Gun Boss of Tumbleweed

by L. Ron Hubbard

Mart Kincaid, a tall, ruggedly good-looking young man in the Clint Eastwood mold, may be the fastest gun in the state, but it does him no good—because his gun and his life are not his own. They belong to Gar Malone, the King of Concha Basin, a ruthless rancher driven by his thirst for power, wealth, and conquest.

Now Gar has set his sights on the Singing Canyon spread—the richest land in the basin—and he commands Kincaid to run its true owners off. If not, he threatens to reveal a dark secret that could ruin Kincaid’s brother.

But there’s more to the Singing Canyon ranch than Kincaid bargained for. There’s the Drake family—specifically the lovely young Sally Drake. The last thing Kincaid wants to do is drive her away. Meaning he’s got to get out from under Gar’s thumb, and put his trigger finger to work. It’s time to settle up, once and for all, with the blackmailing Malone.

Also includes the Western adventure Blood on His Spurs, in which two men have to find a way to end their feud … or pay a high price in blood and money.

“Heart-racing plot charges at the speed of thrumming horses’ hooves.” —Library Journal

Genres: Westerns

131 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2013

About the author

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard. Then too, of course, there is all L. Ron Hubbard represents as the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and thus the only major religion born in the 20th century.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gun Boss of Tumbleweed is one of L. Ron Hubbard's MANY adventure stories.

My favorite line went something like: "Well," he said briefly.

To be fair and kind, I'm tempted to give this two stars, because, it had some fun moments and an occasionally nice "old west" setting description.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains two of Hubbard's pulp stories from near to the end of his pulp writing career. They're both from Thrilling Western magazine, the title story from the April, 1949 issue, and Blood on His Spurs from the September, 1949 issue. They're both typical of their time, kind of formulaic stock Western stories. Gun Boss of Tumbleweed contains a reference to Tabasco sauce that I suspect is anachronistic, and a kind of uncomfortable ending in which the hero is going to wait for the rancher's daughter to age some. Blood of His Spurs is a better story, but does have a Chinese character with really inappropriately offensive sing-song dialog. They're typical pulp stories without too much to recommend them, but are good representatives of their kind and era.

[Mitchell Nash]

Dear L. Ron Hubbard

I have read your book gun boss of tumbleweed I really like Mart Kincaid is working for the ruthless and despicable land baron Gar Malone, helping to force people off their land. I feel he wanted to stand up and do what was right for everyone so he did it. The thing I disliked about the book was Mart Kincaid let Gar Malone be the boss of his life and he was the fast gun man. The reason I dislike that part is because if he know he was fast gun man he could have killed him to save his life and his brother from not let his Secret come out.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Nash

[Scott Haraburda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.

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Another exciting book. This audiobook, Gun Boss of Tumbleweed, is a Western short story from 1949. It’s about a very fast gunslinger, Mart Kincaid, who’s blackmailed into working for Gar Malone. In this story, Mart is ordered to Spring Canyon to remove the landowners, dead or alive. Along the way, he meets the Drake family, which so happens to contain a beautiful daughter named Sally.

The author, L. Ron Hubbard, is best known for his research on the subject of Dianetics and later Scientology . What most people may not realize is that he was a prolific fiction writer from 1932 to 1950. And, this story was from that era. With over 300 works, Hubbard wrote in different story genre, including Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Western. He was also known to have used various pseudonyms, including Legionnaire 148, Lieutenant Scott Morgan, John Seabrook, Tom Esterbrook, and Mister Spectator. The three stories in this set were probably influenced from this own military service in the US Navy in the 1940s, including World War II. Although he served, much of it was spent ashore in the continental US. And, his claims of what he did in the military conflicts with the official records.

With a multicast presentation, this audiobook was very entertaining. The narrators from Golden Age Stories allows one to lose themselves in this book with no noticeable problems that pulled one out of the story. In addition to the different voices this book was peppered with music and sound effects, making one believe that they’re dodging bullets along with the heroes and villains. All, making this an enjoyable experience.

Even though this adventure story was first published almost 70 years ago, I enjoyed listening to it today while believing that it could have just as easily been written within the last few years. A great listen for anyone wanting to enjoy a good short story on a long road-trip. Overall, if you like thrilling Western stories, this audiobook, Gun Boss of Tumbleweed, is probably worth listening. It’s quick and definitely entertaining.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good lord, this was an atrocious release. I've listened to one other of these pulp audiobooks from Galaxy Press, as it wasn't too bad (nor particularly great), but this one hits the bottom of the barrel with the title novelette -- the narrator veers between bored and amused (at one point he has to stifle a laugh) while the remainder of the cast, including the normally estimable Corey Burton, chew the scenery with gusto -- there are accents and deliveries here that remind me of Peter Purves playing a dude from Alabama in Doctor Who, which is quite cringe-worthy. This is without the quality of the actual story, which is minimal indeed -- it's thrown together from western tropes with no thought as to structure, which, given the circumstances under which is was written, is explainable. It's still creepy when main character Mark Kincaid, who's depicted as rather less than savoury, shows signs of lusting after another man's fourteen year old daughter.

The reason for the second star is that the second story isn't quite as awful, though once again is a bag of tropes thrown together.

Obtained via Goodreads First Reads.

[Willow Redd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads First Read giveaway score.

