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25th out of 326 books
—
431 voters
The Quick and the Dead
When Duncan McKaskel decided to move his family west, he knew he would face dangers, and he was prepared for them. He knew about the exhausting terrain, and he was expecting the punishing elements. What he worried about was having to use violence against other men—men who would follow him and try to steal the riches that he didn’t even possess.
Yet bandits were only part of...more
Yet bandits were only part of...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
May 1st 1982
by Bantam
(first published October 27th 1973)
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You’d think with a title like The Quick and The Dead I wouldn’t be surprised by all the dead. The Quick and The Dead was my very first “real” western. It was a nice short book and was supposed to be the proverbial toe in the pool. I came away feeling like someone had come up behind me and shoved me in. And, it wasn’t pleasant.
The Quick and The Dead is a novel about a small family making their first foray into the west, tenderfoots they are called. During all of this they meet up with the main ch...more
The Quick and The Dead is a novel about a small family making their first foray into the west, tenderfoots they are called. During all of this they meet up with the main ch...more
I picked this up to read as part of a release challenge. The "I DARE YOU; A Read-and-Release Challenge with a Twist" proposed by gnissorckoob. I've never read any western stuff. This seemed and appropriate way to take up the gauntlet. Yippie o ki yay!
The cover says" Con Vallian knew the best way to stay out of trouble was to mind his own business. Then he stopped for a cup of coffee at a stranger's campfire and found himself guiding a family of greenhorns across the prairie- fighting a pack of r...more
The cover says" Con Vallian knew the best way to stay out of trouble was to mind his own business. Then he stopped for a cup of coffee at a stranger's campfire and found himself guiding a family of greenhorns across the prairie- fighting a pack of r...more
2 likes · like · see review
Sep 05, 2010
Doris
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who enjoy western stories.
Recommended to Doris by:
No one
Shelves:
fiction-western
A good book about a man name Con Vallian who is an experienced tracker and woodsman who comes across a couple and their son who are loading a heavy wagon full of belongings on their way to have a new start in the "old west". Con simply wants a cup of coffee, yet he finds the young couple to be extremely greenhorn in the ways of the wilderness and wilds, so lured by coffee and perhaps something from deep inside, Con travels in alignment with them. He teaches them and their son ways to survive. Bu...more
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I have felt so mired in the books I have been reading this year. This was a super refreshing break. I needed something different, something to make me remember why I love reading. So I tried something completely new. My first Louis L'Amour book. I know, cute, right? I picked one that I at least recognized the name - and, a plus that it was short. I loved the characters, the adventure and the beauty of the West. I wonder if his books get to be run-of-the mill and all the same. This could be possi...more
This was a very quick, easy read. Enjoyable. Very vivid writing - when describing the cabin, you could picture it yourself. When describing Susanna hitting the assailant, you could almost feel the stick in her hands hitting you in the face. Only thing I didn't care for was, in my opinion, he left the reader hanging with no resolution to The Huron. But maybe that was so he could "revisit" Vallian and the Huron in a later book....
It is a good western type of story, frontier like. Realistic in that the heros can get shot and how it puts them down. Tenderfoots stobbornly heading west trying to have the same way of thinking of life in a different environment. LL makes it interesting and an easy read and realistic and also a good story and leaving you wanting to she how things turn out
Mar 14, 2009
Sherri *The Lady Hillindale*
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
louis-l-amour,
best-of-2009
There isn't a better western author who ever lived than Louis L'amour and this book is one of his prime examples of gritty, action packed, make-you-think stories. L'amour writes with such eloquence that you find yourself taken back to the time and place the story is set in, and when you finish the book, wish you really did live in the era.
This is the first Western book I've read & I was surprised how much I liked it! I had been looking over the bookshelves at Goodwill and saw this baby. I picked it up because I knew my grandpa Jack enjoyed listening to Louis L'amour audio books when he could not see well enough to read. I think I'll go back for more.
plowed through it, kept my attention straight through. The wording isn't flowery, there is defiantly an air of experience speaking in the description of the land, time period and survival skills. I think I'll be reading some more Louis L'Amour in the near future.
