SIXGUNS AT SILVERADOas by Jake Logan
Berkley, November 1987
Guns and fear ruled Silverado. The miners that couldn’t be scared into handing over their claims died quick. ‘Cause one man, drunk with greed, would keep on killing until he owned it all. But Slocum aims to see justice done, even if it means looking down the gun barrels of a hired army. And in a mining town set to explode, Slocum’s just the man to light the fuse…
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Slocum book and I picked this one out due to having a note that Jake Logan, in this case, is Jory Sherman. There are certainly many poetic descriptions throughout the fast moving story that would indicate that he did indeed write the book.
In fact it was these portrayals of landscape and weather that provided the most memorable strengths of the story. The opening scenes of Slocum struggling for survival in a blizzard painted some vivid imagery in my mind and had me shivering along with him.
Even though the bad guys are known from the beginning, the author keeps the reader guessing as to how Slocum would finally win the day. Many of the gunfights take place out in the snow and this adds its own dangers to that of flying bullets. There’s also an excellent method of escape, when Slocum is trying to reach Silverado after leaving a cave, that stands out as I can’t remember reading anything like it in any other western.
I’ve read quite a few Slocum books and they’ve fallen into the good, the bad and the downright ugly categories with ease. Sixguns at Silverado is filled with exciting confrontations, tough characters and situations, there’s not as much sex as I expected from an adult western published in the 1980’s, so this entry into the series definitely makes it into the top category.
That's another super cool cover image - not read this yet though.
ReplyDeleteAgree Gary, the cover is part of the reason I picked it out of all the Slocum books I've got to read.
ReplyDeleteI wish they'd stayed with this type of cover rather than the current style which sees the publisher re-using elements and characters over and over again.
If you compare the modern look Slocum with The Gunsmith you'll see they look the same!
I just read my first Slocum novel, and it seems to be very different from the rest, at least from what I've read in reviews. I'll be posting about it soon.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to finding out which one it is Craig, and reading your thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteIf you're still curious, my review of Slocum #362 is here. Thanks.
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