KLAW

KLAW
By W.L. Fieldhouse
Tower Books, 1980

When John Klawson returned from the War to Great Ford, he found his parents dead, victims of a phony “Indian raid,” and their property confiscated by banker Warren T. Jennings. And the rest of the town was under the control of Jennings and his hired guns. Klawson vowed revenge, but Jennings struck first, sending his hardcases after the ex-soldier. In a violent battle Klawson lost his right hand and was left for dead. But he survived and was hidden by friends until his arm healed. A blacksmith fitted him with a gleaming steel claw for a hand, and Klaw, as he became known, learned all over how to use a revolver and a rifle. Soon he was ready to exact vengeance on Jennings and his crew. One by one they would die – painfully – if Klaw had his way!

Whilst America tried to inject new life into the western with the introduction of explicit adult content, the British produced books that were filled with graphic violence and brought the anti-hero more into the limelight. Some of these series such as Edge and Apache became massive successes in America too, so much so that American publishers jumped on the bandwagon and launched their own series with similar content such as Kilburn, Cutter, Hawk (not to be confused with the British series with the same name), and The Loner. I believe the three Klaw books was another of these, as was the equally violent Six-Gun Samurai series that Fieldhouse wrote alongside two other authors as Patrick Lee. 

This book has a slow start as the author fills the reader in on the Klawson’s backstory – events that lead to him facing Jennings in Great Ford. The momentum picks up after Klawson loses his hand and the blacksmith creates the claw for him. This claw is detachable and Klawson can fit other attachments in place of it, such as a modified handgun. This is where the pace of the story begins to move forward at a gallop. Revenge is all that Klawson lives for. As the death toll mounts Klawson becomes know as Klaw. Yet, unlike those anti-heroes of the British westerns, Klaw keeps some of his compassion which, at times, makes him seem like a bit of a contradiction. One minute dishing out death in a completely cold-blooded way, then showing his tender side, such as when he meets Elena and when he helps those back in Great Ford. This makes him a somewhat complex character, a man who clings onto some of his humanity. 

The action scenes are well described in all their graphic brutality. There are some excellent set pieces such as the ambush in a fort that sees both Gatling guns and cannon used effectively. The author often switches between the various groups of characters so he can include more vicious violence as we follow the men Klaw is hunting for. As you’d expect, everything comes together for a savage conclusion.

Throughout the story there is mention of an organization, one that Jennings worked for. Who they are, and what their ultimate aims are is kept vague. On finishing Klaw I was left to wonder if they will be part of the plot of the second Klaw book. I guess I’ll have to read it to find out which is something I aim to do very soon.

I started this review with my thoughts on how some American western series seemed to have been created to cash in on the success of some of the British series. I’ve always wondered if one of the British authors read the Klaw books and used them as an inspiration for his series Claw? He even seems to give a nod of acknowledgement by naming the leader of the outlaws, who are responsible for the loss of the hero’s hand, Jennings. If he didn’t, that’s one hell of a coincidence. 

Cutter #4

SIX-GUN SLAUGHTER

as by Duff McCoy

Pinnacle, August 1991

Taken prisoner by Mexican rurales, Jeb Cutter is sold as slave labour to work in the mining camps of Don Hernandez. Cutter soon finds himself on the wrong end of a bullwhip, and, with each stroke of the lash, he swore to make his jailers pay, and pay dear. When the camp explodes in a full scale revolt, Cutter's hate feeds the killing frenzy and, dealing double-aught death, he cuts his own bloody trail to freedom through anyone who dares to get in his way!

Charley Perlberg (Duff McCoy) once more seems intent on shocking his readers with this graphically told story of almost non-stop violence. Gunfights, beatings, whippings, beheadings are all told in savage detail, but it's the many scenes of torture – and disregard for human life – that'll have the reader urging Cutter on in his bid for freedom.

I did feel, at times, that some of the types of torture, for instance the cringe worthy brutality carried out on male members, were included just for the sake of shocking than anything else.

