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Boulder Dam
Zane Grey is at his best in this story of the building of the Boulder Dam, later renamed the Hoover Dam. Straddling the great Colorado River, a huge structure is slowly rising--a dam that will alter the course of this ravaging river and harness its awesome power. Men from all over America have flocked to the site, laboring at the dam by day and filling the nearby Las Vegas gambling houses by night. To Lynn Weston, a rich man's son, working on the dam means independence and the chance to prove his courage. But an even greater challenge faces he discovers a girl who has escaped her abductors in the back seat of his car and becomes her self-appointed protector. Suddenly, he finds himself threatened by a pack of ruthless gangsters with a vicious plan to blow up the dam.
1 pages, MP3 CD
First published January 1, 1963
About the author
Zane Grey
1,875 books511 followersPearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 15, 2020
4 to 4.5 stars (Rounding up because I was so darn entertained)
I read Riders of the Purple Sage several years ago and always wanted to try Zane Grey again. However, after reading Riders and looking at several other titles as possible follow-ups, I always assumed my next would be a classic Western. But, that is not the case with Boulder Dam.
While Boulder Dam does take place in the American West just outside of Las Vegas, it is not the typical cowboys and cattle rustler type story. Instead, as the title would indicate, the events of the story take place during the construction of Boulder Dam (eventually Hoover Dam) and deal with corruption and human trafficking in Las Vegas and the newly constructed Boulder City.
I found this title while looking through some options on Audible. Grey was a very prolific writer and this appears to be one of his lesser know titles. But, I think I found a gem! It jumped out at me because I visited Hoover Dam a few years ago and was fascinated by the history of the construction. To read a historical fiction novel based on that time period, location, and the people who built it was perfect!
The story is a perfect balance of action, suspense, intrigue, and history. If you have zero interest in the history of the construction of Hoover Dam, some of the sequences may not interest you. I love how all the characters are sort of caricatures of certain types instead of being realistic written: manly heroes, vile villains, hard-nosed lawmen, damsels in distress. I felt like I was watching a black and white film from the 40s with borderline bad acting and I loved it!
If you love historical fiction and "sort-of" Westerns - especially anything relating to the early days of Las Vegas - do yourself a favor and check this one out!
I read Riders of the Purple Sage several years ago and always wanted to try Zane Grey again. However, after reading Riders and looking at several other titles as possible follow-ups, I always assumed my next would be a classic Western. But, that is not the case with Boulder Dam.
While Boulder Dam does take place in the American West just outside of Las Vegas, it is not the typical cowboys and cattle rustler type story. Instead, as the title would indicate, the events of the story take place during the construction of Boulder Dam (eventually Hoover Dam) and deal with corruption and human trafficking in Las Vegas and the newly constructed Boulder City.
I found this title while looking through some options on Audible. Grey was a very prolific writer and this appears to be one of his lesser know titles. But, I think I found a gem! It jumped out at me because I visited Hoover Dam a few years ago and was fascinated by the history of the construction. To read a historical fiction novel based on that time period, location, and the people who built it was perfect!
The story is a perfect balance of action, suspense, intrigue, and history. If you have zero interest in the history of the construction of Hoover Dam, some of the sequences may not interest you. I love how all the characters are sort of caricatures of certain types instead of being realistic written: manly heroes, vile villains, hard-nosed lawmen, damsels in distress. I felt like I was watching a black and white film from the 40s with borderline bad acting and I loved it!
If you love historical fiction and "sort-of" Westerns - especially anything relating to the early days of Las Vegas - do yourself a favor and check this one out!
February 23, 2023
Free for Audible-Plus-IK members.
Phew, I am glad that is over. This did not work for me. I like neither the story nor the prose.
The book weaves a fictional story around the construction of the Boulder Dam in Black Canyon on the Colorado River, at the Arizona-Nevada border, U.S. Construction took seven years, from 1930 through 1936. it is the highest concrete arch dam in the United States. It was renamed Hoover Dam after the 31st president, Herbert Hoover.
The author builds a story around a fictional employee at the dam construction site. He works his way up taking on more difficult and hazardous jobs. Through him we learn of what was involved in the construction of the dam. Ultimately, he becomes a glorified hero—saving lives right and left. He falls in love with a beautiful damsel, and of course, he saves her life many a time too. So called “white - slave” mobsters are chasing her. Take one guess if he ends up married to her!
The information related to the construction is the only thing the least bit interesting.
The adventure and love episodes are childish, exaggerated, unbelievable and quite simple ridiculous.
