A Man Named Yuma

It's always fun to encounter a pretty standard plot that is elevated above the average by vivid prose and exciting action. A Man Named Yuma (1974), by T.V. Olsen) is one such novel.

In this one, a half-Apache has to deal with distrust and bigotry while escorting survivors from a wrecked stagecoach across a searing hot desert, pursued  along the way by Apaches on the war path.

Much of the novel is a Last Stand situation, with Yuma and his charges forted up at a water hole while the Apaches surround them, pinning them down with occasional sniper fire and launching full-on attacks. This is bad enough, but what makes matters worse is that the leader of the Apache band is Yuma's half-brother and very much wants to reduce the number of siblings he has by one. He's been wanting to kill Yuma all his life and now it looks like he has a chance.

Yuma knows this and considers striking out on his own. But its too late for that. His half-brother would kill the whites anyway (he's lost too many men to them to do otherwise) and the whites couldn't possibly get through the desert without his help anyways. He has to stay to help them, even though this also makes them more of a target.

That one of those in the water hole with them is a vicious outlaw who might just be as dangerous as the Apaches is yet another problem Yuma must deal with.

The Last Stand scenario--the trek through the desert--the Apache uprising--the diverse personalities forced to work together--all these are well-used tropes in Westerns. Variations of these plot elements  have been done countless times, but good writing all the difference. Olsen's prose puts us right there in the searing desert with the main characters, giving us a real sense of the hardship, danger and tension they are all enduring. Olsen's characters are realistic and well-drawn. All this makes A Man Named Yuma a fun and memorable read.