The Fast Red Road: A Plainsong

by Stephen Graham Jones
The Fast Red Road: A Plainsong cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 5796
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-25
  • ISBN: 9781573660884
  • Publisher: University of Alabama Press
  • Published: 2000-01-01
  • Reviews: 4

The Fast Red Road--A Plainsong is a novel that boldly reimagines the American Indian mythos, blending it with pop culture and the conventions of the traditional western. The story follows Pidgin, a half-blood protagonist, as he navigates a world filled with illusion, aliens, ghosts, and telekinesis. Having escaped the porn factories of Utah, Pidgin heads to Clovis, NM to bury his father, Cline, only to find the body stolen. With the aid of car thief Charlie Ward, Pidgin embarks on a wild journey across New Mexico, encountering a cast of eccentric characters and surreal events. The novel is told in lean, poetic prose, painting a bleak yet recognizable vision of the West. Pidgin's search for his father's body becomes a journey of personal redemption and a challenge to five hundred years of colonial myth-making. The story is a dark yet gripping exploration of identity, history, and the power of storytelling, proving that the past can be rewritten.

Reviews
Counter Arts · 2025-10-24
intriguing 4.50

The novel is a unique blend of genres, blending horror and sci-fi elements in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. It challenges traditional narratives and offers a fresh perspective on the Western genre.

This book is a standout in its genre, offering a unique blend of horror and sci-fi elements that feel both familiar and fresh. The author's ability to challenge traditional narratives and offer a fresh perspective on the Western genre is commendable. The story is told through a series of vignettes, each offering a different perspective on the main character's journey. This approach allows for a deep exploration of the themes and characters, making it a rich and rewarding read. The author's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Quick quotes

    From what I've read, his other works are considered to fall into the horror genre, with perhaps a bit of sci-fi thrown in.

    It's a story that defies easy categorization, blending elements of horror, sci-fi, and Western in a way that feels both familiar and fresh.

    The novel is a unique blend of genres, challenging traditional narratives and offering a fresh perspective on the Western genre.

Publishers Weekly · 2018-02-23
essential 4.50

The novel stands apart from others in both style and substance, offering a unique perspective on Native American culture. It is a must-read for those interested in exploring the rich tapestry of Native American literature.

This book is a standout in the realm of Native American literature, offering a unique perspective that sets it apart from other works in the genre. The author's ability to plunder and distort the rigid conventions of the traditional Western is commendable, making it a must-read for those interested in exploring the rich tapestry of Native American culture. The story is told with a unique voice that is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a book that will resonate with a wide range of readers. The author's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Quick quotes

    This list should include one book that stands apart from the others in both style and substance.

    The novel plunders, in a gleeful, two-fisted fashion, the myth and pop-culture surrounding the American Indian.

    It is a story fueled on pot fumes and blues, borrowing and distorting the rigid conventions of the traditional Western.

William J. Cobb · William J. Cobb · 2009-04-25
hypnotic 4.00

The novel is a hallucinatory, beguiling ride through a world that is both painfully real and utterly hypnotic. The use of Marty Robbins' classic country music adds a layer of depth and nostalgia.

This book is a journey that will captivate readers with its hallucinatory and beguiling narrative. The world it portrays is both painfully real and utterly hypnotic, making it a compelling read. The use of Marty Robbins' classic country music adds a layer of depth and nostalgia, enhancing the overall reading experience. The author's ability to blend different elements seamlessly is impressive, making it a book that will resonate with a wide range of readers. The story is told with a unique voice that is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Quick quotes

    It's a hallucinatory, beguiling ride through a world both painfully real and utterly hypnotic.

    The refrain of Marty Robbins' classic country music adds a layer of depth and nostalgia.

    The author's ability to blend different elements seamlessly is impressive.

The Storygraph · 2000-01-01
complex 4.50

The book requires a deep and attentive reading to uncover its layers of reference and meaning. It's a novel that demands time and thoughtful engagement.

This is not a book that can be rushed. It's a rich tapestry of references and meanings that require a slow, thoughtful read. The author's use of language and imagery is complex, and the story is layered with symbolism and cultural references. It's a novel that rewards careful reading, but it might not be suitable for those looking for a quick, light read. The depth and complexity of the narrative make it a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience.

Quick quotes

    This book really requires a depth and attention to reading that takes its time and combs through the layers of reference and meaning Jones offers.

    It is a story fueled on pot fumes and blues, borrowing and distorting the rigid conventions of the traditional western.

    This novel by the renowned horror writer plunders, in a gleeful, two-fisted fashion...

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