Monday, May 30, 2011

Black Hats

Jedidiah Ayres picks his western noir favorites. He didn't pick any of my stories and I ain't a-going to hold it against him. EVEN though I should after all those shenanigans he pulled at BTAP a few weeks ago. Anyway here's the link. He has me interested in reading Scott Phillips' COTTONWOOD.

Quick question: who are some of your favorite western noir writers?
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12 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 30, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    Ed Gorman, Robert J. Randisi, and Loren Estleman.

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  2. Mike DennisMay 30, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    David, I have to leapfrog over all of them and nominate Lewis B Patten's DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER, which was made into an outstanding movie starring Richard Widmark. For western noir, you just can't get any better than that.

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  3. jedidiah ayresMay 30, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    David, I've been trying like hell to mail you a thank you for putting up with all my shit, but they keep coming back to me, empty... Maybe something other than a six-pack next time.

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  4. David CranmerMay 30, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Three of my favorites, Anonymous. I just finished a Gorman paperback a few weeks ago.

    Thanks, Mike. A new title for me to search out. And I'm a big Widmark fan which reminds me I need to watch KISS OF DEATH again.

    Jed, I will have to go to the po tomorrow and knock some heads around.

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  5. Ron ScheerMay 30, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    I've heard THE SISTERS BROTHERS is a good one. Today I'm deep into Max Brand's SOUTH OF RIO GRANDE, which is gr-r-r-reat!

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  6. James ReasonerMay 30, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    I second Mike Dennis's recommendation of Lewis B. Patten. And my admiration for Ed Gorman's Westerns knows no bounds. But the noirest Western writer of them all is H.A. DeRosso.

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  7. James ReasonerMay 30, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    By the way, I agree with Ron, too. SOUTH OF RIO GRANDE is top-notch Max Brand.

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  8. David CranmerMay 30, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    Ron, I never get tired of Max Brand. Some stories are better than others but he has the most unique approach to westerns I've ever read. I'm hoping to re-publish a western of his in BEAT to a PULP one day.

    James, Pulpetti has an interesting bit on H.A. DeRosso. http://pulpetti.blogspot.com/2007/10/1000th-post-ha-derosso.html
    I'm intrigued to know more now. And I'm sure I've read a novel of his but I can't remember the title at the moment.

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  9. ChrisMay 30, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    There's this dude named Grainger whose writing I can't get enough of...

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  10. David CranmerMay 30, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Ha. Thanks, Chris. That eBook collection is right around the corner. Two weeks tops.

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  11. Dave KingMay 31, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    For some reason, Blood Meridian recommended itself to me.

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  12. David CranmerMay 31, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    I believe Blood Meridian was more of a western historical novel. But still damn good. Thanks, Dave.

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