Western Fiction News

EDGE first appeared in 1972 and continued until 1989. The EDGE series ran for 61 books and the half-breed teamed up with one of George G. Gilman’s other anti-heroes, Adam Steele, in 3 more books. The series sold in excess of eighteen million copies.

Today these westerns are much sort after, particularly the latter books in both series – the final EDGE book often commanding a three-figure sum on auction sites.

Now EDGE is available to buy once more as ebooks. The covers carry new artwork from the artist, Tony Masero, who painted the UK covers all those years ago.

The first book in the series, The Loner, is available now for just £2.01 ($3.11). Get it direct from the publisher Solstice or sites such as Smashwords. The books will also be available from other major Internet booksellers soon.

The latest issue of Black Horse Extra is now available, and as usual features a wonderful mix of articles and comments. Chap O’Keefe introduces readers to one of his series characters, Joshua Dillard. Matthew Mayo talks about how his hopes to see his books published by Dorchester have taken a blow with the publisher’s announcements to switch to ebooks, and Greg Mitchell continues his examination of the artwork of Frederick Remington. Along with these there is the usual selection of news items that cover a broad variety western topics.

Sky Movies magazine has done a four page feature to tie in with their Westerns Week at the end of September. Picking some of their favourite stars from the western genre they’ve named them thus:

The Anti-Hero – Clint Eastwood

The Deputy – Dean Martin

The Loner – Gary Cooper

The Icon – John Wayne

The Cowgirl – Jane Russell

The Villain – Lee Van Cleef

The Gent – James Stewart

Along with this they’ve picked five must see western moments and these are:

The Duel –The final showdown with the winding down musical pocket watch in For A Few Dollars More.

The Exit – Wayne’s Ethan walks away from the home at the end of The Searchers.

The Gunfight – The final bloody shootout that ends The Wild Bunch.

The Punch-Up – The fistfight in Blazing Saddles that spills from the western set into other sets and buildings.
The Song – As the heroes await death in Rio Bravo.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

By Forrest Carter

Leisure, March 2010

Originally published as The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales in 1973

Few men came tougher than Josey Wales. He survived the raiders who massacred his family. He survived as a guerrilla soldier alongside Jesse James in the Missouri-Kansas border feuds. He lived through the Civil War as a Confederate rebel.

When the war ended Josey Wales chose the hard road to Texas in search of a new life. Texas was more than 1,000 miles away. Behind him rode the Bluecoats. In front hostile Indians barred the way. And all around there were braggarts and bounty hunters ready to try their luck against the outlaw called Josey Wales.

What can be said about this book that hasn’t been said before? In my opinion it is one of the best westerns ever. Forrest Carter’s storytelling is extremely powerful and will strike a chord with your emotions, have you caring about his characters. Carter blends touches of true history with his tale seamlessly, his descriptions very visual.

None of the characters are painted as being particularly good or bad, they are people who find themselves thrown together by circumstances. People who have lost a previous way of life, have nothing to live for, but will find hope and the promise of a new life as the story progresses.

There is plenty of action, often stark and brutal, such as Wales taking on the Comancheros, but it is the dialogue that provides the most memorable scenes: for instance who could possibly forget the tense sequence when Wales confronts Ten Bears and delivers his promise of life or death? I’ll guarantee you’ll be holding your breath waiting for Ten Bear’s decision.

Once started this book is almost impossible to put down. I can only finish by saying The Outlaw Josey Wales is a must read for every western fan.

This book is the fifth in Leisure’s Classic Film Collection, you can read more about this series here.

Western Fiction News

During the first few months of 2009 Leisure Westerns (Dorchester) published the first four in their Classic Film Collection

The next four books in this collection will be published in 2010.

Coming in March will be The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter. The film version of this classic western starred, and was directed by Clint Eastwood. (Leisure will also be publishing the sequel: The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales)

April will see the publication of Blood on the Moon by Luke Short. This was made into the famed noir western of the same name directed by Robert Wise and starred Robert Mitchum. (Leisure will also be publishing Luke Short’s novels Ambush and Vengeance Valley)

Appearing in May will be The Stalking Moon by T.V. Olsen. The film was directed by Robert Mulligan and starred Gregory Peck.

Rounding up this next set of four will be June’s publication The Tall Men by Will Henry. Directed by Raoul Walsh the film starred Clark Gable and Jane Russell.