This was Doctorow's first novel and I liked it a lot. A movie was made from it — I have not seen it and Doctorow himself I am given to understand was not happy with the film (as is not unusual with authors — often they are completely excluded from even being on set I have heard).
I would say it is a western of the same type as Little Big Man and some others, the old west (although in those days apparently the Dakota territory was considered the west) viewed through modern eyes.
Slim novel, interested in opinions.
I suspect a new movie will be made from it in the near future — I think it deserves a version ELD would have liked although we'll never know.
by relesabe