Like the other books in the Cutter series (this is the last one) it was impossible to like, or relate to, any of the characters and even the twist ending was a little too obvious.

Another book for those who enjoy books full of savage bloodletting and not much else.

Cutter #3

SAVAGE BLOOD

as by Duff McCoy

Pinnacle, February 1991

Jeb Cutter narrowly escapes with his life when attacked by some bloodthirsty Apache warriors. Hiding in a cave Cutter finds a stash of Winchesters and having lost his takes one. This rifle will be his downfall when Lieutenant Dwight Ashby points out this is one of a batch of stolen guns and accuses Cutter of being a gunrunner. Now Cutter wants revenge, he's gonna make the Lieutenant pay, and the gunrunners and the Apaches. One man against many – they're the kind of odds that Cutter likes.

The plot to this book is not all that complicated, there isn't room as most of the story is one very violent confrontation after another.

All the action is described in all its brutality, particularly that of the Apache attacks. Charley Perlberg (writing as Duff McCoy) seems intent on shocking the reader with drawn out death scenes, graphically portraying the killing of men, women and children alike.

With Cutter up against so many you have to wonder how he can take them all on and live. Perlberg uses the plot of Cutter playing his enemies off against each other to great effect to achieve this.

For those who enjoy non-stop violent action then you'll probably get a kick out of this, if you like a little more depth to your characters then you may find this book lacking, as I found it impossible to like – or care about the fate of – any of them.

Cutter #2

GUT SHOT

as by Duff McCoy

Pinnacle, October 1990

Simon Crow and his desert scum bust into a small trail store hungry for blood. The old storekeeper and his wife were helpless against them. A lone drifter witnessed the killings at gunpoint, taking a headshot that left him unconscious while Crow picked his pockets and left him to rot. But hate burned too deep in Jeb Cutter to let him die. Now he’ll track each man like an animal and butcher the outlaws in a mad-dog killing spree that’ll take him clear across Kansas in a trail of hot gore and sweet revenge!

This series is supposed to be written in the tradition of Edge, and the violence does at time mirror that series, but what it lacks is a main hero I cared about, didn’t care whether he was successful in his quest or died in the attempt.

The book was easy enough to read, didn’t have a complicated plot or many twists to the tale. At times I wonderd if McCoy (Charley W. Perlberg) forgot the type of western he was writing, as one minute Cutter was calling the men he trailed “bastards” and then in the next sentence “jaspers” which came across as him being a pulp western hero from the 1940/50’s instead of the brutal hero based on spaghetti western anti-heroes, this, at times, made Cutter seem like two different characters.

Having said that, if you want a fast, violent, read that’s not going to tax the brain too much, then this book could be the escapism you need.

Cutter #1

PANHANDLE PAYBACK

as by Duff McCoy

Pinnacle July 1990

‘Introducing Cutter, a new violent western series in the best-selling tradition of EDGE!’ So screams the bold print on the back of the book, but does it live up to this claim?

Jeb Cutter was an angry man. At sixteen he watched his pa get backshot by a hardcase gang set on stealing his circle C Ranch. The same scum hog-tied Jeb like a dumb bronc and hot-branded him on the chest, then left him to rot under the broiling Texas sun. But hate kept him alive, and he swore he’d get even. It took Jeb twelve years to get a lead on the bushwhackers who’d killed his pa and burned his flesh. Now Cutter was ready to ride the bloody vengeance trail.

This book is filled with graphic violence in all it’s blood spraying, bone shattering glory. There are gunfights, fistfights, torture and rape. Evil men abound. Men who get sadistic pleasure from maiming and killing.

And what of Cutter? Unfortunately he just blends right on in with the rest. Characterization almost none existent. I didn’t care if he succeeded in his quest for revenge or died. The story was very straight forward, an easy read that moved along at pace.

So did Cutter match up to Edge. Nope, no way, the lack of depth to the character being the main reason.

Will I read the next book? Probably.

Duff McCoy is a pseudonym used by Charley W. Perlberg.