill to pass seven hundred pages, and the few years contained within, with Cat Brules.

Rating:
Summary: Why was Bouyer there?
Review: After Brules, which was spectacular, The Scout was somewhat of a let-down. It should have been a continuation of the magnificent Brules, but it was not. Harry Combs just didn't seem to write with the same flare. In parts I had to fight boredom, as the story became monotonous. It was just "Brules the soldier" for a long time. The Scout was good, but it just didn't seem like the the same book as Brules, which I thought it should have been.

Rating:
Summary: The Scout was good, but not quite as good as Brules.
Review: After Brules, which was spectacular, The Scout was somewhat of a let-down. It should have been a continuation of the magnificent Brules, but it was not. Harry Combs just didn't seem to write with the same flare. In parts I had to fight boredom, as the story became monotonous. It was just "Brules the soldier" for a long time. The Scout was good, but it just didn't seem like the the same book as Brules, which I thought it should have been.

Rating:
Summary: After the climax of BRULES, this one is totally anti-climax!
Review: This one is a totally bore! Mr. Combs lost his focus and digress himself from a once great hero, and made him into a boring soldier. The whole book is unreadable and bore to death! Don't waste your time to read it, unless you are trying to get some boring historical study of the early stages of US military strategies of how they kill so many Indians! Just read the BRULES we all rated a big 10! After finish it, if you like it, absolutely don't try to read this sequel, it will totally ruin your wonderful taste

Rating:
Summary: Why was Bouyer there?
Review: While this book does not move with the pace of "Brules" it is, never-the-less an excellent story from start to finish. The part that I found interesting was why Mitch Bouyer chose to accompany Custer at the Little Big Horn. I have not read extensively about that battle, but have long wondered why, when Custer dismissed the scouts (Bouyer was the favorite scout), Bouyer chose to stay with Custer. Combs provides a credible scenario for Bouyer's role in the battle. Whether this is original research or not I do not know, but it fits well with what I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Why was Bouyer there?
Review: While this book does not move with the pace of "Brules" it is, never-the-less an excellent story from start to finish. The part that I found interesting was why Mitch Bouyer chose to accompany Custer at the Little Big Horn. I have not read extensively about that battle, but have long wondered why, when Custer dismissed the scouts (Bouyer was the favorite scout), Bouyer chose to stay with Custer. Combs provides a credible scenario for Bouyer's role in the battle. Whether this is original research or not I do not know, but it fits well with what I have read.