Abel, a young Native American man, returns to his ancestral home in New Mexico following service in World War II, only to find himself alienated from both his traditional culture and the encroaching modern world. Struggling to reconcile the rhythmic, land-based existence of his heritage with the alienating demands of post-war American society, Abel falls into a cycle of violence and self-destruction. The narrative employs a non-linear structure, shifting between different perspectives and temporal planes to mirror the fragmentation of the protagonist's identity. As he navigates the physical and psychological boundaries of his environment, Abel must confront the weight of history and the challenge of cultural survival.

Discussion often centers on the novel's complex structure and its profound influence on the development of contemporary Native American literature. Readers frequently highlight the lyrical quality of the prose, which effectively captures the stark beauty of the New Mexico landscape. Critics often examine the protagonist's internal conflict as a representation of the broader struggle for cultural preservation in the face of assimilation. The work is widely recognized for its departure from traditional Western storytelling, favoring a rhythmic, circular approach that mirrors the themes of the narrative. Many readers find the atmospheric depth and the exploration of spiritual alienation to be the most compelling aspects of the reading experience.