The Buffalo Commons

By Richard S. Wheeler

Book Overview

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• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812545168
• ISBN13: 9780812545166
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Watch out for Wolves!

This is the only contemporary novel by Wheeler and is written in service of an environmental concept -- not so much to persuade as to elucidate, explore the issues. Wheeler is a writer well-equipped to handle this major and controversial topic by imagining a scenario of how a buffalo commons might get created.First of all, his historical knowledge is deep from all those genre Westerns and, more recently, research for historical novels. Another useful skill is training as a screenwriter at Pasadena Playhouse and this book is very much visualized in scripts and shots. He assigns a point of view to each character and then lets that character do or say what will explain why he or she feels that way. And he knows to set characters up in dialoguing pairs, one of which must be persuaded, which also helps to pull information out in an easy-to-understand Q/A format. Though there are a lot of characters, each is vivid enough to remember as the plot unfolds -- and there IS a plot. No vioence, unless you count the wolves. Wheeler's newspaper background helps him to dissect issues and show how to interweave politically and economically.Only one character is really a caricature, but he is so villanous (as well as funny) that I was hoping the wolves would bite him good and hard. (He's a latex heir hypnotized by New Age stuff.)This is a skillfully written and often quite moving novel with colorful characters: patricians, plutocrats, and prophets It's hard on Greens, bureaucrats, and the kind of faculty members who build little empires staffed by grad students. It is "rancher-friendly," which might not be one would expect, given the subject.

Buffalo Commons

As a homesick former Montanan, I loved this book. Wheeler does such a great job of an even-handed presentation of the pros and cons of ranchers versus restorers. I sort of resented the "feds' being cast as the villains, since I know many of them and they are sincere, caring people who want the best for the land and its inhabitants, but I am also aware that the individuals who work for the agencies are often the victims themselves of political agendas. Kind of an old-fashioned novel--heros were flawed, but good-villains were BAD--made it fun to read.Wheeler obviously had done his homework--lots of fascinating information presented in a readable, entertaining manner. Well worth the read,

I read it in two days

Richard Wheeler's books suck you in from the first page, and keep you there...a truly enjoyable read that delves into controversial issues. I don't consider myself a typical Western reader, but I loved this book. I'm now trying Wheeler's other fiction.

A modern masterpiece of the American West.

Richard Wheeler has written many--perhaps most--of the best historical novels of the American West available today and it is time for this Montanan to be enjoying as wide an audience as a writer of his gifts deserves. BUFFALO COMMONS is a Wheeler masterpiece, a modern story of the conflict between an idealistic environmentalist (with the money to make his dreams realities) and the ranching folk whose old, honest, productive way of life stands in the way of a retrograde "progress" toward returning the land to the buffalo. There have been comparisons made in reviews of Wheeler's book to Nicholas Evans' much-ballyhoo'd THE LOOP. There is no comparison. Wheeler's story is infinitely richer, more compelling and thought-provoking.

A great novel of modern Montana

In his very readable novel The Buffalo Commons Richard Wheeler gives us a clear picture of the issues that divide wildlife environmentalists and Montana ranchers. In his author's note a the end of the book, Wheeler confesses conflict within himself, "I would love to see the High Plains restored to their presettlement splendor, but I love Montan's salt-of-the-earth people, who are tough, unique and honorable." That duality is reflected throughout the story. There are two main characters: Laslo Horoney who is trying to create a hughe Grassland National Trust and Cameron Nichols who wants to continue ranching on the same land. Wheeler has cast neither of them as hero or villain. They are both good men but with different goals that bring them into conflict. Wheeler draws all his major characters with sympathy, no matter where they stand on the issues. Even while the characters in this novel struggle with each other, they face severe economic, political and moral pressure from other sources. They have their strengths and weaknesses. And, they are often uncertain--just like real people. This is a serious work by an articulate and knowledgeable author.