I haven't read too many Westerns in recent years, but regular posts by Prashant at Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema has me wanting to re-visit the genre.Most of my recent reads in this genre have been limited to early Elmore Leonard books. Leonard cut his teeth writing Westerns before the leap to more mainstream crime. I happen to view Westerns as crime fiction anyway, just with a different back-drop.
One of the most famous authors within the Western field is Louis L'Amour. L'Amour wrote over 100 books in the genre, approximately 90 novels and over a dozen short story collections before his death at the age of 80 in 1988.
I don't anticipate reading too many of these, but I can squeeze in at least a couple. Other than being aware of his name and noticing his prolific output which with JT Edson and Zane Grey seem to dominate the Western section of my local library, I don't really know if they are highly regarded or not. A quick google search reveals some minor criticism that his books are formulaic.........handsome dude on a ranch, vanquishes bad guys and marries the gal - the end...... but with over 320 million copies of his work sold, they must have some merit.
My two were picked up cheaply at a second hand book stall for less than a cup of coffee, so we'll so which offers most satisfaction.
Taggart
His name was Taggart and he rode with a price on his head
through the bloodred canyons of Apache country. Behind him was a ruthless
bounty hunter-the deadliest lawman in the West. In front of him was a fortune
in gold-and a pretty young woman hell-bent on carrying that fortune to safety.
Suddenly Taggart was faced with a choice. He could either keep riding and leave
the stubborn lady to fate and the Apaches. Or he could stay and help her make
it out alive. But for a man like Taggart the answer was simple. He would stay.
Even if it meant cutting off his own escape-even if it meant doubling his
chance of death.
The Tall Stranger
Rock Bannon rode a steel-dust stallion that was as stubborn
and leather-tough as he was. Scouting for a wagon train full of high hopes,
Rock saved the Eastern-bred settlers from a brutal Indian attack. But they paid
him back with scorn when he advised against following a fast-talker named
Morton Harper. Rock Bannon followed no man, so he left the settlers to their
promised milk and honey-until they realized their mistake and had no one else
to turn to. That's when Rock showed them what a real man was made of, and, with
a smoking rifle, fought to put down Harper's outlaw crew and to make peace in
the virgin land that he called his home.
Col - L-Amour was definitely one of the best known authors of westerns. And he was prolific enough that one's likely to find at least one or two to enjoy. I hope you like these.
ReplyDeleteMargot - thanks. Happy 4th of July by the way!
DeleteI went through a short phase of reading westerns a long time ago, and Louis L'Amour was one of the ones I sampled, along with the other two you mention, Zane Grey and JT Edson. (Does no-one else write them??? Prashant will know.) I think they were fine in the genre. However, it is (most unfairly) hard to take a book seriously if it's called Taggart and not about gritty Scottish policemen.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to find a Taggart novelisation book to do a comparison with. I have a Hazell or two and some Crackers, so why not?
DeleteI did like the TV series, but only really while Mark McManus starred. It just didn't feel the same after his departure.
I agree that Prashant has gotten me interested in Westerns, but I think I would try some by Pronzini, or Elmore Leonard, or Loren D. Estleman.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll have to try one by Pronzini - thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten he writes Westerns.
DeleteCol, thank you for mentioning my name and blog. I appreciate it as much as I do the kind words from Moira and Tracy. Truth is I read westerns only as a fan of the genre. I'm no expert on western fiction. In fact, I discovered a lot of modern and early western authors after I started blogging a few years ago, thanks to other bloggers, the real experts in this field.
ReplyDeleteAmong the writers mentioned in your post and comments, I've read Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, J.T. Edson, and Loren D. Estleman, but guiltily, not Bill Pronzini and Elmore Leonard as yet. FLINT and HONDO are just two of my favourite westerns by L'Amour. Incidentally, I haven't read TAGGART and THE TALL STRANGER. Estleman is a terrific writer and I recommend his novels.
In terms of my all-time favourite western author, it has always been the late British writer Oliver Strange who wrote ten novels about his hero Sudden alias James Green, the Texas outlaw, without once crossing the Atlantic. Later, five more in the series were penned by fellow writer Frederick H. Christian (real name: Frederick Nolan). The Corgi editions of all these books are hard to find today.
For me, Oliver Strange is to westerns, what Jack Higgins is to espionage/thriller.
Prashant you're being too modest!
DeleteI'll look up Oliver Strange and see if I can find something from your favourite series.
I bet you won't be disappointed with Sudden.
DeleteI'll let you know if I find something affordable!
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