I truly enjoyed this one. I generally like lone-wolf stories and Shane is just that, story of a mysterious rider that comes to the small town and finds himself helping them against the oppression. It is clear that this western [and others with similar story lines that followed] were an inspiration to the writers of modern day knights errant like Jack Reacher.

Told from the perspective of a young boy, Bob Starrett, in opening chapter we witness the arrival of a lone rider who identifies himself only as Shane. Recognized by Bob's father, Joe, as someone who can help on the Starrett farm, Shane decides to accept the offer and help the Starrett's. It is obvious that Shane has troubled past but he does not let anything slip so he remains an enigma to the family. But even that does not stop Starrett's from almost adopting Shane and Shane completely warming up to this hard working family. For Joe's son Bob, Shane's mystery proves to be the absolute magnet - he follows him around trying to learn as much as he can from him, from handling the horse, gun to other works he is involved on the farm.

Of course problem/conflict come in in form of powerful rancher who wants farmers to leave what he considers to be his land (ever present conflict on the great plains of America). And this is where Shane decides to stand up and protect family he became part of.

What I liked here is that Starrett family is grounded, practical and they are true family. Joe immediately recognizes that Shane would be a great asset to his farm and when Shane decides to help, it becomes obvious that harmonious family life is something that Shane is missing dearly. Slowly, as days pass by in interaction with Starrett's Shane's starts to go back to what can be considered normal life [from whatever he was trying to escape from].

As confrontation between ranchers and farmers starts to escalate we can see how Shane acknowledges that violence, no matter how he tries to run away from it, has its place in defense of good people. He can be deadly [bot unarmed and armed] when needed but he shows that he does not endorse the violence on itself. At the end his decision to ride away is driven by the fact that he is back where he was at the beginning of the story and can never go back to farming life. Violence follows him, such is the nature of the world, and he does not want people he likes to get hurt because of it.

Excellent western, got me glued from the first pages to the very end.

Highly recommended. ( )

I expected more, as I read this book after hearing glowing reviews for it. Maybe I am a shallow person. ( )

Good western novel, suitable for young people. ( )

Like a companion to True Grit, but not as well written. The western told through the eyes of a young boy is still pretty unique a perspective. ( )

Marian still frustrates me... Gotta love the gunman legend. ( )