Customer Reviews

The Louis L'Amour Companion

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Let's get a few things straight at the beginning: I am a Louis L'Amour reader have been for some time now, I also have most of his writings in the hardcover Bantam Library editions. I also think he wrote very good, sometimes excellent books. No, I do not feel as the author of this companion feels that Louis L'Amour was the best western writer ever. Also in lieu of the other two reviews here, this book is very much for his fans, and no, definitely No, this book should not be skipped, IT IS VERY MUCH FOR HIS FANS.

Further this is not a book written by Louis L'Amour, nor is it a book detailing his books, such as the Sackett Companion does, nor is it a strict chronological listing of his works. Let's see have I missed anything, well probably so but if so we'll try to sort more through it as we go along.

The book has several sections or chapters as will quickly be seen. The book has a complete chronology of not only his books and novels but also of his life. You would kinda expect that in a companion volume. However, the book also goes beyond the biographical details having out-of-print articles, interviews, and written, personal recollections from other authors, such as Ed Gorman, and Jon Tuska, as well as several other writers. There is also a short section of letters by L'Amour from his time in service during World War II. There are also a couple interviews with Louis L'Amour. I cannot imagine that the 'true' fan of L'Amour's writings will want to shun this book. If one does not read it cover-to-cover as one of Louis' westerns just leafing through picking sections which stand out will more than serve the book's purpose and usefulness.

I bought a couple copies of this paperback in '94 when it came out, lost them in a move from Ohio to Virginia a few year back, and just today found a copy at our local Goodwill. I am thankful that I now have a copy back on the shelves with the rest of L'Amour's writings. In fact other than Louis' own autobiographical writings this is the only compendium I have of this type. I do so because of the various material within the book.

In closing you may remember I said I could not say Louis L'Amour, for all his greatness, was the 'best' of the western field, well that is mainly due to my having hundreds, possibly thousands of westerns fiction and non-fiction on my home library shelves. I have western books and writings for instance by Frank Bonham, Luke Short, Ray Hogan, Peter Field, Ralph Cotton, Fred Grove, Robert Randisi, and Frank O'Rourke among many many others. To say that Louis L'Amour was the greatest would be almost like saying Babe Ruth was the best of all time in baseball. Clearly not possible nor is it true. Louis was and will forever remain as the British often say, a first among equals.

But Louis L'Amour fans should not avoid this book, you do so at your own loss.

Semper Fi.

I found this book entertaining and informative. I have just begun to scratch the surface of quality westerns and this book allows some insite to one of the genre's best writers. If you do like Louis L'Amour and want to understand the background concerning this man... don't pass this up.

This book might be useful if you want to know the chronology of L'Amour's works, but it offers very little else for readers who are familiar with his books. The author's opinions about the value of particular stories might lead you to skip some very enjoyable reading. If you have read L'Amour and like his work, skip this book.