Western Books

[titoli]

Joe Hrmbus - Western von gestern




A german companion to a series of B western televised in the 70's, later released on dvd  and now I presume available on youtube. For those who have no access to american sources. 6/10

[nickjackson]

Thanks for the details

[titoli]

The Old West in Fiction ed. by Irwin Blacker



This is a collection including a complete novel (telling the story of a part of South West through the eyes of four different characters), 3 excerpts from famous novels and a dozen short stories. The accent here is on the literary quality, generally above average, but not on action. So is 7/10

[titoli]

Westerns of the 40's ed. by Damon Knight




A collection of pulp fare with quality varying from very low to good. But the good ones are about 20% of the entire collection. A pity that giants in other genres like Clifford Simak, John D. MacDonald and Murray Leinster (he has got three entries of which only one is worth reading) aren't delivering at their usual level. So it's 5-6/10

[titoli]

The Big Book of Western Action Stories ed. by Jon Tuska





Pulp fare which not always keeps faith to this anthology's title. The quality varies from mediocre to very good for a couple of stories, average being 6-7/10. Only for maniacs of the genre.

[titoli]

Star Western ed. by Jon Tuska





As above.

[titoli]

John Cunningham - Warhorse




This one has got a fascinating protagonist, quite unlike the usual ones to be found in this literature. Unfortunately the plot sustains his figure only in the first part of the three, the rest being quite childish with its feuilleton-like turns of plot and the little credible arch-villain. 6-7/10

[titoli]

The American West - Robin May & G.A: Embleton




Published in 1973, it is a fast reading on the subject and it is packed with pictures. Worth spending 50 cents if you step into it. 6-7/10

[titoli]

The Western Reader ed. by Jim Kitses and Gregg Rickman






Usually readers include most of the important literature on the subject: here it's not the case. The only important classic writings included here are the famous essays by Bazin (only non-english speaking area author included) and Warshow. Two interviews (Mann and Eastwood) and a series of essays of linsignificant informative value, as they range from the obvious (see the article on Ford's use of space) to navel gazing. In this last perspective are worth mentioning (apart from the piece on Leone I quoted in another thread) the one on Johnny Guitar:"Judith Butler points out that the masquerade (in Lacan's analysis, but still applicable here) can be construed as either "performative production of a sexual ontology" or as a "denial of a feminine desire that presupposes some prior ontological femininity regularly unrepresented by the phallic economy". Through the whole essay never emerges the fact that both Joan Crawford and Mercedes MacCambridge are butt-ugly and the living negation of femininity. Stay away from this crap unless you want to hurt yourself. 3/10 

[stanton]

The Western Reader ed. by Jim Kitses and Gregg Rickman






Usually readers include most of the important literature on the subject: here it's not the case. The only important classic writings included here are the famous essays by Bazin (only non-english speaking area author included) and Warshow. Two interviews (Mann and Eastwood) and a series of essays of linsignificant informative value, as they range from the obvious (see the article on Ford's use of space) to navel gazing. In this last perspective are worth mentioning (apart from the piece on Leone I quoted in another thread) the one on Johnny Guitar:"Judith Butler points out that the masquerade (in Lacan's analysis, but still applicable here) can be construed as either "performative production of a sexual ontology" or as a "denial of a feminine desire that presupposes some prior ontological femininity regularly unrepresented by the phallic economy". Through the whole essay never emerges the fact that both Joan Crawford and Mercedes MacCambridge are butt-ugly and the living negation of femininity. Stay away from this crap unless you want to hurt yourself. 3/10

In other words: an interesting read, recommended for those who like the genre.

[titoli]

In other words: an interesting read, recommended for those who like the genre.

In other words: you'll skip it.

[titoli]

A Dollar To Die For - Brian Fox 






This is the second of the 5 MWNN novels following the 3 novelizations of the movies. It also features Tuco ("the Terrible" nicknamed here) and, I have to admit, it is quite readable, all based in chasing and the two main characters are quite respected in regards to their film presentation. Also some touches of humor (a character's name is "de Cabronet"!) In fact the finale is quite amazing and makes me give it a full 7/10. No wonder this title alone went under five different editions (see the covers on google) and numerous printings.
See also here: http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=124.msg90504#msg90504

[stanton]

In other words: you'll skip it.

Too late, I have it already for 20 years ...

[titoli]

Too late, I have it already for 20 years ...

You read it?

[titoli]

The Devil's Dollar Sign - Joe Millard




Another of the 5 MWNN, with no Tuco. This is action from start to finish, though sometime towards the end, a bit silly. Still it is highly readable and you have no women except for a few lines toward the end. 7/10