The Bag (the unofficial Warriors sequel)

[Harley]

I thought it would only be fitting if The Bag was included in this section as well since it continues the story for a handful of characters from The Warriors.  I've gathered some of my posts from other topics about The Bag explaining plot and characters.  If you can take it, cause it is an involved read, check out The Bag and tell us what you think.

The Bag only has Hector (Swan/Rembrant) his family and the character who is Cyrus surviving his gunshot wounds.  It focuses more on the welfare system and how screwed up it is, it's told through a case worker who wants to be a writer and escape his desk job at the welfare office and he has to deal with Hector's mom and all her kids.  Hector got out of the gang and became an artist and Cyrus's character works for a scummy landlord.  Don't expect any gang warfare or action in this book it deals more with how the characters react to the rotten conditions they live in.  I read it not knowing it was a semi sequel to the Warriors and thought it was a good read for the charaters, I'd recommend going to the library for it if they have it.  I found my copy by chance in a used book store with a note on the inside saying that it was out of print.  If you want more Warriors I don't really recommend it then, go for the Outsiders or another gang related book.

I also came across Sol Yurick's "The Bag" and it's a semi sequel to the warriors.  But don't get to excited it's mostly about how screwed up the welfare system is in New York told through a case worker.  It does have Hinton (the character that is the basis for Swan/Rembrant in the movie) in it after he leaves the Dominators and talks about his family, particularily his mom.  And it tells about what happens to Ismael (Cyrus), yes he lives but that's all I'll say.  The most exciting part is when a neighbourhood class war breaks out at the end, but it's an anti-climatic ending.

I've actually read it a couple of times through now, it's a pretty long read just to warn you.  This time around Yurick focusses on the welfare system, not youth violence and gangs.  The story focusses around Hinton's mom Minnie and her kids, the case worker that has to review her file, Hinton and his career as an artist and his relationship with his flakey wife and his junkie brother.  There is also plots involving a sleezy landlord trying to buy up a whole section of town where Minnie lives, a grassroots organization that is trying to stop him, and Ismael's (Cyrus' character who survived from the first novel) new plan for complete anarchy this time.  Where the Warriors used the meeting to showcase gang violence, this book uses a group of people to show how the welfare system is corrupt and does not work, and how politicians and investors use the poor to further their careers and bank accounts.  It's not that exciting but it more to make you think about how you view the poor and how easy it is for people to sell out to get ahead, very focused on the time period of the 60's.  If your not big on reading I would say skip it cause it could get boring really fast for you, but if you want to find out about what happened to Hinton and his family it goes into some depth about that.  A semi-sequel to the Warriors, but not an action packed story.

[Orphen]

Nice find 

[ohs]

Oh how I wish this book had more about Ismael, the little bit that the book does have of him is pretty sweet.  Then theres this one part that I seem to remember most is when a certain someone makes love to another certain someone and boy is it    but as a whole this book is alot of zzzzz.  Thanks for tellin me about it a while back Harley 

[Harley]

I'm with you Ohs, there are some pretty sweet parts in the book, but you really have to dig for them.  It was really good to read through the parts of how Hinton broke away from the Family and his foster parents encouraged his talent for art.  And after I reread the Warriors I found a part where Hinton's looking at the prom couples in the subway, especially the blond girl and thinking if he had a girl like that it would give him alot of ambition to succeed.  That explains why he's so devoted to his bitch blond caucasian wife in the Bag. 

[Jake_100]

Sounds like a very good book, does it talk about the other boys in the gang?

[acs4life01]

dude, where can i get a copy of that book?

[Harley]

Well The Bag is offically out of print, I picked up my copy at a used book store while trying to track down an older copy of The Warriors.  You'll have to try eBay or Amazon cause I don't think Yurick's work is in that high of demand nowadays.

[Lion]

I am gonna have to look for this book, great find Har'.

[Ranchgal]

I got mine from Amazon.com

[Jake_100]

Amazon delivered this quicker to me then they delived the Warriors. The warriors took like 5 months the Bag came within 3 weeks

[Cochise]

A deserved topic, I must say.  You probably don't remember me Harley (doubt that anyone does), but I talked to you about this and The Warriors book before there was a board for it.  Even though The Bag isn't the most interesting read, I'm glad to see other people become aware of it.

[MiddleMan07]

A deserved topic, I must say.  You probably don't remember me Harley (doubt that anyone does), but I talked to you about this and The Warriors book before there was a board for it.  Even though The Bag isn't the most interesting read, I'm glad to see other people become aware of it.

Welcome back Cochise! Its always nice to see old members return

[Cochise]

Ah, thank you.  It's very kind of you.

[cobb]

heh I wish I could get my hands on that book

[Honey Lips Soldier]

It is a long read, isnt it? Im not getting through it very fast - actually Im not getting through it at all at the moment lol. Nice to see that Hinton is an honest lad now though.
xox