Apparently, David Milch hadn’t read Dexter’s Deadwood before penning the TV series. While readers of the novel have doubted the claim, I’m happy to take Milch at his word.* The story of Deadwood, an illegal town built on Lakota lands in South Dakota, is rich with story-telling potential, not least of which because it’s the place where Wild Bill Hickok was assassinated. Then there are the larger-than-life characters like Charlie Utter, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, his business partner Solomon Star, and, of course, Al Swearingen. That Dexter and Milch were independently drawn to the location should, therefore, come as no surprise.**

But where Milch focused on Bullock and the aptly named Swearingen, Dexter’s interest lies with the neat and meticulous Charlie Utter, Wild Bill’s best friend (the Charlie Utter of the TV series is the opposite, shabby and uncouth). He’s a noble, deeply flawed character aware of his many imperfections. His friendship with Hickok is as intimate as you can get without sex (but with bouts of “rassling”, they like throwing each other around). The impact of Hickok’s death has a profound effect on Charlie, one that fuels the novel’s second half (Utter wasn’t present when Bill was shot, a regret and guilt he can’t shrug).

Dexter’s prose captures the uncivil rawness of the Wild West. The language is not friendly to Chinese people or the disabled or, for that matter, women (most of whom are prostitutes). Nor does Dexter give a voice to Native Americans, kept off stage as a dark menace prone to killing innocent women and children. (The only time we see a Native American is their severed head). Dexter’s lack of interest in critiquing the views of the time may offend. Still, there’s a gritty authenticity to it all, an authenticity that sometimes tends toward parody, especially the many, many times Charlie or one of the other men refer to their peeders.

I loved this novel. I loved its rough edges. I loved its candid view of humanity. It’s a novel about friendship, regret and lust. It deserves to be as well known as the TV series that shares its name.

*Dexter’s novel was adapted not by Milch but by Walter Hill as the movie Wild Bill (which I have not seen). 

** A shout-out to the musical Calamity Jane, also set in Deadwood.