We've had the Movies now how about the top Western Books

[pauld]

I struggled to read Blood Meridian (and other Cormac McCarthy books) so much I put it down, the writing style irritated me too much

I am sure there is a great story in there but his works are not for me

must cheack out Deadwood - thanks starkadder

[Cholly]

Two for Texas by James Lee Burke (malamute this is a great little book)
Blood Meridian by Cormac Macarthy
The Collected Western Stories by Elmore Leonard, an absolute classic and a greatr chance to play spot the movie)


Cholly

[fitterpete]

Only western book I ever read was A Gent From Bear Creek by Robert E. Howard,yep the Conan author.
When I was younger anything from Howard was on my reading list.He's famous for his fantasy type writing but he is also a very good historical horror/pulp type writer.
Pigeons from Hell scared the crap outa me!

[goon3423]

The author's staunch refusal to use punctuation put me off that book. It clearly doesn't bother others because his books sell millions, but I find the idea that he won't use quote marks because it "makes the page look messy" really f***ing irritating! 

I struggled to read Blood Meridian (and other Cormac McCarthy books) so much I put it down, the writing style irritated me too much

I am sure there is a great story in there but his works are not for me

must cheack out Deadwood - thanks starkadder

Reading Mcartrhy is no doubt a pain in the a$$, I'm a big fan & I also get annoyed as hell with his writing style more often than not. But rest assured that some great gems of stories reside between those annoying lines  .

[Galloping Major]

Reading Mcartrhy is no doubt a pain in the a$$, I'm a big fan & I also get annoyed as hell with his writing style more often than not. But rest assured that some great gems of stories reside between those annoying lines  .

I was a bit irritated with the lack of punctuation and other quirks in the writing style when reading Blood Meridian, but carried on reading as it is a great, though very bloody, portrayal of filibusters and scalphunters in Mexico in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. It was worth the struggle I must say, but a bit less of a struggle wouldn't have spoiled the experience.  I'd recommend soldiering on with it.

Can't be putting together a list of favourites right now, but don't miss:

Flashman and the Indians.  


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[goon3423]

Just getting into "The Sisters Brothers" by Patrick DeWitt, so far very, very good. It's like Mcarthy if he had any sense of humor..like if he had one at all....he does not. Plus no annoying lack of punctuation  . Highly recommended.

[Bugsda]

Just getting into "The Sisters Brothers" by Patrick DeWitt, so far very, very good.

I just got this as an audio book, haven't listen to it yet.

Talking books are a good if you're put off by lack of punctuation, it's a drag when you get a reader with a voice that annoys though.

[Jim French]

For research, I liked Mystic Warriors of the Plains and Dog Soldiers, Bear Men, and Buffalo Women. 

[Galloping Major]

For research, I liked Mystic Warriors of the Plains and Dog Soldiers, Bear Men, and Buffalo Women. 

Now we're getting into some interesting stuff 

For me when it comes to researching Indians, if you're interested in Comanches, it's got to be Fehrenbach's "Comanches".


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[admiraldick]

this is a totally random suggestion, but last year a friend of mine bought me 'A Treasury of Western Folklore' edited by B A Botkin. its a truely bizarre book, that is a compilation of newspaper cuttings, biographical quotes, songs and other forms of folklore, that give you a really realistic and inspiring look into the world of the Old West. i highly recomend tracking down a copy.

(on a totally tangential note, if you are looking for books on pirates, i recommend 'A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates' by Charles Johnson for very similar reasons.)