Anthologies

This collection by Lawrence Clayton and Kenneth W. Davis proves that the humor of the contemporary cowboy is as vibrant and entertaining as that of the old-time cowhand. Lawrence Clayton is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of English at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Kenneth W. Davis is professor of English at Texas Tech University. The book is a publication in the Humor in Life and Letters Series. Also in the Never Try to Teach a Pig to Sing Still More Urban Folklore from the Paperwork Empire By Alan Dundes and Carl R. Pagter 360 pages, illustrated ISBN 0-8143-2357-X, cloth ISBN 0-8143-2358-8,paper Jewish Wry Essays on Jewish Humor Edited, with an Introduction by Sarah Blacher Cohen 244 pages ISBN 0-8143-2366-9,paper Caver design by Mary Krzewinski with an illustration by Ace Reid WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS Detroit, Michigan 48202 ISBN 0-8143-2144-5

An collection of brand new stories by the members of the Western Writers of America includes such authors as Elmore Leonard, Loren D. Estleman, Elmer Kelton, and John Jakes, and captures the diversity and energy of the genre today. Reprint.

These 19 stories by the masters of Western fiction—including Louis L’Amour, John Jakes, and Elmer Kelton—recreate the hardships and heartbreaks of settling and surviving on the American frontier in the 19th century.

John Jakes, #1 New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical novels as North and South and The Kent Family Chronicles compiled in one volume a century's worth of his favorite American Western fiction. To illustrate the evolution of the genre, Jakes has included such legendary authors as Owen Wister, Louis L'Amour, and Zane Grey along side their more contemporary peers such as Loren Estleman and Elmer Kelton. While the stories have changed over the years, certain timeless themes of Western fiction remain constant. At the heart of the stories are ideas that have become synonymous with the American dream--the frontier spirit, individual freedoms, and man's relationship with the land. A Century of Great Western Stories is essentially a retrospective of western writing over the past century, but Jakes also sets out to give readers a glimpse of what the future might hold for western fiction. While trends in publishing might not always be promising, the current crop of contemporary Western authors show that the old west will always have a place in the world of fiction. Like the American dream which it celebrates, Western fiction will persevere.

LONE STAR LAW Twelve thrilling Western tales that celebrate the proud heritage of the TEXAS RANGERS Louis L'Amour leads off this powerful collection with a stunning tale featuring his legendary Texas Ranger Chick Bowdrie. Here, too, are superb, action-packed entries from today's outstanding Western storytellers -- distinguished award winners as well as daring newcomers, including Peter Brandvold · Randy Lee Eickhoff · Marcus Galloway · Ed Gorman · Elmer Kelton · Rod Miller · Robert J. Randisi · James Reasoner · Dusty Richards · Troy D. Smith · L. J. Washburn Edited by renowned author and anthologist Robert J. Randisi, Lone Star Law spans the existence of this elite investigative law enforcement agency. From fending off hostile Comanche to tracking serial killers, from aiming Winchesters and Colt revolvers to firing up laptops and state-of-the-art forensics technology, from targeting rustlers and outlaw gangs to leading harrowing hostage negotiations, the men and women who don the badge and white hat of the Texas Ranger stand as steadfast deliverers of American justice -- the Lone Star way.

Naked Came the Stranger set the format, but not always the tone or subject matter, for a whole string of books that appeared in the 1970s. Called collaborative or serial novels, the multi-author works were set in the suburbs, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Florida, the American West, but never in Texas. Now a dozen Texas authors have gotten together to create a good old-fashioned western novel. Each contributing author will write a chapter that builds on the work that precedes his or her chapter. The plot features Noah, a plantation slave who escapes and makes his way to the Union forces and, finally, Texas, where he establishes a small ranch, runs a few cattle, and, with wife Nelly, begins to raise a family. But Noah, who has taken the name Freeman and named his ranch Free Land, cannot leave his past behind. The slave catcher Quint Carpenter is the local sheriff, and he's out for blood— specifically Noah’s blood—after Noah’s sister kills Quint’s younger son. And carpetbagger Bear Coltrain, who once wanted to kidnap Noah and sell him back into slavery, now wants Noah’s land. And then John Malone comes along—Noah once saved the former cavalry officer's life, and he wants to repay his debt. Can he help when someone kidnaps Noah’s baby girl? Can he help save the ranch—and, finally, save Noah’s life? At press time for this catalog, half the chapters remain yet to be written, so the plot may change some—but that's the magic of a project such as this one. In cooperation with TCU Press, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced a contest in which the winner became one of the contributing authors. Entries were posted on the Star-Telegram web page, where the best three entries were chosen by popular vote. The staff of TCU Press chose the winner from among those entries. She is Mary Dittoe Kelly, and this will be her first published writing. A celebration at Fort Worth’s Bass Hall will bring all the authors together onstage to talk about the work, and the joys and problems of working in collaboration. Former Star-Telegram book editor Jeff Guinn will moderate.

They are the stuff of legend, thundering out of the harsh landscapes and stunning vistas of the American West, vividly lodged in our collective imaginations. From Buffalo Bill to Billy the Kid, from Cochise to Jesse James, these names and so many others screamed across newspaper and dime store magazine headlines while the Wild West was won. Lost Trails features inventive, hard-riding, action-packed stories by America's best Western writers. Louis L'Amour, Elmer Kelton, William W. Johnstone, Loren Estleman, Johnny Boggs, Don Coldsmith, and many more, share tales of the legends born out of the wild frontier. So sit a spell and listen to a good ol' yarn about Mark Twain's meeting with Buffalo Bill, a man who shoed horses for Jesse James, or a little known nugget about Cochise by the legendary Louis L'Amour.  .  .and for a time, you can find yourself riding those Lost Trails with the real people that make the legends of the West come alive today.

Capturing the excitement and danger of the Old West, this trio of novellas, written by the masters of Western fiction, includes Elmer Kelton's "Long Ride, Hard Ride," Cotton Smith's "Morning War," and Max Brand's "Desert Pilot," in which a quiet man learns to stand up for himself in a lawless town. Original.

Law of the Gun (Pinnacle Westerns) [Nov 01, 2010] Martin H. Greenberg and Russell Davis …

The sound of a crowded saloon...The cry of a train coming through the night...The pounding of horses ridden by friends or foe...From the searing sun to snow-steeped winters, towns called Sentinel, Iron Mountain, and St. Elmo stood strong and fierce - before they finally died. Now, these ghost towns return to life under the spell of such great Western tale-tellers as Louis L'Amour, Elmer Kelton, William W. Johnstone, Bill Brooks, Loren D. Estleman, Johnny D. Boggs, and "New York Times" bestseller Margaret Coel. From a soldier on the run from the fires of war...From a gambler who has long since played his last hand...To a solitary, singing rifle man protecting a besieged town...With dreamers and schemers, with men and women of courage, conscience, and faith, here is an unforgettable round-up of astounding adventures fuelled by a passion for the West the way it really was - and the way it lives on forever.