Outlaw Red

This one is even more convenient. Sean somehow goes from pampered show dog to wild hunter in no time flat; Slasher doesn't come near him until Sean is able to handle it, even. The depiction of the wild life is interesting, but for all Sean's one of the Big Red wonder-dogs, his survival is just way too convenient. And why, exactly, is the trapper so mad about the hares? It says he'll catch too many of them and their fur (and meat) aren't particularly valuable; the story also explains Sean carefully avoiding all the fur-bearers and only moving in on hares. So the trapper's ire is a little forced. I can see the sheep-man's, though, given what he knows and what he's seen. It's surprising Sean _was_ seen, though. I think I like Billy, but show more it's hard to tell; he's left pretty much a stereotypical icon, with very little to flesh out his personality (he's a boy, he loves dogs, unlike his family he's not quarrelsome. I think that's it). I'd have read another book if there was one - certainly there could have been, Kjelgaard ignored the bitches in Big Red's family, and even if he didn't want to deal with them there was another litter of Big Red's and then Sean's pups. But I don't know what else - what new story - could have been told. Pampered show dog finds his human, learns to hunt; stubborn wild pup grows up; pampered show dog learns to survive on his own, finds his human. There are probably dozens of variations on these that _could_ have been told, but I think I'm glad they weren't, that Kjelgaard left it at that. show less

He was Sean, a champion, the biggest, handsomest son of Big Red, the famous Irish setter. Bursting with hunting instincts, he fretted under his pampered kennel life, and longed for the wilds. Then suddenly his life changed. He found himself on his own in the Wintapi wilderness, lost, his human protectors gone. An outlaw, he was hunted and shot at by the hill men. How Sean learned to survive amidst constant danger, how he challenged a coyote killer to save his mate, is a stirring tale of bravery and an exciting wilderness adventure. It is also the heartwarming story of another unwilling outlaw--the boy who loved Sean and wanted him for his own.

If you like Jim Kjelgaard’s descriptions of wildlife and the wilderness than you will enjoy Outlaw Red. Copywrite 1953. In it there are what to me are familiar themes in dog books, a show dog who must learn to survive in the wild, mistaken identity, and a powerful adversary to eventually vanquish. I can still enjoy themes even if they have been done before, if they are written well, so that was not a problem for me.

What I am just not a big fan of is the dog learning to live and survive on their own. I am not sure how realistic is, but mostly, I just don’t find it as interesting. The dog figures out how to hunt and eat this, the dog figures out how to hunt and eat that, he gets lucky and finds this or that to eat. Kjelgaard does the show more descriptions of the wildlife behavior Sean must interact with very realistically, but I find interaction with dogs and humans much more engaging.

In the fifties and before, show winning pedigreed dogs were held in higher regard than perhaps they are now. Some now worry that it can be detrimental to a breed to concentrate on looks. But in a book, it is easier for a dog to have both looks and the important instincts of the breed. The dog Sean in Outlaw Red is described as:

‘Born to hunt, and to be the companion of some human being who liked to hunt, he had all the fine instincts of a hunter. But it was Sean’s misfortune that he had also been born with an almost perfect body. His head seemed molded by some master artist. His spine and back and massive chest were ideally formed, and his tail was a graceful brush that dropped in precisely the right curve.
Sean was a show dog. Far too valuable to risk in the wilderness, he was fast making his mark in the world of dog shows.’

Big Red and his owner Danny Pickett from the previous two books make some appearances in the book, but the main character in this book is Billy Dash, a skinny youth hired to work in the kennels. We are given his thoughts on Sean being a show dog in this next quote:

“You, Dog. Youah all dog. Seems mighty funny to keep you in a piddlin’ little cage, and just use you fo’ getting’ blue ribbons and little cups when you could be a huntin’ dog. Seems might funny. Still, I s’pose it’s impo’tant, else, Danny and Mistah Haggin wouldn’t do it. But fo’ the life of me I can’t figgah it.”

Both Billy and Sean wind up to be outlaws of a sort. An overall good enough story. I can check one more book off my list toward reading all of Jim Kjelgaard’s books. show less

If you like Jim Kjelgaard’s descriptions of wildlife and the wilderness than you will enjoy Outlaw Red. Copywrite 1953. In it there are what to me are familiar themes in dog books, a show dog who must learn to survive in the wild, mistaken identity, and a powerful adversary to eventually vanquish. I can still enjoy themes even if they have been done before, if they are written well, so that was not a problem for me.

What I am just not a big fan of is the dog learning to live and survive on their own. I am not sure how realistic is, but mostly, I just don’t find it as interesting. The dog figures out how to hunt and eat this, the dog figures out how to hunt and eat that, he gets lucky and finds this or that to eat. Kjelgaard does the show more descriptions of the wildlife behavior Sean must interact with very realistically, but I find interaction with dogs and humans much more engaging.

In the fifties and before, show winning pedigreed dogs were held in higher regard than perhaps they are now. Some now worry that it can be detrimental to a breed to concentrate on looks. But in a book, it is easier for a dog to have both looks and the important instincts of the breed. The dog Sean in Outlaw Red is described as:

‘Born to hunt, and to be the companion of some human being who liked to hunt, he had all the fine instincts of a hunter. But it was Sean’s misfortune that he had also been born with an almost perfect body. His head seemed molded by some master artist. His spine and back and massive chest were ideally formed, and his tail was a graceful brush that dropped in precisely the right curve.
Sean was a show dog. Far too valuable to risk in the wilderness, he was fast making his mark in the world of dog shows.’

Big Red and his owner Danny Pickett from the previous two books make some appearances in the book, but the main character in this book is Billy Dash, a skinny youth hired to work in the kennels. We are given his thoughts on Sean being a show dog in this next quote:

“You, Dog. Youah all dog. Seems mighty funny to keep you in a piddlin’ little cage, and just use you fo’ getting’ blue ribbons and little cups when you could be a huntin’ dog. Seems might funny. Still, I s’pose it’s impo’tant, else, Danny and Mistah Haggin wouldn’t do it. But fo’ the life of me I can’t figgah it.”

Both Billy and Sean wind up to be outlaws of a sort. An overall good enough story. I can check one more book off my list toward reading all of Jim Kjelgaard’s books. show less

Good sequel to Big Red and Irish Red. In this book, Big Red's son, Sean, has his own adventures after being lost in the wilderness. A worthy follow up to the other two books.

One of my favorite authors growing up. Enjoyed re-reading that

One of my favorite authors growing up. Enjoyed re-reading that