L'Amour has not written of the Traven family again, although, as mentioned before, his Sackett novels are very similar. Similar character types and plot elements can also be found in other L'Amour novels. The sweet little girl figure (Susan Atherton in The Shadow Riders) also appears in Down the Long Hills (1968). L'Amour has used semi-retired pirates like Martin Connery in The Shadow Riders twice before, in Lando (1962) and The Sackett Brand (1965). The pathos L'Amour tries to create with the Travens finding their loyal family dog butchered when they return home after the war plays on the same emotions he tried to create in Hondo when Hondo's dog is slaughtered while trying to protect him.