As my other reviews indicate, the first three Rancho Diablo novels made me a die-hard fan of the series. However, this fourth novel, the second writte...moreAs my other reviews indicate, the first three Rancho Diablo novels made me a die-hard fan of the series. However, this fourth novel, the second written by Mel Odom, is almost in a whole different league. For the first time, the spotlight moves away from rancher Sam Blaylock, and onto his wife, Jenny, and ranch hand/gunfighter with a mysterious past Mike Tucker. Jenny doesn't approve of Tucker's almost supernatural skill with weapons. She believes that that skill, coupled with an uncaring attitude towards killing, makes Tucker a trouble magnet, and that's something she doesn't want anywhere around her children. Then, suddenly, Miriam Blaylock is kidnapped while Sam is away on business, and Jenny is forced to call on Tucker to help bring her back.
Obviously, the series title is Rancho Diablo, not The Adventures of Sam Blaylock. The three men writing under the name Colby Jackson have built up an interesting cast of characters, and it's great to see two previously supporting characters taking center stage. In earlier stories, Tucker had been a fairly typical Enigmatic Gunman with a Mysterious Past, and Jenny had been the Doting Wife and Mother who Brings Her Wild Family Down to Earth. This story truly fleshes out their characters, allowing both the reader and each other to learn that each has some surprising depths.
Like most Rancho Diablo novels to date, the story is fairly straightforward. The storytelling is tight and economical, without unnecessary twists and complications layered on just to expand the story. Having said that, this is the longest Rancho Diablo story to date. The extra length allows Jackson/Odom to give Jenny and Tucker time to learn about each other. It's a fairly straightforward chase story, but the characters and action (which, as usual, comes fast and furious) is what makes this story stand out.
We also learn more about town founder Shooter York, with some interesting hints being dropped. Knowing that the Rancho Diablo team plan on launching a spin-off series about York this fall, this could smack of a cynical marketing ploy. Instead, it serves to whet the appetite, giving hints of colorful adventures to come. It's pretty unobtrusive, and helps deepen the world the authors are creating here.
Once again, while Hell on Wheels builds on the books that came before, it can be read completely independently. Also like the others, while the story is self-contained, the character relationships build on what's come before, and change things for the future. It's a very traditional western, but the quality of the writing is what keeps me coming back. The "Colby Jackson" team aren't just churning out installments to fill slots on a publisher's schedule. They are definitely writing from the heart, and that love shows through. (less)
While this third Rancho Diablo book picks up on loose ends from the first story, as well as carrying on themes from the second book, it should be perf...moreWhile this third Rancho Diablo book picks up on loose ends from the first story, as well as carrying on themes from the second book, it should be perfectly accessible to new readers in its own right. (Although, really, at $2.99 a pop, it's not that difficult to catch up on the whole series at this relatively early stage.) That's one of the advantages of an inexpensive series of short ebooks: it's not too intimidating to pick up the back catalog, either in terms of investing time or money.
I'm starting to think of Rancho Diablo in terms of a really good Western TV series: each installment tells a self-contained story, but each one also builds on what came before, adding to the ongoing character development and themes. And while this story focuses on a relatively traditional tale of revenge (hardly a spoiler; it's part of the title), it also fleshes out ranch owner Sam Blaylock's relationship with the town of Shooter's Point, and his nemesis,local entrepreneur and newspaper owner Mitchell McCarthy.
While I had been concerned in earlier books that Sam Blaylock was too perfect a hero, it's clear that the series authors plan on addressing that issue. While the fact that Blaylock and Rancho Diablo attract trouble that more often than not gets resolved with gunplay allows the series to feature the traditional motifs of Western fiction, it doesn't come without a cost. The town is very aware of the high body count coming from Rancho Diablo, and it's not something they approve of at all. I'm really enjoying the fact that the elements that make Rancho Diablo a fun, traditional Western series are also producing ramifications that are being explored in a realistic way.
While Bill "Colby Jackson" Crider writes in a clear, straightforward manner, he still does a great job fleshing out the characters and their emotions, making them feel real. He, and the other writers of the series, are also doing a great job keeping the material all-ages appropriate. Not that today's young readers are looking for an exciting Western ebook series, but if anyone is, it's nice to know there's one out there for them.
My only real complaint, as I write this review, is that I've now read all the Rancho Diablo books published to date, and probably have to wait until the fall until the next one!(less)
The first Rancho Diablo book introduced the characters and setting for the series. This second short novel fleshes out the characters of rancher Sam B...moreThe first Rancho Diablo book introduced the characters and setting for the series. This second short novel fleshes out the characters of rancher Sam Blaylock's family, who appeared only briefly in the first story. It also gives more insight into Sam's past, expanding on the hints from the first story of a more shady history. This is appreciated, because if there's one irritation with Sam's character, it's his expertise in everything, and his ability to succeed at everything he puts his hand to, whether it's geology, engineering, ranching, scouting, or fighting. There's nothing interesting about a perfect hero, so it's nice to see some cracks in Sam's character.
