The Rider of the Ruby Hills [Paperback]

Louis L'Amour (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1986

A WORD FROM LOUIS L’AMOUR
 
“Almost four decades ago, when my fiction was being published exclusively in ‘pulp’ western magazines, I wrote a number of novel-length stories, known back then as ‘magazine novels.’ In creating them, I lived with my characters so closely that their lives were still as much a part of me as I was of them long after the issues in which they appeared went out of print. Proud as I was of how I presented the characters and their adventures in the pages of the magazines, I wanted to tell the reader more about my people and why they did what they did. So, over the years, I revised and expanded these magazine works into novels that I published as full-length paperbacks under different titles.
 
“These particular early magazine versions of my books have long been a source of considerable speculation and curiosity among many of my readers, so much so of late, that now I’ve decided to bring four of my ‘magazine novels’ back into print in this latest volume of my short fiction.
 
“I hope you enjoy them.”
 
FEATURING
• Showdown Trail
• A Man Called Trent
• The Trail to Peach Meadow Canyon
• The Rider of the Ruby Hills

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Almost four decades ago, when my fiction was being published exclusively in 'pulp' western magazines, I wrote a number of novel-length stories, known back then as 'magazine novels'. In creating them, I lived with my characters so closely that their lives were still as much a part of me as I was of them long after the issues in which they appeared went out of print. Proud as I was of how I presented the characters and their adventures in the pages of the magazines, I wanted to tell the reader more about my people and why they did what they did. So, over the years, I revised and expanded these magazine works into novels that I published as full-length paperbacks under different titles. These particular early magazine versions of my books have long been a source of considerable speculation and curiosity among many of my readers, so much so of late, that now I've decided to bring four of my 'magazine novels' back into print in this latest volume of my short fiction. I Hope you enjoy them."--Louis L'Amour

From the Inside Flap

"Almost four decades ago, when my fiction was being published exclusively in 'pulp' western magazines, I wrote a number of novel-length stories, known back then as 'magazine novels'. In creating them, I lived with my characters so closely that their lives were still as much a part of me as I was of them long after the issues in which they appeared went out of print. Proud as I was of how I presented the characters and their adventures in the pages of the magazines, I wanted to tell the reader more about my people and why they did what they did. So, over the years, I revised and expanded these magazine works into novels that I published as full-length paperbacks under different titles. These particular early magazine versions of my books have long been a source of considerable speculation and curiosity among many of my readers, so much so of late, that now I've decided to bring four of my 'magazine novels' back into print in this latest volume of my short fiction. I Hope you enjoy them."--Louis L'Amour

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553281127
• ISBN-13: 978-0553281125
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short stories are more concentrated and fun., January 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rider of the Ruby Hills (Paperback)

All the short stories written by L'amour are actually better than some of the long ones. Trent, sometimes a name used for Lance Kilkenny is one of the most interesting heroes created by L'amour, perhaps the ultimate warrior-like person who could ever be created by one of the greatest authors ever lived and contributed. There is one thing that Bantam Book and L'amour's offsprings didn't do yet. They should line up the whole works of L'amour and mark the 1, 2, 3 numbers for the readers to follow. Like Sackett saga, they should tell the reader to start reading from "To The Far Blue Mountain", then, "Jubal Sackett", then which one should be read first about Tell Sackett, Orrion, or Tyrel Sackett. Readers picking up and finising a book and found out that should come later after the other ones is so annoying and frustrated. If there is a character who would appear again and again as a certain series, the publisher and the heir of L'amour should mark them clearly. Like I've read Tell finally lost his wife, Angee, and then the next one I've picked up was Angee was still alive, because this is the one I should have read first, but without knowing it is such an annoying mixup.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars His long stories are better..., July 10, 2001

By 

"heyta" (Wageningen Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rider of the Ruby Hills (Paperback)

This was the second Louis L'Armour I read, and it disappointed me a bit. There is too much action on too little pages, and it spoils the story. So I am glad that Mr. L'Armour later converted these stories to complete books.I am looking forward to reading them.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not One Of His Best, December 1, 2008

By 

I. M. Listening "The Listener" (Listening Inn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rider of the Ruby Hills (Paperback)

Not one of Louie L'Amour's best stories, and I've read many. This one was an audiobook I listened to this time. The reader was good, better than average for a Louie L'Amour reader and he had a flavor of the old west in his speech, I liked that. And the story started promising but faded toward the end with little more to like about the main characters than first described.

Story goes like this, lone rider rides into town from off the plains, see's the woman he's goin' ta marry, determines the land he's goin' ta own, runs into the city-slicker and the other men he's gonna hav' ta kill and goes about takin' care of business. A formula I like really, but in other Louie L'amour books it's been done so much better.

Of recent stories I've read or heard I'd suggest Crazy Man, The Lonely Men, or Mojave Crossing for a better read. Also Larry McMurtry's Commanche Moon is a good western read. Enjoy!