A Century of Great Western Stories-An Anthology of Western Fiction [Paperback]

John Jakes (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2001

John Jakes, #1 New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical novels as North and South and The Kent Family Chronicles has long been both a fan and a distinguished author of novels and stories of the American West. Now, with the turning of the millennium, he has compiled in one volume a century's worth of his favorite Western fiction.

To illustrate the evolution of the genre, Jakes has included such legendary authors as Owen Wister, Louis L'Amour, and Zane Grey along side their more contemporary peers such as Loren Estleman and Elmer Kelton. While the stories have changed over the years, certain timeless themes of Western fiction remain constant. At the heart of the stories are ideas that have become synonymous with the American dream---the frontier spirit, individual freedoms, and man's relationship with the land.

A Century of Great Western Stories is essentially a retrospective of western writing over the past century, but Jakes also sets out to give readers a glimpse of what the future might hold for western fiction. While trends in publishing might not always be promising, the current crop of contemporary Western authors show that the old west will always have a place in the world of fiction. Like the American dream which it celebrates, Western fiction will perservere.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although most outlets for the western short story vanished with pulp magazines, where the westerns were "10% myth and 90% horse apple," there remains great nostalgic interest in this literary Americana. Jakes, the prolific bestselling author of historical sagas like North and South and the Kent Family Chronicles series, and an avid fan of the true western, has put together a superb anthology of 30 western short fictions written in the last 100 years, including pieces by such earlier well-known writers as Owen Wister, Zane Grey, Max Brand and Luke Short, as well as contributions from modern-day authors like Bill Pronzini, Brian Garfield and Elmer Kelton. Though each story is unique in style and delivery, all reflect the color and adventure of the Old West. John M. Cunningham's "The Tin Star" (1947) became the classic western film High Noon, but this short narrative has a different message and ending. Ernest Haycox's "Stage to Lordsburg" (1937) served as the basis for director John Ford's legendary movie Stagecoach; the story's cowboy hero collects a debt with drama that rivals any John Wayne could muster. Also among the best are Jack Schaefer's "Sergeant Houck" (1951), a touching and romantic tale of a cavalryman's compassion in the face of hate and prejudice, and Marcia Muller's "Sweet Cactus Wine" (1982), in which a woman's revenge is the sweetest draft of all. Romance, murder, action, mystery and suspense are mixed with hefty doses of moral dilemma, guilt and redemption in these carefully plotted tales--and the good guys do not always win. Many of the stories are appearing here for the first time since they were published in the pulps of the '30s, '40s and '50s, but their appeal is as fresh as ever. (Apr.)

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A testament to an important literary genre, stimulating a new generation of readers to look westward."-Library Journal

"This book proves that theWestern has a future as well as memorable past."-Thomas Fleming, The New York Times bestselling author of the Officer's Wives

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Product Details

• Paperback: 525 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books (June 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312869851
• ISBN-13: 978-0312869854
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hold your horses!, November 23, 2000

By 

Russ Hall (Marble Falls, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Century of Great Western Stories (Hardcover)

This book is going to explode a lot of misconceptions some people hold about those who write westerns. For one, the stories, written by some of the best and well-known writers in this genre, are chock full of character.

Take the opening story, by L'Amour. The dynamic person here is Angie Lowe, a woman who stands up in defense of her family to the Apache chief Cochise. If your expectations were for old fashioned cowboy and Indian yarns, this story and the others in the book will give you a lively time while they help set you straight.

All of the thirty stories in this anthology are loaded with emotion and tension, as well as authentic detail. After all, their periods of time and rough settings sit right on the hinge of change for America.

Not only will the reader get to sample the benchmark works of Owen Wister, Jack London, Max Brand, Luke Short, and Zane Grey, but, more importantly, there's the chance to meet the new torch-bearers of this alive and well genre: Elmer Kelton, Marcia Muller, Loren Estleman, Ed Gorman, John Jakes, and Peggy Simson Curry.

Many of the names of the living artists here should be familiar as masters in the mystery genre. They bring to their western writing the skills and focus that made their other fiction stand out in the crowd. Their works have action, dynamic conflict, and heros and heroines able to keep you turning the pages.

Take Ed Gorman's "Wolf Man," for instance. Here his established ability to write intense tales showcases live wolves, and he makes the reader not only care, but keep turning the pages to the gripping conclusion of his tale.

The short story is an American invention that traces its origin back to Poe. The best of them function as mini-novels, with character development and fully-developed stories. These stories ARE the very best of their kind. Add to that the dynamic growing pains America had during the era of these stories and you have the makings for spell-binding reading. Get this book for yourself, your library, or for those who think they have a handle on westernwritings -- watch that bubble pop to the reader's delight.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great collection, March 30, 2009

By 

Kitchen king "keepin it hot" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Century of Great Western Stories-An Anthology of Western Fiction (Paperback)

A wonderful collection of some of the best writers of western fiction - the best of the best. Informative short introductions before every story about that author. This book would make a nice gift for someone who appreciates westerns or who would like to begin reading them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Jakes - Brilliant at the Least, November 9, 2010

By 

Jason Smith (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Century of Great Western Stories-An Anthology of Western Fiction (Paperback)

Any effort by John Jakes is well respected by this reader, as he is a master of story-telling and a stickler for historic accuracy. This compendium of short stories about the west has contributions by some great authors.

Included are some very well known's, the opening work is by L'Amour himself, but also up for the role call is Luke Short, Jack London, Max Brand, and Zane Gray. Some new to the genre but no less phenomenal are Jakes himself, Elmer Kelton and Ed Gorman among others.

In the busy life I lead it's always good to find a quality book, well-written by masters of the word.
Not only will the reader get to sample the benchmark works of Owen Wister, Jack London, Max Brand, Luke Short, and Zane Grey, but, more importantly, there's the chance to meet the new torch-bearers of this alive and well genre: Elmer Kelton, Marcia Muller, Loren Estleman, Ed Gorman, John Jakes, and Peggy Simson Curry.

These stories illustrate the challenging times our nation was heading through as it grew and became even more diverse in size, space and culture. Each story is well-developed with quality character development and served as more than a short story, in reality each could evolve into a more lengthy and intriguing piece.

Bravos are well deserved. Don't know how I missed this one for so long. You'll enjoy the short 'intro's' by the authors before each piece.