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Next week CBS will air the new mini-series, Comanche Moon: The Road to Lonesome Dove (January 13th, 15th and 16th). This is the final installment in the Lonesome Dove series. (Chronologically, Comanche Moon fills in the gap between Dead Man’s Walk and Lonesome Dove. Streets of Laredo closes out the series.) Then on February 26, Sony will release the 2-DVD set of Comanche Moon: The Road to Lonesome Dove - Extended Edition, with extra footage only available on the DVDs. Here is a picture of the initial box art for the DVD set.
I am a huge fan of Larry McMurty’s Lonesome Dove series. I have read all the books and seen all the television adaptations. So I am really looking forward to Comanche Moon next week. However, I must warn you, that the Lonesome Dove books and films are not for children and not for the faint of heart. McMurtry pulls no flinches in portraying a rugged American West where people live and die hard, often in extremely brutal ways. Comanche Moon was probably the toughest read of the four, so this mini-series will not be everyone’s cup of tea (or jug of whiskey as the case may be).
Any other Lonesome Dove fans out there?
HT: TVShowsOnDVD
How did you know when Sony was releasing Comanche Moon on DVD?
Bob - I originally got the dates at TVShowsOnDVD.com, which I have found to be a reliable site for information. But I notice that Amazon now has the February 26, 2008 release date, too. So, did you watch the first installment last night? What did you think? I am really enjoying Steve Zahn as a young Augustus McCrae.
Here is the link to TVShowsOnDVD:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Comanche-Moon-Road-Lonesome-Dove-Complete-Miniseries/8739
And here is the link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Comanche-Moon-Road-Lonesome-Dove/dp/B00116GEJS/
Update 1/18/2008: Whoops, I just learned that TVShowsOnDVD took down that information at Sony’s request until after the show had aired. Here is a new link explaining what happened:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=8811
So, as someone who has read all the books, what would you say is the best order to read them in? I hear they were not written in chronological order - i.e. Lonesome Dove was written first, even though Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon describe the times before Lonesome Dove. Is it better to read them in the order they were written, or in chronological order?
Bryan - Great question! I read them in order of publication - Lonesome Dove (1988), Streets of Laredo (1993), Dead Man’s Walk (1995), Comanche Moon (1997). (Chronological order is Dead Man’s Walk, Comanche Moon, Lonesome Dove, Streets of Laredo.)
I think whatever order you read them in, you should start with Lonesome Dove. Lonesome Dove definitively introduces the characters of Gus and Call, and part of the fun for me in reading the prequels was recognizing the early development of characters whom I had already grown to know quite well.
After that you could either continue in publication order, or you could jump back chronologically and go Dead Man’s Walk, Comanche Moon and then Streets of Laredo.
Thinking back, I am glad I went in publication order, but for reasons I won’t print here because it would contain plot spoilers for those who haven’t read the books or seen the DVD’s. (But I would be glad to email you why if you are interested - just let me know!)
Thank you for clarifying the publication order and the chronological order. Where would return to lonesome dove fit in???
Thank you! This whole lonesome dove series is one of my favorites
Maggie - Return to Lonesome Dove fits chronologically right after Lonesome Dove. I didn’t include it in the list above because it was not one of the novels that Larry McMurtry wrote.
Some Lonesome Dove fans got upset with the production because it took some liberties with the plot lines that created some impossible discontinuities. However, it didn’t bother me. I think it is a great mini-series, and Jon Voigt does a great job with Woodrow Call’s part. Besides, McMurtry has trouble keeping a strict continuity between the novels himself!
Also worth checking out are the two TV series — Lonesome Dove: The Series and Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years. These take place chronologically after Return to Lonesome Dove and focus mostly on Newt Call’s character. (Although Woodrow shows up in one episode - played by Lee Majors!)
Hello. I want to start watching the Lonesome Dove movies but I want to start from the very beginning. Can you tell me what they are from number 1. Thanks so much….
Rhonda - If you want to watch them all in chronological order, here it is:
Dead Man’s Walk
Comanche Moon
Lonesome Dove
Return to Lonesome Dove
(Lonesome Dove: The Series)
(Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years)
Streets of Laredo
(Note: I put Lonesome Dove: The Series and The Outlaw Years in parentheses because those were actually TV series rather than full length movies/mini-series like the rest.)
Enjoy! Together these productions are some of the best television I have ever watched.
I just watched Lonesome Dove: Comanche Moon three part series and LOVED it! I am hoping the video store that I rented it from will have the other parts.
Heather - It’s a great series all around. I have enjoyed them all and am watching through The Outlaw Years right now.