The prose is alternately sappy or corny. I wrote down some lines for you to laugh at, but I have decided to not waste time getting them down here. The author is best known for Westerns but wrote other books too. Some were for kids. The simplicity of both the prose and the story, puts this in that category. Nope, I wouldn’t even put this in the hands of a kid; they deserve better!
John Traven narrates the audiobook. It is not his fault the book is bad. The words are clear. There is nothing wrong with the narration. I have given it three stars.
The audiobook may be free, but don’t waste your time on it. At least now I know that Zane Grey is not an author for me.
Phew, I am glad that is over. This did not work for me. I like neither the story nor the prose.
The book weaves a fictional story around the construction of the Boulder Dam in Black Canyon on the Colorado River, at the Arizona-Nevada border, U.S. Construction took seven years, from 1930 through 1936. it is the highest concrete arch dam in the United States. It was renamed Hoover Dam after the 31st president, Herbert Hoover.
The author builds a story around a fictional employee at the dam construction site. He works his way up taking on more difficult and hazardous jobs. Through him we learn of what was involved in the construction of the dam. Ultimately, he becomes a glorified hero—saving lives right and left. He falls in love with a beautiful damsel, and of course, he saves her life many a time too. So called “white - slave” mobsters are chasing her. Take one guess if he ends up married to her!
The information related to the construction is the only thing the least bit interesting.
The adventure and love episodes are childish, exaggerated, unbelievable and quite simple ridiculous.
The prose is alternately sappy or corny. I wrote down some lines for you to laugh at, but I have decided to not waste time getting them down here. The author is best known for Westerns but wrote other books too. Some were for kids. The simplicity of both the prose and the story, puts this in that category. Nope, I wouldn’t even put this in the hands of a kid; they deserve better!
John Traven narrates the audiobook. It is not his fault the book is bad. The words are clear. There is nothing wrong with the narration. I have given it three stars.
The audiobook may be free, but don’t waste your time on it. At least now I know that Zane Grey is not an author for me.
February 23, 2012
I picked up this book for a number of reasons...It has elements of Las Vegas, It's about the Boulder Dam, and it's Zane Grey. Three things I like. Oh and I found it at an amazing bookstore 20 miles outside of Palm Springs for 2 dollars. BOOM.
There are two parts to this book. One is the love story brewing between a wandering soul who lands at the Boulder Dam and the amazing Boulder Dam itself. The love story is entertaining and the protagonist is very likable. The detail of the multiple jobs at Boulder Dam is some good stuff. There are only a few pages about Las Vegas during the building of the dam but they are fun too.
All in all 4 stars (3.5 really) because this book was cool but lacked some layers. I'm a fan though, Zane Grey is awesome. This was not published in his lifetime so perhaps if he could have finished it properly himself it would have been shined up a bit. Still glad I read it, really easy read.
UPDATE: I gave it 4 stars over 3 because I kept finding myself thinking about it.
There are two parts to this book. One is the love story brewing between a wandering soul who lands at the Boulder Dam and the amazing Boulder Dam itself. The love story is entertaining and the protagonist is very likable. The detail of the multiple jobs at Boulder Dam is some good stuff. There are only a few pages about Las Vegas during the building of the dam but they are fun too.
All in all 4 stars (3.5 really) because this book was cool but lacked some layers. I'm a fan though, Zane Grey is awesome. This was not published in his lifetime so perhaps if he could have finished it properly himself it would have been shined up a bit. Still glad I read it, really easy read.
UPDATE: I gave it 4 stars over 3 because I kept finding myself thinking about it.
September 7, 2022
Dam the Colorado River to make it a tool of man. This is the foundation of the story. The author lapses into periods of an analysis of man and his quest for power; the power of all types. The progress of a race. Lynn “Biff” Weston, a college football player, was working his way up the laborer’s ladder within the jobs at the Dam. Lynn wanted to excel at all the various jobs. He wanted to build Boulder Dam. Lynn excelled at all the jobs; a driller, then attaining the label of “scaler”. And harder than anything he had ever “tackled”. Lynn’s determination and work ethic shot him to the top; at one time only a dream. Death and life seemed only a short step away, but the work on Boulder Dam went on. Six companies banded together to build the Dam. Men from all over the country were drawn to this monumental project. Immigrants as well, many Irishmen were added to the labor pool, led by engineers. With a project this huge and the government in charge, there were huge amounts of money to be made. Whitey, an old friend, and a cowboy from Texas witnessed a dastardly plot and relayed it to Lynn. It was a heck of a story and Lynn was compelled to look into it. Romance is a part of any complete story. Lynn rescued a young Ann Hargriff from a bunch of ruffians in Boulder, Az… Romance blossoms. This is a great story, composing much of the building of the Dam, including a criminal twist to add to the suspense.
