Short and sweet. If you decide to read this book, you won't be disappointed. I've only read a few Westerns in my life and I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by all of them. Either I've done a great job in making my selections or the modern Western has become a genre that's attracting some talented artists. And Warren Kiefer is one of the best.

First of all, many readers will want to compare this book to "Lonesome Dove". Great! McMurtry can share the spotlight, and this is one story deserving of the priveledge. Kiefer takes the reader on a ride through some of the most exciting times in American history and does it in a way that will cover the many ranges of our emotions. Indeed, even though the story takes place in a much earlier period of our nations history, it is quite easy to see the parallels to what is happening around us today, from unscrupulous business dealings of high financiers, to Federal Government intrusion on the individual citizen. All in all, a darn good read thats hard to put down, and one that will keep you thinking for a few days after you do.

If you like stories about the west, you should read Outlaw. The story tells the the tale of the adventures of Lee Garland, a cattle thief turned war hero turned entrepreneur. Throughout, Garland maintains his principles and, refreshingly, his perspective on what matters in life. Yet,Garland does have some demons. I have read it more than once and I have turned on many friends to this book. They have all loved it. I read quite a few westerns. Unlike most, this story actually bridges the 19th and 20th centuries and adds color to an era made black and white by the photography of the era. Outlaw is not cowboys and indians. Garland reinvents himself with every major event of the era yet through his eyes we do not lose the connection between the events of the day and the past. The book gives us a very real cast of characters we would all like to have met and his relationships with women go way beyond those typically found in this type of story. I loved it. It would make a great movie, but with few exceptions, the book is always better.