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Fiction. Western. Thriller. Historical Fiction. Cattlemen ride alone across the open range under the deadly aim of roving desperadoes. . . . Gamblers stake their fortunes and their lives on a deck of cards. . . . Strong-willed señoritas seek independence through an enticing combination of beauty, audacity, and spirit. . . . Lawmen and outlaws walk the same dusty streets and speak a common language: Colt, Winchester, Smith & Wesson. Gritty, tough, and unflinchingly authentic, here is the West as it really was: a land where for every friend there is an enemy, for every handshake a fist, for every dispute a resolution�??usually in an explosive showdown of blood and bullets. In these remarkable tales, Louis L'Amour�??like the very heroes he depicts�??blazes a trail across the American frontier and takes us on an unforgettable journey into the heart of our wester… (more)
User reviews
As usual, these are entertaining stories, with believable characters, and definitely worth a read. Recommended.
The included stories are: We Shaped the Land with Our Guns • West of the Pilot Range • When a Texan Takes
I think 'Medicine Ground' was the only story I didn't care for. It features 'The Cactus Kid' who is apparently a recurring character in some of L'Amour's short stories. The initial tone of the story was different than the others. L'Amour is telling the tale with a sort of snarky humor (presumably the Cactus Kid's worldview) and there are a few funny lines but the story suffered for it. Other readers may love that one.
All of these stories are great on the descriptions of the landscape and setting, which I can say is L'Amour's real strength. I'm sure anyone who likes L'Amour would enjoy this collection.
I think most or all of these stories appeared in a variety of Western magazines in the 1940's and 1950's (Read in 2019)
When he catches a butcher with the hides from three of his Uncle's cattle, he demands the butcher pay for them and beats him to a pulp when the butcher refuses. The crew quickly realize the nephew can take care of himself.
In "Gila Crossing", a ranger is sent out to prevent a range war.