This story has some echoes of the classic western, Shane, as one of Sam's sons finds himself bonding with a shady gunfighter figure from Sam's past. While it's not an unfamiliar western motif, it does allow author James Reasoner (writing as Colby Jackson) to create some nice character moments.
Because of their length, the Rancho Diablo stories are perhaps more reminiscent of TV episodes than feature-length movies. The authors recognize that the shorter length doesn't lend itself to padded, overly-complicated stories, and Hangrope Law is no different. When the action comes, it's fast-paced and exciting, but not drawn out. Things come to a satisfying conclusion, but leave the reader looking forward to future installments in the series.(less)
Sam Blaylock comes to the town of Shooter's Cross, TX, and buys a plot of land with the intent of setting up a ranch for him and his family. He gather...moreSam Blaylock comes to the town of Shooter's Cross, TX, and buys a plot of land with the intent of setting up a ranch for him and his family. He gathers a crew together and starts to build something special. In the process, he makes both friends and enemies in the town of Shooter's Cross.
This short novel, the first installment of the Rancho Diablo series, showcases just the sort of thing I'm enjoying in the new ebook revolution. Because the authors are able to publish frequent, shorter installments, each book can focus on the job at hand. In this case, that job is to introduce the main players of the series, and their location. It's a classic western, with a tough cowboy trying to retire from a violent former life and start a new, peaceful one for himself and his family. Along the way, he has to contend with difficulties from the land, and from greedy bad guys trying to take that peaceful life away from him.
It's a great setup for a series, and a decent story in its own right. Readers will find a sense of closure at the end of the story, but also hunger to know what happens next. The prose is very visual and detailed, while still clear and unpretentious. The characters are well-drawn, each with their distinct voices.
If I have one complaint, it's that Sam is a bit too perfect. He's a great gunfighter, engineer, card sharp, scout, etc. However, this is only the first book in the series. Hopefully, his character will become a little more fleshed-out as the series progresses.
And I'll definitely be along to see that progress. This first installment has me hooked, and I'm ecstatic that I don't have to wait any time at all for the next one.(less)
I had been really looking forward to The Buntline Special. I love Weird Westerns in general. I had also read on the publisher's blog that they didn't...moreI had been really looking forward to The Buntline Special. I love Weird Westerns in general. I had also read on the publisher's blog that they didn't just want to publish steampunk novels, but wanted something with a twist. So when this book turned out to be a disappointment for me, it was a pretty big disappointment indeed.
For a 300+ page book, The Buntline Special felt pretty slight. The characters, outside of Doc Holiday, didn't feel particularly developed. It's hard to emotionally invest in characters you don't get to know. And if I'm not invested in the characters, I'm also not invested in their conflicts. And if I'm not invested in the conflicts, there's not a lot for me to care about.
Even worse, the "weird" elements just felt layered on top of a fairly lackluster standard Western. None of the fantasy elements were necessary. Electric powered stagecoaches? Robot prostitutes? Zombie gunmen? All window dressing. A character gets transformed into a giant bat, and absolutely nothing is done with it. If the fantastical elements of a story aren't going to be important, then they shouldn't be there at all.
I love Weird Western stories, and I love ongoing comics that tell a single, ongoing story. So the idea of a monthly Weird Western comic was pretty muc...moreI love Weird Western stories, and I love ongoing comics that tell a single, ongoing story. So the idea of a monthly Weird Western comic was pretty much irresistible. Having said that, it took a few issues for this series to grow on me, but by the end of the first, six-issue story (collected in this volume), The Sixth Gun had become one of my new favorite comics.
Telling the story of six supernatural guns, the book focuses on Rebecca Moncrief, who inherits one of the guns from her father. The gun allows her to see visions of the past and the future, and is an important part of a mysterious plot by General Oleander Hume, the dead-and-resurrected former owner of the gun. Rebecca finds herself allied with Drake Sinclair, one of the general’s former subordinates, and together, they work to stop him from uniting the six guns, which would bring about dire consequences.
Writer Cullen Bunn tells a fairly complete story in this book, while setting up some intriguing mysteries for future installments. Artist Brian Hurt’s art is clear and straightforward, while still detailed. His characters are clear and distinct, and he makes the supernatural weirdness fit right in with the regular setting. The historical detail feels accurate without having to hit the reader over the head with it. All in all, loads of fun. Can’t wait to see where the story goes next. (As I type this, the comic is only up to seven issues, but the second story is already heading off in weird, different directions.)(less)
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