Buffalo Wagons [Mass Market Paperback]

Elmer Kelton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1997

For Gage Jameson, the summer of 1873 has been a poor hunt. A year ago he felled sixty-two buffalo in one stand, but now the great Arkansas River herd is gone, like the Republican herd before it.

In Dodge City, old hide hunters speak is awe of a last great heard to the south--but no hunter who values his scalp dares ride south of the Cimarron and into Comanche territory. None but Gage Jameson....

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Elmer Kelton is an authentic American voice."--John Jakes

About the Author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was the award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years, and served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books (November 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812551206
• ISBN-13: 978-0812551204
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elmer Kelton of San Angelo, Texas is a native Texan and author of over 50 Western novels. He has won many awards for his work and has been recognized as the Greatest Western Writer of all time by the Western Writers of America, Inc. He is the author of Forge's Texas Ranger series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks, Kindra!, December 2, 2000

By 

D. McDiffett "iteachlit" (Salina, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buffalo Wagons (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not normally a lover of Westerns, but I have Mr. Kelton's granddaughter in a class I teach and she talked a lot about her author grandfather, so I finally gave in and purchased a copy of one of his books. I guess I owe the granddaughter a big "Thank you," as "Buffalo Wagons" is terrific! Gage Jameson is an unusually well-rounded character for the genre. A veteran buffalo hunter, he has seen the northern herd wiped out. While he mourns the loss of the old ways, he also acknowledges his own role in that loss. Furthermore, even as he heads south into Comanche country, he agonizes that he is contributing to more destruction of the world he loves. This does not stop him, though, for buffalo hunting is all he knows. The antagonists include the Comanches desperate to save their way of life, although they are certainly not romanticized, and some of the white men Jameson trusts to travel south with him. Kelton's vivid descriptions of the llano estacado take the reader to that inhospitable land, with all of its beauty and danger. The plot contains enough twists--always credible and logical--to keep the most particular reader satisfied. I am eager to read more of Kelton's Westerns and am highly recommending them to my students and friends.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buffalo Wagons keeps your interest!, December 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Buffalo Wagons (Mass Market Paperback)

Buffalo Wagons had a grabbing attention getter in the first chapter. It had a GREAT plot and I felt involved with the characters quickly. The story had substance. I read the last four chapters by candlelight because our lights went out and I couldn't wait to read more! This is the first Elmer Kelton book I have read, but I guarantee, I will find more of his books.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Kelton, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Buffalo Wagons (Mass Market Paperback)

I couldn't believe when I opened this up that no one else had reviewed the book! You folks are missing out. This is the book that introduced me to Elmer Kelton, which is perhaps why it's my favorite. But everything about it is SO GOOD. The guns, the buffalo hunting, the Indians, the characters. Kelton is supreme. He is far better than Louis L'AMour in his authenticity and believablility, and everyone ought to see that in this book. The only writer I know of who is neck and neck with Kelton is Kirby Jonas, whom critics call the New Louis L'Amour. That's actually a disservice though, because he's far better. He rounds out his characters. Between Kelton and Jonas, the western field is filled!