Reviews

I agree with some of the reviews that there are times when Sandy's character seems a little too one-dimensional, not much more than a male fantasy. However, this leads to the question of whether she's a real character or conjured by Gatlin. If she were a living and breathing character whom Gatlin actually interacts with, then I would be disappointed in Mr. Abbey for writing such a bland and sexist character. If she were a figment of Gatlin's imagination, which could be argued for, then I would commend Mr. Abbey for writing an imaginative commentary on loneliness, work, and fantasy.

Either way, I'll put up with the two characters' sexual banter to read the beautiful passages that Abbey evokes from a lonely Southwest lookout tower, the same way anyone who has read For Whom the Bell Tolls is willing to put up with the exhausting pillow talk between Robert Jordan and Maria. It's still a great work of literature, and I don't think any less of Abbey or Black Sun for the perverse relationship that forms the backbone of the novel.

dremps92's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

liberrydude's review against another edition

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3.0

Lookout tower man meets girl half his age. Hooks up. Girl mysteriously disappears. That's about it with some nice imagery of nature and some musings on life and relationships.

beetoppa's review

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1.0

I really really wanted to like this book. The setting for this book is in Northern AZ and the main character is a fire lookout - how applicable to my life, right? However, the book is absolutely awful. So many sexist and racist tones and it’s absolutely vulgar. A 37 y/o man falling in lust with a 19 year old girl. The objectification and dehumanization of women in this book is outrageous. This is just an erotica novel and I am so disgusted that I PAID for this book. If this book was more than 200 pages I would’ve tossed it but it was short enough to keep me in to finish it.

My first one star review and it was rightly earned.

Apparently Abbey dedicated this book to his dying wife, but the main character in the book is apparently divorced and has this fling with a teenager. How disgusting to dedicate this to your wife!!!!

dpierson83's review against another edition

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4.0

I've loved Edward Abbey's work reading Desert Solitaire in college. For whatever reason I'd never gotten around to reading Black Sun until I saw it in Maria's Bookshop in Durango Colorado in April of this year. I picked it up on a lark, and received a glowing review of it from the clerk who rang up my purchase.

I can't recall reading a book this short in length that was so haunting and beautifully-written. This is a tale of lost love and solitude, mixing Abbey's masterful descriptions of the scenery of the southwestern U.S. with frank, honest scenes of love and sexuality. This book resonated so powerfully with me that I read it in nearly a single sitting.

monsieur_tunin's review against another edition

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dark sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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