Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. This novel is often described as a Revisionist Western, designed to challenge the heroic myths of the genre. How did it compare to more traditional Westerns you’ve encountered? Did it change your perception of the Old West?

2. Streets of Laredo is a sequel to the celebrated Lonesome Dove. How did this novel feel as a continuation and conclusion to Woodrow Call’s story? If you came to this book first, did it stand on its own, or were there moments you felt you were missing important context?

3. What was the most memorable scene for you in the novel? What made that particular moment stick with you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Pea Eye Parker is caught between his deep-seated loyalty to Captain Call and his new life as a husband and father. Think about a time you’ve felt torn between a past identity and your present responsibilities. How did you navigate that tension?

2. Captain Call’s entire identity is tied to his physical competence and his legendary role as a ranger. What roles or skills are central to your own sense of self? How do you imagine you might cope if you could no longer rely on them?

3. Brookshire, the accountant from Brooklyn, is completely out of his element on the Texas frontier. Think about a time you’ve felt like a fish out of water in a new environment or culture. How did you adapt?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The story is set at the end of the Texas frontier, as railroads and corporate interests replace the old ways of life. Where do you see similar transitions happening today, where technology or new economic forces are making traditional skills or entire professions obsolete?

2. What does the character of Brookshire, the “salaried man” sent from the East, reveal about the changing power dynamics of the American West? How does his corporate mindset clash with the frontier code embodied by men like Call and Goodnight?

3. Joey’s crimes earn him widespread notoriety throughout Mexico and Texas. Where do you see similar instances of the blurred line between infamy and celebrity in contemporary culture?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does knowing this book began as a screenplay for aging actors affect your reading of Captain Call’s decline? 

2. In what ways does the railroad represent both progress and destruction, altering the very nature of crime, justice, and heroism in the West?

3. What is the significance of the contrast between practical weapons, like Call’s reliable rifle, and others like the fancy engraved pistol or Joey’s modern German rifle? What might McMurtry be saying about the nature of violence and skill in this changing world?

4. McMurtry frequently uses flashbacks to explore the characters’ traumatic histories, especially Maria and Joey’s. How did this non-linear storytelling shape your understanding of the characters and their motivations?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a soundtrack for this novel. What kind of music would you choose for characters like Captain Call, Joey, or Lorena??

2. Imagine you’re a journalist writing an article a year after the events of the novel conclude. Who would you want to interview, and what story would you tell about the end of the Joey Garza manhunt and its aftermath for the Parker family and Captain Call?