randyrasa 's review for:

Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison

4.0

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Three novellas in one collection, each very distinct and unconnected from the others. “Revenge” was excellent, reminding me of the fever-dream beauty of James Lee Burke's writing, and the stark no-nonsense violence of Thomas Perry, though obviously predating both those writers. “The Man Who Gave Up His Name” was less successful, I thought, being more inward-looking and self-absorbed, though quite entertaining and more thoughtful than it seems at first glance. The title novella, “Legends of the Fall”, was again excellent, remarkably epic despite its length. Overall, two 5-stars and a 3-star, makes for a 4-1/3 average, though I'm not sure that's a fair way to look at it. Beautiful writing, sharp dialog, richly-observed settings, sometimes-brutal action, and a deep sense of mastery.