Customer Reviews

Wheel of Fortune (Leisure Western)

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WHEEL OF FORTUNE collects three Frederick Faust (aka Max Brand) tales originally published in the 1920s and '30s. Brand has been labeled "one of the top three Western novelists of all time" so western fans will be in for a treat.

In 'Chick's Fall,' Sheriff Chick Marvin, known for his honesty and dedication, finds himeslf in desperate straits as family problems force him to consider taking a bribe to let a noted outlaw escape from his jail. 'Wheel of Fortune' introduces Anthony Hazzard, a frontier miser who makes Scrooge seem like Mother Theresa. Money and only money consume his life until a stray puppy and an escaped criminal cause him to rethink his life and priorities. 'Speedy's Bargain' features "Speedy," Brand's atypical western man of action who carries no gun and relies on his wits and psychological insights to stop crooks in their tracks. In 'Speedy's Bargain,' an outlaw holds a family at gunpoint, threatening their deaths unless Speedy free his nephew from jail.

Brand has a wonderful way with dialogue. I love the way his characters talk; it has a ring of authenticity to it. Likewise, Brand creates wonderful characters. Anthony Hazzard is a marvelous invention, despicable, unfeeling and obsessed. Yet his ever-questioning intellect enables him to see reality. I'm still having trouble, though, with Brand's Speedy character. He is just so atypical, almost unworldy that I have trouble accepting him.

In any case, WHEEL OF FORTUNE will be an entertaining read for anyone desiring quality western fiction. Saddle up, pardners and enjoy! Recommended.

This 3 story collection from Max Brand includes "Speedy's Bargain", "Chick's Fall", and the "Wheel of Fortune".

"Speedy's Bargain" is one of 9 Speedy stories penned by Faust that have seen print in various collections. Living by his wits rather than by his gun, Speedy is one of those characters that deserve to live once again in fiction.

"Wheel of Fortune" is a timely allegory paralleling the pursuit of material wealth instead of living a life for the non-material rewards. Written in 1924, the truths still hold today. Actually, every element in this tale just might be symbolic in a timeless manner. Gotta love the name of one of the characters, Harry Fortune!

"Chick's Fall" is probably the weakest tale in the collection, but as far as Brand goes, that still says a lot.

Enjoy Brand fans.

Tim Lasiuta

If this series of 3 novellas were advertised as such, that would be fine. But to package it as if it were a complete novel, that is deceptive. For those who like short stories and novellas, the surprise is fine, but to those of us who buy novels thinking they are in fact novels? Not so good a thing. To pick this up with the intention of reading a Max Brand novel, and to find out after the fact, with nothing on the cover to indicate otherwise, that it is actually three novellas, I think it is unfair on the part of the publisher.
If you have three novellas between covers, say so. If it is a novel, say so. But don't pass off three novellas under the one title "Wheel of Fortune?. Unfair to buyers. They have no idea what they're getting.