Rider in the Sun was Edmund Ware Smith‘s first and only novel. Perhaps the legendary writer (who penned hundreds of short stories that captivated magazine readers in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s) wrote the novel just to show that he could. Or maybe it was the first of many planned novels that never materialized after his career as a short story man began to flourish.
Published in 1935 (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard), this fictional book told the story of a boy who moved out West to become a man. Dan, the lead character, was someone most boys during the book’s era could really relate to. He didn’t particularly care for his studies, loved the outdoors, and dreamed of moving West and riding horses. One day it all came together and he decided he would leave to live out his dream. Unbeknownst (at first) by his parents, his morning stroll to school let him straight to the train station and on the first train west. Dan ended up in a small cowboy town in the West, but his journey had just begun. The dream of riding horses and rounding up cattle had to wait. Reality set in and Dan was hired on by rancher Bill Hatt to build fence and grub sagebrush. He envied the boys out riding the range and rounding up cattle.
Dan’s time to ride horses came eventually, and he ended up helping the big cattle roundup and shipping operation. Several encounters and mini-adventures highlighted the summer of work, but eventually it was time to return home. A slight detour on the trip home had Dan working alongside a newfound companion digging water lines for an expanding city and a tragic accident, followed by Dan’s return home to his family, capped off the story.
As a first (and only) published novel, Rider in the Sun proved what Edmund Ware Smith was capable of as a writer. The plot and character development are solid, and the story is one that would interest readers of all ages.
One can’t help but think that the novel was based on some of the feelings and experiences Smith had as a youngster, especially since he quit his Connecticut prep school one afternoon and moved West to become a cowpuncher. Unlike most people who move West, Smith returned to the Northeast and began his career as a writer.
Rider in the Sun, like many of Smith’s earlier short stories, was published under the pen name Edmund Ware, which is important to know if you’re looking for the book. Interestingly, his father had forbidden him to use the name Smith. Sounds like the typical story – rich family, high expectations, etc. After his success grew, he began publishing stories as Edmund Ware Smith.
Copies of Rider in the Sun are extremely rare today. I’ve only been able to find a few for sale online, and they are not cheap (around $650-$1,500). I borrowed a copy via Interlibrary Loan through my local library. You may want to keep an eye out for this one in old bookstores. It’s well worth the read, and I know I would love to have read it as a youngster.
I have a copy if this book