Review: The Sword and the Gun by John J. Law

The Sword and the Gun by John J. Law

This was a pleasant short story about the old west in the vein of Louis L’Amour’s westerns. The central plot revolves around a young man’s quest for justice and his need to grow up first if he’s to obtain it. Being a western of the classic variety, his quest for justice is of the eye-for-an-eye sort, but, true to the great western writers it is also “justice” not simply vengeance.

 

Law’s twist to make the genre his own is his decision to add an eastern element. The villain is a Japanese man and to defeat him, the hero has to learn something of the Japanese culture and fighting style. I would have liked to see this emphasized even more as it is the most unique aspect of the story.

 

If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable story set in the old west, I think this one will please you.