THE BROTHERS O'BRIEN

Here's one I found over the Lincoln's Birthday weekend.  Had no idea this one was coming, so it was a nice surprise to come across.

Looking for this one to make bestseller lists, too.

THE LONER: INFERNO

The 11th - and newest - novel in THE LONER series by J. A. Johnstone.  Pinnacle continues to do some massively attractive cover art for these books.  Long may these books continue to be popular. 

SLAUGHTER CANYON

Never get tired of finding new Compton books on the stands.  Wish Ralph was still here to enjoy his success. 

THE FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN: PREACHER'S FURY

Congratulations to J.A. Johnstone, who recently posted on Facebook that this book has made its way onto the New York Times Bestseller List in the last week.   Good to see that the Western Novel has made a BIG comeback!

COTTON'S LAW

Once I actually get to sit down and read this book, it will be my first experience with a Phil Dunlap novel. 

Nice artwork on the cover caught my eye, but the endorsement on the front from Larry D. Sweazy was the clincher for me to fork over the cost of the book.  Larry writes the Josiah Wolfe series, of which I’m an uber-fan, so if he says COTTON’S LAW is good, that’s good enough for me. 

THE LAST RIDE OF JED STRANGE

The newest Western novel from Frank Leslie (aka Peter Brandvold) to hit bookshelves.  Found this one at, of all places, a grocery store.

ASSAULT OF THE MOUNTAIN MAN

The newest book in the Mountain Man saga.  Gotta take my hat off to J.A. Johnstone for keeping Bill Johnstone's legacy alive and well. 

This will be my first real look into the world of the Mountain Man series - does anyone who reads this series think that it's ok to start with this one?  Please either comment or leave me an e-mail.  Thanks!

And thanks especially to J.A. for sending this and autographing it for me!

RIDERS OF JUDGMENT

Another new Western by "The Two Ralphs" - Ralph Cotton writing as the late Ralph Compton.  Always a pleasure to find a book by either of them on the stands. 



THE GHOST OF APACHE CREEK

I use the word “legacy” a lot in some of my write-ups here on Saddletramp Swami.  I don’t, however, feel that I’m overusing it at all.

The legacy (ahem!) of Ralph Compton continues on with new novels, written in his name, by writers who have also made names for themselves in the field of Western literature. 

Joseph A. West does the honors here for THE GHOST OF APACHE CREEK.  The storyline appears to be that of a possibly mentally ill Town Marshal, Sam Pace, who keeps the peace (so to speak) in a town that only he lives in. 

It is Sam’s contention that actual people, instead of the ghosts he sees in his mind, will return and bring the town, Requiem, to life again.  A woman on the run and in fear for her life actually DOES show up in Requiem and Sam must bring his gunfighter skills back to the fore in order to protect her. 

THE LONER #11: CROSSFIRE

The newest chapter in the sage of "The Loner".

This one looks to have Conrad Browning (Kid Morgan) reuniting with his father, legendary gunfighter Frank Morgan.

The common purpose: rescuing Kid Morgan's young twins from a San Francisco crime lord who has "adopted" the children.

Have to discipline myself not to dive into this one right away because I've not read them all up to this point.  J.A. has informed me previously that it's a good idea to read them in order. 

A big thanks to J.A. Johnstone for sending this one along. 

NED CHRISTIE'S WAR

Another masterpiece by the great Robert Conley.  It’s easy to see why he’s one of the most beloved and respected of our Western writers these days.  Long may he word process!

EDGE #41: THE KILLING CLAIM

Edge inherits custody of a canine who prefers the taste of human flesh to anything else.  Guess they didn’t have cans of “Cycle 4” out on the range then.

TRAIL OF LOST SKULLS

Anyone looking to learn Western writing from a master would do well to read Nelson Nye.  Start with this book, or any of ‘em really.  He’s that good.

LONGARM AND THE OUTLAW LAWMAN

After a while some of these storylines ran together in my jumbled mind, but hey, check out that cover art!

THE SKELETON RIDERS

Don’t have a clue where this came from; it was just in a stack of books in my basement.  Never heard of Jackson Cole (if he’s a real person) before, so I presume that this must have been a “hand-me-down” book of some sort. 

BLOOD STORM

For a while, before the old Pinnacle Books went under, Matt Braun was their top selling Western Writer. 

BLOOD STORM came out with a blitz of publicity that Pinnacle didn’t usually do.  They packaged this book (and the ones which came after) very nicely. 

Matt is still out there and writing some excellent stories. 

Pinnacle Books re-grouped and came back with a vengeance and brought us such talents as Johnny D. Boggs and J. A. Johnstone.  It’s good to see that Westerns have returned to favor now.  Years from now, this will be considered another “Golden Age” when it comes to the Western.  Feel privileged to have seen it happen. 

THE SUDDEN GUN

Richard “Dick” House was a mentor and dear friend from the time I met him in the Summer of 1984. 

In addition to being a helluva writer and storyteller, he took a neophyte writer such as myself under his wing and taught me an appreciation for living and life that my-then 23 year old eyes hadn’t really seen before. 

His kindness was without boundaries and so I was delighted when his books really started taking off.  THE SUDDEN GUN is representative of Dick’s best work.  I just wish he was still with us so that I could tell him one more time how much he meant to me.  At least his work lives on in print now.  No man could ask for a better epitaph.

THE BODACIOUS KID

Haven’t actually gotten to read this one yet, but I’ve heard good things about Stan Lynde. 

HANGTOWN

Another story of living by the gun but dying by the rope. 

BAR-20 DAYS

Ever since I started reading Westerns in my late teens, I’ve been interested in just where it was they came from.  How did they start as a publishing phenomenon and how far were we removed from the time they first appeared?  Well, it didn’t start with fellows like Clarence Mulford, but he was among those who “shepherded” these stories into what would become the litmus test for Westerns of the 1950’s on up. 

Think I’ve only read two of the Hopalong books; one by Mulford, the other by Louis L’Amour.  Here we have one of several that I picked up somewhere along the way.  When I read that Richard Wheeler was a Mulford fan, I knew I should be picking these up when and wherever I found them.  Good thing I did!