Edward Abbey's Fire on the Mountain is a fierce, elegiac novel about an elderly rancher's defiant stand against the U.S. government's attempt to seize his land for a military missile range. Set in the New Mexico desert, the story becomes a meditation on freedom, the American West, and the cost of progress. Abbey writes with his characteristic passion for wild places and contempt for institutional power, creating a tale of resistance that feels both timeless and urgent.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Abbey understood that some fights are worth losing if it means refusing to surrender what matters most. This novel captures the spirit of the American West not as mythology but as lived reality, where independence isn't romantic but necessary. It's a love letter to stubborn dignity and the landscapes that shape us.

DETAILS: • Author: Edward Abbey • Publisher: Harper Perennial • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: October 9, 2012 • ISBN: 9780062193902 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days