My first real Western novel (Stephen King's The Gunslinger can hardly be considered an authentic western, don't ya think?), i was surprised by how pulled into the story i was by about a quarter of the way in. This style of writing is almost considered cliche now, but really here, in this story, it still works.
I love western films (particularly spaghetti westerns), and i think after reading this i might look around and check out some other westerns.
Honestly though, the book is not bad. Its a n...more
First western I've read. Was curious to see how westerns would translate in literature instead of on screen. Very good writing, strong characters, and good storyline. Impressed me enough to want to read more by Louis L'Amour as well as more westerns.
When Duncan McKaskel decided to move his family west, he knew he would face dangers, and he was prepared for them. He knew about the exhausting terrain, and he was expecting the punishing elements. What he worried about was having to use violence against other men—men who would follow him and try to steal the riches that he didn’t even possess.
Yet bandits were only part of McKaskel’s worries. For a mysterious stranger, Con Vallian, had appeared one night and saved his life. But was Vallian’s tru...more
Yet bandits were only part of McKaskel’s worries. For a mysterious stranger, Con Vallian, had appeared one night and saved his life. But was Vallian’s tru...more
Always wanted to try a Louis L'Amore book, and finally did. It was a quick, easy read. The prose is sparse, but good. His evocation of the land was beautifully done. If you want a fast, popcorn-type read, I'd recommend it.
I guess you can't say too much about a book that's only 154 pages. I liked this one, some fun shoot-outs and face-offs with Indians and the like. Sort of blurs with all his other books, but somehow I'm always good for one more.
Read most of Louis Lamour's books when I was in my late teens and early twenties. They are important to me as they were some of the first books that got me into the reading habit. For that I shall be forever grateful
I resisted liking this book. My father recommended it, and all his bookshelf has ever held was engine manuals, Louis L'Amour, and some Gor chronicles (and the occaisional Ann Coulter, I'm sorry to say). The book does start out very slow for an easy read of 150 pages. It seems predictable and cliche: silly East Coast family with their book learnin', thinkin they can make it in the West with all their heavy, sentimental belongings!
But somewhere about a third of the way through, events pick up spe...more
But somewhere about a third of the way through, events pick up spe...more
I picked it up for the title and because it is a Louis L'Amour. I enjoyed it very much. It has some typical L'Amour elements but it was an enjoyable read.
My maternal grandfather was fan of Louis L'Amour and my father has read all of his books. I have never read Louis L'Amour so I thought this would be a great book to start with. I was a good read and very easy to follow as my first real western novel. My only complaint is that the ending left me hanging.
Read my review at my blog.
Aug 13, 2009
John K
added it
Con Vallian a gunfighter/cowhand helps a family keep their wagon and protect their homestead against thieves and murderers.
A good story of a pioneer family that runs into trouble with a gang of killers and of the man who adopted them.
Rereading a Louis L'Amour novel is like eating comfort food. Brings back all my warm childhood memories.
Good ol' western. I can't complain. I wanted more, but it delivered what it said it would.
If I didn't work on the internet I'd be out west on a farm with six children who called me Paw.
A simple Western with some good action scenes. Not much else to say about it!
The things I read for my students. Here's to broadening my horizon...
Not too bad of a read. Quick paced and shorter. Great for my high school boys who say they don't like to read, but probably going to be my only Louis L'Amour book.
Not too bad of a read. Quick paced and shorter. Great for my high school boys who say they don't like to read, but probably going to be my only Louis L'Amour book.
One of my very favorite Louis L'amour books. A must read.
I didn't really like the ending but it is a very good read!
suspense the whole way!!!
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Louis L'Amour was an American author. L'Amour's books, primarily Western fiction, remain enormously popular, and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death all 101 of his works were in print (86 novels, 14 short-story collections and one full-length work of nonfiction) and he was considered "one of the world's most popular writers".
-Wikipedia
More about Louis L'Amour...
-Wikipedia
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“I wonder why it is the man who pleads for mercy never gives it.”
—
11 people liked it
“Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said, 'Trust in the Lord, but keep your powder dry.”
—
10 people liked it
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I love that site.
Apr 06, 2009 06:01am