August 21, 2016
This book sure is a reflection of the wild west back in the early 20th century. The first two pages of the book and the part of the scene where Lynn , Bellow ,Gip Ring and Snap are locked in a dark room and Gip Ring is shooting like crazy . The character descriptions in the book are as if some cowboy would have described somebody . The plot was enjoyable with respect to the time when it was written. Last but not the least , Zane's endless analogies of the dam labor to the football practice as he himself was a football player and loved the sport. I would have loved the book more there were more details of the liquor racket 'in' at the time in United States when liquor was banned and other rackets . But still the book is a fine read.
February 12, 2023
The story of Lynn ‘Bif’ Westin and Anne seems more of an artifice that covers the real story here: the building of the Boulder, later renamed the Hoover Dam. Yet, both add value to each other and the one gives necessary gravitas to the emerging story.
What I found most interesting, though, was the use of language that Mr Grey demonstrates. This was my first book by Mr Grey. Although, I do recall that he was a presence in my house growing up. He was the favourite author of my father, a man not prone to reading even the daily newspapers. But Zane Grey’s novels were on the top shelf of the only bookcase we had so he must have been a writer of value.
The building of the Boulder Dam is, in itself, a story of wonder. And Lynn takes part in almost all the construction pieces from the drilling into the walls of the gorge to the pouring of the cement. Along the way he is heroic in many ways. He actually saves the dam from destruction, saves many lives of his colleagues and saves Anne from the clutches of the mafia in Las Vegas. It seems a bit over the top, but it all comes naturally to Lynn. All in all it was a riveting story and I was a bit sorry that it ended before the ultimate completion of the dam.
What I found most interesting, though, was the use of language that Mr Grey demonstrates. This was my first book by Mr Grey. Although, I do recall that he was a presence in my house growing up. He was the favourite author of my father, a man not prone to reading even the daily newspapers. But Zane Grey’s novels were on the top shelf of the only bookcase we had so he must have been a writer of value.
The building of the Boulder Dam is, in itself, a story of wonder. And Lynn takes part in almost all the construction pieces from the drilling into the walls of the gorge to the pouring of the cement. Along the way he is heroic in many ways. He actually saves the dam from destruction, saves many lives of his colleagues and saves Anne from the clutches of the mafia in Las Vegas. It seems a bit over the top, but it all comes naturally to Lynn. All in all it was a riveting story and I was a bit sorry that it ended before the ultimate completion of the dam.
June 7, 2024
I read the book more for the historical account of the building of the dam. The book was well written but extremely dated. The heroes hated the people in the labor movement and called them communists and the author portrayed the communists as weak and ineffectual. The women were portrayed as weak and the other men were strong. The engineering marvel of the dam was portrayed as man‘s modernism, which’s interesting as today the habitat destruction brought by these dams are causing renewed interest in reversing their damage.
The adventures of the hero working on the different parts of the dam was worth the cheap sale price to me. The narrator read the book like a movie from the 1940s with clipped sentences but was easy to listen to and he did the different voices well.
The adventures of the hero working on the different parts of the dam was worth the cheap sale price to me. The narrator read the book like a movie from the 1940s with clipped sentences but was easy to listen to and he did the different voices well.
March 17, 2021
A most excellent story. Not a western per se, but still had a western flair to it. I loved the characters and the plot and the premise. I enjoyed the history of it all and the action. There was also a nice romantic angle, which rounded the book out nicely. Unfortunately, the Epilogue was meh, but it was only a wrap-up and didn't effect the overall awesomeness of the story. It was just not as wow as the rest of the book.
January 21, 2023
A classic, Zane Grey is known for westerns, but this one isn't that genre.
This book takes place during the depression. We have Lynn Weston who works on building the dam, an engineering marvel. Weston himself failed out of engineering school, but works his way up on the various jobs. Meanwhile he saves a young girl from white slavers, and saves the dam being blown up.
The book was okay, but doesn't make me want to read many more of Grey's books. I'm definitely not interested in westerns...
This book takes place during the depression. We have Lynn Weston who works on building the dam, an engineering marvel. Weston himself failed out of engineering school, but works his way up on the various jobs. Meanwhile he saves a young girl from white slavers, and saves the dam being blown up.
The book was okay, but doesn't make me want to read many more of Grey's books. I'm definitely not interested in westerns...
June 14, 2017
What a GREAT novel to read around a trip to the Hoover Dam!!
The story takes place during the building of the dam, getting into what life was like for the workers in particular.
