WESTERN HISTORY REFERENCE BOOKS (POST #1)

Because this blog has caught the eye of several Western Writers – and also due to the fact that a question was posed recently on the Western Readers Facebook Page to which I’m privileged to belong – I’ve decided that I’m going to post (over a period of time) covers of my favorite reference books as a guide to those who are seeking factual data on the Old West.  Sorry, my books are not for sale.

I do not claim to have a humongous library of them, but I do have an impressive (to me, anyway!) collection and am only too happy to share them here with you so that you’ll have an idea of what to look for. 

Let me say from the outset here that I do NOT recommend the Time-Life series “The Old West”.  Don’t get me wrong, the books are beautiful, wonderfully packaged and include hundreds of priceless photos; for those reasons they are great to have, but please do not trust (or use) a lot of what you read there.

Some of these reference books are long out of print, so if you want them you’ll have to check Amazon, etc., or even your local libraries. 

I hope this will be of help to those needing it.  Best of luck, amigos and amigas!

From Great Britain. 

James D. Horan's Classic Bit of Gunfighter History.

The first one in the series that I found - and one that has been invaluable to me.

This helped me immensely when I wrote my piece on "Uncle" Bill Tilghman.

Leon Claire Metz - I just about have to genuflect when I say his name.  This is an autographed copy!

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.

FANCY HATCH #4: THE ODDS AGAINST SUNDOWN

And with this, the fourth book in the series, Fancy Hatch herself rode off into the sunset. 

Zachary Hawkes was Alan Riefe. 

BLOODY SEASON

From the mighty typewriter of Loren D. Estleman.

This is the best book I’ve ever read concerning the events surrounding and leading up to the Gunfight at the OK Corral.  Never knew that Doc Holliday suffered from constipation after the occurrence at the Corral.  If I’d had Ike Clanton and his boys shooting at me, I’m pretty sure I would have been just the opposite of constipated.

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.

BLOOD, SWEAT & GOLD

One of the early books in the Raider and Doc series, published by Playboy Press. 

Don’t remember too much about this one, really, since I initially read it nearly 30 years ago.  I do recall, though, that it’s pretty randy and that it came (ahem) during the heyday of the so-called “Adult Western”.

I believe the late Alan Riefe wrote this one.  He created the series for Playboy and wrote the first several books.