Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove is a towering achievement, a novel that redefined the Western genre and captured the hearts of readers worldwide. The question that naturally follows is: how does one follow up such a masterpiece? With Streets of Laredo, McMurtry chose not to replicate Lonesome Dove, but to delve into a different, darker corner of the West, crafting a sequel that is both deeply connected to and strikingly independent from its predecessor. While Lonesome Dove might forever hold a more cherished place in the literary landscape, Streets of Laredo emerges as a powerful and arguably more thematically complex work in its own right.
A Deliberate Departure: Dismantling the Lonesome Dove Legacy
One of the most immediately striking aspects of Streets of Laredo is its almost brutal dismissal of the world and characters established in Lonesome Dove. Within the opening pages, McMurtry dismantles the Hat Creek Cattle Company, scattering its remnants and leaving a sense of deliberate finality. This is perhaps most keenly felt in the treatment of Newt Dobbs, whose parentage was a central emotional thread in Lonesome Dove. In Streets of Laredo, this complex storyline is resolved with a few stark sentences, seemingly without consequence or emotional resonance for Captain Call.
This abruptness can be jarring, especially for readers deeply invested in the Lonesome Dove saga. It feels as though McMurtry is intentionally distancing himself from his previous work, almost wanting to shed the weight of expectation. While initially shocking, this bold move ultimately serves to establish Streets of Laredo as its own entity, free to explore new territories and themes without being constantly measured against the towering shadow of Lonesome Dove. It forces the reader to engage with Streets of Laredo on its own terms, appreciating its unique narrative and character developments.
Woodrow F. Call: From Ranger to Reluctant Bounty Hunter
In Streets of Laredo, we find Woodrow F. Call in a drastically different role. The legendary Texas Ranger is now a bounty hunter, hired by the railroad to track down a ruthless young bandit named Joey Garza. This shift in profession reflects a deeper transformation in Call himself. The stoic, determined figure of Lonesome Dove is now older, wearier, and haunted by the ghosts of his past.
Call’s posse in Streets of Laredo is a far cry from the capable men of the Hat Creek outfit. He is joined by Ned Brookshire, an Eastern accountant utterly out of his element; Ted Plunkert, an inept deputy; and Pea Eye Parker, now married to Lorena. This ensemble cast highlights the changing times and the decline of the romanticized Old West. Call is no longer surrounded by legendary figures but by ordinary, often flawed individuals struggling to navigate a world becoming increasingly complex and less forgiving.
Shifting Perspectives: The Women of Streets of Laredo
While Call remains a central figure, Streets of Laredo arguably shifts its focus to the women in the narrative, particularly Maria Garza, Joey’s mother, and Lorena Parker. These women become the emotional and moral compass of the story, attempting to grapple with and rectify the violence and chaos perpetuated by the men around them.
Lorena, in particular, undergoes a significant evolution from her Lonesome Dove portrayal. Her marriage to Pea Eye, initially perplexing to many readers, becomes a source of quiet strength and resilience. Both Maria and Lorena embody a powerful feminine perspective, offering a counterpoint to the often-toxic masculinity that pervades the Western landscape. McMurtry’s exploration of these female characters adds a layer of depth and contemporary relevance to Streets of Laredo, making it feel surprisingly modern in its thematic concerns.
A World Ruled by Chance: The Dark Heart of Streets of Laredo
Streets of Laredo distinguishes itself from Lonesome Dove through its pervasive sense of darkness and fatalism. While Lonesome Dove had its moments of tragedy, it was ultimately a story of adventure and camaraderie. Streets of Laredo, in contrast, presents a world governed by chance and randomness, where skill and virtue offer little protection against the vagaries of fate.
This thematic shift is underscored by the introduction of antagonists like Joey Garza and Mox Mox. Garza is portrayed as a force of nature, a seemingly unstoppable killer, while Mox Mox embodies pure, irrational cruelty. These characters represent the chaotic and unpredictable forces at play in McMurtry’s West, highlighting the fragility of human life and the limitations of individual agency.
“Woodrow Call had his time,” [Goodnight] said, finally. “It was a long time, too. Life’s but a knife edge, anyway. Sooner or later people slip and get cut.”
This quote encapsulates the core philosophy of Streets of Laredo. Life is precarious, and no one, not even a legendary figure like Woodrow F. Call, is immune to the random cuts of fate. This thematic consistency, this “system” as the original review aptly terms it, is what elevates Streets of Laredo beyond a simple Western adventure and into a profound meditation on life, death, and the indifferent universe.
Storytelling and Style: McMurtry’s Enduring Mastery
Despite the darker tone and thematic shifts, McMurtry’s storytelling prowess remains undiminished in Streets of Laredo. His signature style, characterized by a wide-angle lens, multiple perspectives, and digressive narratives, is still on full display. He effortlessly weaves together disparate storylines, populating his world with a rich tapestry of characters, both major and minor.
While the plot may meander at times, McMurtry’s strength lies in his character development and his ability to bring the Old West to life with vivid detail and authentic dialogue. He populates Streets of Laredo with memorable figures, from the real-life cameos of Charlie Goodnight and Judge Roy Bean to the fictional creations like Famous Shoes and Billy Williams. Even minor characters are given depth and backstory, contributing to the overall richness and complexity of the narrative.
Beyond Lonesome Dove: Appreciating Streets of Laredo on its Own Merits
While comparisons to Lonesome Dove are inevitable, Streets of Laredo ultimately deserves to be appreciated as a distinct and significant work. It is a darker, more introspective novel, grappling with themes of fate, chance, and the erosion of the Old West mythos. It may not possess the sweeping romanticism of Lonesome Dove, but it offers a more nuanced and arguably more profound exploration of the human condition against the backdrop of a changing frontier.
Streets of Laredo is a testament to McMurtry’s enduring talent and his willingness to challenge expectations. It is a novel that steps out of the shadow of its predecessor, venturing into darker, more complex territory and ultimately solidifying its place as a powerful and important work in the Western canon. For readers willing to embrace its unique vision, Streets of Laredo offers a rewarding and thought-provoking journey into the heart of the American West, revealing a landscape both beautiful and brutal, and characters grappling with a world increasingly defined by uncertainty and change.
