Customer Reviews

A Bullet for Billy the Kid: A Western Trio (Five Star First Edition Western)

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In the years following the death of five-time Spur winner Will Henry, author-editor Jon Tuska collected and published Henry's Western short stories and novellas that had appeared in magazines. These were republished as part of the 'Five Star Westerns' series, titles including FRONTIER FURY, BLIND CANON and LEGEND OF SOTOJU MOUNTAIN. In his affectionate foreword to this book, Tuska notes that A BULLET FOR BILLY THE KID "marks the end of the trail" for Henry material. Given how much I disliked A BULLET FOR BILLY THE KID, I can't say I'm sad about the end of this particular trail.

A BULLET FOR BILLY THE KID contains three novellas: 'The Fourth Horseman,' 'Santa Fe Passage' and 'A Bullet for Billy the Kid.' The stories were originally published in 1954, 1952 and 1966 respectively.

The first story - 'The Fourth Horseman' - is probably one of the bleakest westerns I have ever read. Weary gunman Frank Rachel rides into Peaceful Basin, desperately seeking friendship that has eluded him over the years. He finds a friend, then apparently loses him, finds love, only to have her run away, they're reunited but she dies, etc., etc. All that is intertwined in a range war Rachel gets reluctantly involved in.

In 'Santa Fe Passage,' mountainman Kirby Randolph, freshly arrived in St. Louis, is almost run over by a red-haired, green-eyed spitfire. Before you can say "suspension of disbelief," Kirby runs to her mansion, leaps the stockade wall, grabs her as she's alighting from her carriage, kisses her, is shot by her and almost knifed by her Indian handmaiden before hastily running off. The spitfire is sent packing by her daddy and - wouldn't you know it! - Kirby is hired as scout for the wagon train she's on and the (mis)adventures continue.

I read 'A Bullet for Billy the Kid' first. I shouldn't have; I hated it! The story mixes the Kid's story with supernatural mumbo-jumbo. In it, a 'Pale Rider' spirit/ghost/demon named Asaph weaves his wicked way throughout the Kid's life from birth to death, consistently helping him choose the wrong path. Then, after helping ensured the Kid's doomed, Asaph washes his hands by stating "Men are born to be bad...(and that)...neither saints nor sinners are made by good or bad advice." For Pete's sake, he's been influencing the Kid since Day One and now Henry has him spouting that clap-trap!

All things considered, A BULLET FOR BILLY THE KID is lucky to get two stars from me. If you're a Will Henry fan though, give it a try; I may be way off base...but I don't think so. Not recommended.