JONAH HEX #17

A LONE STAR CHRISTMAS

The Holiday Season for 2011 started early for me when I found this little goodie in my mailbox recently.

A LONE STAR CHRISTMAS brings together, for the first time in a holiday-themed novel,  characters from William W. Johstone’s/J. A. Johnstone’s different Western series. 

Those of us who love and read Western novels are very grateful that Jo picked up the Johnstone banner and continued writing the books that Uncle Bill would have done had his time here on Earth been longer.  He would’ve been proud to see the name go on; I can think of no finer legacy than that.

This one looks to be especially fun because of the cross-over effect from a couple of the major Johnstone series.  Maybe next Christmas we’ll get another novel of this type which will include Kid Morgan, the lead character from Jo’s series, THE LONER.  We can only hope….

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 LEGENDARY JACK SCHAEFER

When discussions, either verbally or online, come around to the subject of great Western literature, the book you see here now is always talked about.  I understand that in some schools, SHANE is – or was – considered required reading.  Not in my own schools, so I didn’t get around to this one until the early 1980s. 

It goes without saying that the movie version struck a chord with people, too; it helped immortalize Alan Ladd and, to as great a degree, Jack Palance. 

I had the great pleasure of meeting Jack Schaefer in 1986.  He was in Dallas/Fort Worth that year to address the WWA convention.  I do not recall if he was awarded anything or not, but he did spend some time with a group of us (see photo below) afterwards.



(From left to right: Loren D. Estleman, Jack Schaefer, Jory Sherman and some inconsequential nudnik named Mike Madonna.  Summer, 1986)

Mr. Schaefer was very kind and personable and, as I interpret it now, a bit mystified as to why we were all making such a fuss over him.  He didn’t let on if he understood that we all felt we were in the presence of greatness.  He signed the above copy of SHANE for me as well as A COMPANY OF COWARDS. 

Unfortunately I did not have a copy of MONTE WALSH at the time, or I would have asked him to autograph it as well. 

It was a proud moment in my life and one that will stay with me for however many days I have left. 

THE GHOST DANCERS

Meeting Gordon D. Shirreffs at the 1984 Western Writers of America Convention in Branson, Missouri, was a highlight in my young, then 23 year-old life. 

Gordon, along with several Western Writing Old-Timers (I call them that with only the greatest respect and admiration), appeared to have gotten a kick from some fresh-faced kid asking them to regale him with stories about their books and stories. 

It was at the book signing sale table that I found Gordon had two novels in a single volume (Signet books did a lot of those “doubles” back in that time period), one of the stories being “Last Train From Gun Hill”.  He saw my eyes light up as I spotted the book and started to explain that the movie was not based on his book, but rather the opposite.  Didn’t really matter – I was fascinated anyway because I was a fan of the Kirk Douglas/Anthony Quinn movie. 

I, of course, got the book, had it signed, and will one day post the cover here so that you can see it.

Other great things about Gordon: his lovely wife, Alice and his son, Brian.  Oh, and the fact that he told me that he lived near enough to Clint Eastwood that they occasionally played tennis together. 

Gordon’s not with us any longer, but he certainly made several wonderful memories for this now-not-so-young kid. 

Rest easy, Gordy.   

THE WISTER TRACE

Loren Estleman’s masterful study of “The Virginian” and influence it had on Western novels to follow.

SLOCUM'S CODE

The cover art was still good and the storylines were better when this, book #28, came out in the Slocum series.