Also a peek into 1930s America in general. My first Zane Grey book-- exciting plot, great diction, and I stayed up late to finish.
The story takes place during the building of the dam, getting into what life was like for the workers in particular.
Also a peek into 1930s America in general. My first Zane Grey book-- exciting plot, great diction, and I stayed up late to finish.
September 11, 2019
My first Zane Grey story, and I picked a "peach"!
Read
May 31, 2020I’m not sure. I finished it and the history was interesting especially having visited the dam several times.
December 27, 2020
Excellent book with lots of facts about the building of Boulder Dam, now known as Hoover Dam.
November 6, 2022
Will Biff keep the bootleggers money? Will Biff steal the white slavers stash? Is Biff human?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2023
I loved this s book. It is so sad that Boulder (Hoover) Dam is dried up. This book describes how the the dam was constructed and the relationship it with Las Vegas.
May 24, 2024
I loved this book, just like all the other ones xd
I would totally read this one again.
I would totally read this one again.
July 10, 2020
Another must read by Zane Grey
I have been like a kid again reading these great books. This has history of the dam, and a great love story to boot.
Thank you Mr. Grey
I have been like a kid again reading these great books. This has history of the dam, and a great love story to boot.
Thank you Mr. Grey
January 15, 2020
A Western novel from the prolific Zane Grey. Construction of the Hoover Dam and the early days of Las Vegas are the setting for a story about white slavery, as well as a somewhat-cliched love story. Fun read.
February 2, 2024
DNF’d this one because although I picked it for the setting (Hoover Dam and early Las Vegas), I stopped because the story and dialogue were so awful. The setting alone cannot carry the story. I despised the author’s writing style. No point in being miserable while reading, so I stopped reading this book at about 100 pages!
October 8, 2016
Zane Grey was one of America's most prolific writers of the early 20th century -- he was also my father's favorite author. My father had almost all of his novels and liked to read and reread them. I read a few of them when I was younger and remember enjoying them. I decided to read Boulder Dam because our family visited the dam as part of a Vegas vacation this summer. Hoover (Boulder) Dam was so impressive and it amazes me how it could have been constructed in the 1930s during the height of the Depression. Grey's novel was actually published 1963 - more than 20 years after his death in 1939. I'm not sure when it was written but reading it is definitely going back to a by-gone era. The book had some great descriptions of how Boulder Dam was built but the plot and storyline was something out of the past. It includes a plot by Communists to destroy the dam and also includes characters such as Chicago racketeers who traffick in white slavery. The hero of the story, Lynn Weston, is a typical Grey do-gooder who can do no wrong. He saves the dam and ends up with the girl in peril. The writing is very descriptive and often goes on and on. It also includes some racial slurs that were common in books of the period but expletives are deleted with blanks _______! Anyway, this was a definite change of pace.
October 14, 2010
This is the second Zane Grey book I've read. I love Westerns, and was not disappointed by this book. I would not really class it as a Western,though. It does have shooting and cowboys in the storyline, but the action is not related to cows, horses, or ranch work. I found this book more than entertaining. It taught me about the construction of the Boulder Dam. It showed a slice of life from Depression era America. It is about the settling of the West, but from the time period of the 1930s.
The action hero of this story is somewhat of a Superman. His feats are superhuman. This story shows the power of work to shape a mind, spirit, and body. As such, it is a morality tale as well as adventure story. This book does romanticize work. It is a book about what forces can shape a boy to a man, including will.
I recommend this book.
The action hero of this story is somewhat of a Superman. His feats are superhuman. This story shows the power of work to shape a mind, spirit, and body. As such, it is a morality tale as well as adventure story. This book does romanticize work. It is a book about what forces can shape a boy to a man, including will.
I recommend this book.
September 7, 2009
I never really thought of how big a job it must have been to build the boulder dam. And Zane Grey while not a deep writer was certainly one that was fun. Though sometimes his hicks were a little hard to understand and he wrote what they said spelled out like they pronounced their words. Part of the charm of western writing. :)
March 30, 2010
My first Zane Grey novel. A good enough story about an earlier time in the American West. Good story!
May 18, 2013
Grey is best when his story is based in some little niche of history that we couldn't otherwise experience. This one is a story about the construction of Hoover Dam.
April 3, 2015
A fab edition with a mini biog of Pearl (Zane) Grey thrown in.
Great tale of derring-do set against the back drop of the amazing real life project of the Hoover Dam.
Ah those were the days!
Great tale of derring-do set against the back drop of the amazing real life project of the Hoover Dam.
Ah those were the days!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews