Paul Horgan's fiction often intertwines the vivid landscapes of the American Southwest with the deep introspection of his characters. His narratives are marked by a lyrical style that invites readers to connect intimately with his protagonists. At the core, Horgan's works explore the universal quest for self-understanding, revealing how individuals confront their identities and histories.

Exploration of Self in Unexpected Circumstances

In his novels, Horgan frequently employs two primary narrative strategies. The first involves characters who must face unexpected events that disrupt their daily lives, compelling them to redefine their identities and realities. Far from Cibola and A Distant Trumpet exemplify this approach, inviting readers to witness characters grappling with unforeseen challenges.

Far from Cibola
In Far from Cibola, a small New Mexico town during the Great Depression becomes the setting where a dozen characters experience a day of tension and revelation. A protest against poor economic conditions ends tragically when a sheriff's warning shot accidentally kills a teenager, shattering the community's fragile equilibrium. This incident forces the town's inhabitants to confront harsh realities, and their responses reveal their true characters.

The novel opens with Ellen Rood, whose serene morning is disrupted by the threat of a rattlesnake, symbolizing the sudden intrusion of danger and truth. This scene sets the stage for the entire book, where characters must face their own rattlesnakes—metaphorical or real—and acknowledge the sometimes harsh truths of their existence.

A Distant Trumpet
A Distant Trumpet, set in the Arizona Territory during the 1880s, also explores self-discovery against a backdrop of historical and personal challenges. The narrative follows Matthew Hazard, a young Army lieutenant, and Joe Dummy, an Apache scout, as they navigate the complexities of peacemaking with a rebellious band of American Indians. The novel poignantly highlights the necessity of self-knowledge and the tragedy that ensues when individuals ignore the darker aspects of their identities.

Horgan uses flashbacks to provide historical depth, contrasting the present with the past to reveal characters' complexities. Matthew's journey is one of acknowledging both the noble and ignoble aspects of his lineage, drawing parallels between personal identity and broader societal conflicts.

Conscious Search for Identity

Horgan's second narrative technique involves characters deliberately embarking on introspective journeys to uncover truths about themselves. Things as They Are and Whitewater focus on protagonists who actively seek to understand their pasts to navigate their futures.

Things as They Are
Things as They Are presents a bildungsroman of Richard, a writer reflecting on his childhood to make sense of his adult life. Through this retrospective lens, Richard revisits familial tensions and formative experiences, such as a family member's suicide and the influence of a domineering grandfather. The novel intricately balances the depiction of these conflicts with the adult Richard's attempts to derive meaning, illustrating the complexity of understanding one's origins and identity.

Whitewater
Similarly, Whitewater is a narrative of growth and retrospection. Through the eyes of Phillipson Durham, Horgan explores the protagonist's senior year in high school and the subsequent impact of those events. Phillipson's journey is less conclusive than Richard's, but it underscores the ongoing nature of self-discovery.

Central to Whitewater are the metaphoric images of Lake Whitewater, Victoria Cochran's house, and the town's water tower, each symbolizing different facets of Phillipson's quest for self-awareness. The submerged town beneath the lake represents forgotten memories waiting to be rediscovered, while Cochran's home serves as an intellectual refuge. Conversely, the water tower embodies impulsive behavior and its consequences, as seen in the tragic death of a classmate, reinforcing the need for balance between emotion and understanding.

Thematic Consistency and Narrative Techniques

Horgan's novels consistently emphasize the pursuit of self-knowledge, whether through confronting unexpected events or through intentional introspection. His characters' journeys are marked by a steadfast commitment to uncovering truth, regardless of the emotional or existential cost. This quest for personal authenticity resonates throughout his works, challenging readers to reflect on their own lives and the truths hidden within.

Through his intricate narratives and keen character development, Horgan invites readers to partake in an enduring exploration of identity. His fiction serves as a reminder of the complexities of self-discovery and the transformative power of understanding one's place in the world.