Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990 TAG: 9008010044
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by BILL HUDSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
To fully enjoy Edward Abbey's "Hayduke Lives!," published posthumously earlier this year, one should first read his popular 1975 novel, "The Monkey Wrench Gang."
In that novel, we get to know and enjoy the four members of the gang: Doc Sarvis, Bonnie Abzug, Seldom Seen Smith and the leader, George Washington Hayduke. Individually and as a group, these "eco-warriors" roam the Colorado River area, blowing up bridges, sabotaging road-building machinery, littering the highways with beer cans - anything to disrupt the encroachment of the technical pollutants of civilization on their beloved Southwestern desert.
In "Hayduke Lives!" Abbey continues the escapades of his four marauders. Essentially, this novel has the same picaresque structure - an episodic arrangement and earthy characters who remain unchanged - as well as the same comical, runaway style in which, occasionally, punctuation has to give up and drop out.
But one element helps to give "Hayduke" some cohesiveness. Throughout the novel, the world's largest moving object, the Giant Earth Mover (symbol of modern civilization) slowly and steadily moves toward Little Eden Canyon. Between its two appearances at the beginning and end, we do not see it at all. But we know it is approaching.
Several episodes are gems: the poignant opening in which a 145-year-old turtle (symbol of the Earth) is buried by the Giant Earth Mover; a hilarious and exciting bulldozer duel between Hayduke in disguise and the industrialist; the Earth First! Rendezvous, which reflects Abbey's affinity for that movement; and the climactic episode in which Hayduke kidnaps the Earth Mover.
Several memorable characters have been added, but attention remains focused on Hayduke - Robin Hood, Don Quixote, foul-mouthed ("I can't talk without swearing"), philosophical, Savior of his Country as it ought to be. Amazingly, Hayduke remains unseen a good deal of the time, and shows up unexpectedly and in disguise.
Before his death last year at 62, Edward Abbey wrote 20 books - 12 nature books (he was first a naturalist), the best known of which is "Desert Solitaire," and eight novels - all with a Western setting. Certainly those books, especially the two about Hayduke, will ensure that Abbey will live in the minds of those who love the Earth and good fiction.
When Abbey was interviewed about "The Monkey Wrench Gang," he said that above all, he "wanted it to be entertaining." No doubt he had the same intention with "Hayduke Lives!" It certainly is that, but it is more. As a myth of contemporary man watching his Earth being destroyed, it is one of the most thought-provoking novels of our time.
by CNB