Blood Meridian

[Steven Maas (CUTR)]

I read sections of the book, not the whole thing, and found it probably
the most chilling novel I've ever read. That totally amoral psychopath the
Judge is about as frightening a fictional character as any I've run
across. The book so thoroughly debunks the romantic myth of the West that
you wonder if McGuane thinks there weren't any decent folks at all.  Seems
like everyone in the book is a bloodthirsty conscience-less wretch.  Hard
times and survival of the "fittest" I guess.  This isn't a trashing of the
book--I think it's well worth reading.

        Steve

Richard Romeo wrote:
> end of Blood Meridian--at the jakes, the judge and the man, then the
> dance--remind you of a bit of Poe--Masque of the Red Death?

and Dominick wrote:
> I just finished reading Blood Meridian the other day. I think it was one of 
the
> most powerful books I've read. I particularly loved the scene with the Judge
and
> the gold coins around the camp fire "... the path of every object is defined 
by
> the length of it's tether..." or something like that.