George Ryga, as you might know, is a Canadian playwright and novelist. The novel In the Shadow of the Vulture links to present concerns about the exploitation and mistreatment of immigrants.

In Ryga's novel there is an intricate and nefarious cast of characters.

Let's start with Ramon. Ramon is a human trafficker. In his truck, he smuggles Mexican immigrants into the United States. What does he plan to do with them? He's going to sell them to Stretch Henderson.

The immigrants face horrible conditions on their journey. Ryga writes about the compartment floor "glistening with urine and human vomit."

These conditions give us a hint of the abuse, violence, and terrifying treatment that is in store for the immigrants.

Ramon's own truck driver, Tomas, doesn't think highly of him. Tomas can't read, he can’t count money, but he wants to kill Ramon.

Juan is one of the immigrants in the truck. Juan is a criminal who escaped from a 12-year jail sentence. Through a flashback, we learn that Juan once tried to hold up a bus. He was so incompetent that the bus driver had to advise him on to better rob the passengers. We also find out that Juan’s mom has died recently.

Anastasio is also in the truck. In Mexico, Anastasio was a priest. He also visited the parts of Mexico that were populated by prostitutes. Anastasio is defrocked.

Speaking of prostitutes, there's also Antonia. She was a "puta" or a prostitute, but now she's a seamstress.

There's also Maria. She works for a lawyer who abuses her.

At Henderson's farm, the immigrants are not paid and they are locked up like prisoners at night. The suffering and hardship builds up to something of a shootout, but we don't want to ruin the ending for you, so we'll let you find out what happens to these struggling characters.