If not for the backup story "Blood on His Spurs," I probably would have given this one three stars. While Gun Boss of the Tumbleweed is a decent enough story, there's nothing particularly special about it. It's enjoyable, but a predictable western formula. Gunslinger forced to work for a bad man, questioning his life choices, ends up saving the daughter of his boss's current rival for a certain spread of land. He likes both the girl and the man he's there to get rid of, so which direction will this story be going?

This was one of those "could have been better with a few minor adjustment" stories, but like I said, it's enjoyable. The audio format helps because it's like listening to a radio play.

The backup story, "Blood on His Spurs," another western yarn, is a better story and I wish there had been more to it. This one is about honor, family, and the past; and it is really a well done little tale.

I enjoyed both these stories for what they are, pulp. Not on the same level as the pulp masters, but entertaining.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I had no idea this was an audio book. I am not a fan of audio books because they play out the story in a different tone then I would perceive it. This was an okay listen for me. Kincaid’s mother had an accent that sounded like an islander trying to do western and it was just strange. The story was kind of dull. Narrator was okay and the actors who played the major character and protagonist were good. The rest of the voice-overs were either okay or bad. The story had me at moments, but it was mostly background noise. Do not recommend unless you can tolerate audio books.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this audiobook through the Goodreads Firstreads program.

The story itself is...cheesy, and corny, and hokey, with undeveloped characters and stereotyped dialogue. The narration(by the actors) is fine, but one gets the feeling even the actors don't take it seriously.

The worst part is, I got the feeling the author was laughing at the publishing world. I think he was that jerk who says, looking at a Picasso, "my 5year old could paint that.". No, sir, your 5 year old could NOT paint that. It was only an hour and a half long, roughly to and from work two days in a row, and the only think that kept me from moving on to another audiobook was not having an unread one in the car.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pure pulp adventure – from the days when all kinds of magazines flooded the newsstands and news stores – maybe you have seen them – there were magazines for every taste – romance, westerns, science fiction, adventure – the list goes on – and these two stories are great
examples of those.

Maybe your taste doesn’t run to westerns – I don’t read a lot of the stuff – but these two tales will keep you entertained on your coffee break or lunch hour or on your ride to work or just over breakfast in the morning – they are just a lot of fun!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a completely random pick up for me, but when I saw L. Ron Hubbard and pulp western, I was intrigued. In fact I had no idea that mr Hubbard even wrote pulp stories at all. My knowledge of the man is minimal. I know he wrote Dianetics and that he was friends with Robert Heinlein (at least that's what I've heard). As far as characterization and a plot that moves, this ain't too bad. It was a quick read, very entertaining, and it's just sort of amusing to know that such an influential pseudo-spiritual leader actually wrote such tropes as this for a living.

[Damián · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I try an audio book that is 2 hours long, and I can't say it's bad cause it has a lot of good things on it, the sound effects in the background suited perfectly, some of the voice actors were actually pretty good, others were ok, and the stories in it where kinda cool, was a little hard for me to follow the story at times since in not use to long stories audio books, having the paperback while listening would have helped a lot, I think it would have been more enjoyable, but it's nice to listen while you are doing something else.

[Joyce Yanney · Rating 3 out of 5]

An audiobook of a western story in 1949. A gunslinger, Mart Kincaid, has been blackmailed into helping a ruthless man, Gar Malone. Mart uses his gun to threaten people to leave their home and land or be removed, dead or alive. Then he meets the Drake family and beautiful daughter. Things change. A great listening for story traveling down the road, for all that like westerns. The story was very entertaining. A book my dad would have enjoyed

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this audio CD in a Goodreads giveaway. It's the first audio book I've listened to, and I enjoyed the experience. It's a short story (only about 2 hours). I liked the main character, and found the story interesting and easy to follow, although the "romance" aspect of the book wasn't developed at all, and was just kind of there. The CD also included a bonus story, which was OK but nothing special.

[Moon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that this gunslinger western is a good story... the actor reading it made me take away three stars... he sounds bored and uninterested in the story he is telling.

But I do have to say that it made me want to READ som of L. Ron Hubbards books, because I did enjoy the story.

BTW.. I won this on goodreads, thanks :)

[Kathleen Yohanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book on CDs free from the Goodreads First read program.

I only gave this book one star. It was written by L. Ron Hubbard who is an accomplished writer.

It follows a few days in the life of a reluctant gunslinger. I don't usually read westerns, so the dialog was strange to me. I didn't appreciate this book. I found it confusing. Others might enjoy it however.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gun Boss of Tumbleweed by L.Ron Hubbard
Goodreads author

I received a set of 2 CD's . Being it was audio, I had trouble following the story.
I have never had CD's before and prefer the book. The story is a real western , loved the music,
could even hear the horses running. Great audio.

[Shellyc · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely something out of my usual reading genre. However, it was a very interesting, new experience. Two stars mostly because this is not my cup of tea. But there are redeeming factors that those who like this genre will throughly enjoy.

Obtained via Goodreads First Reads.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty good book kept me interested

[Rachella Baker]

I won this book on goodreads in july but never received,could you check into this for me,thankyou
rachella baker

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won & received this book on cd through Goodreads.

I found it really hard to listen too. It bored me and I thought it really over the top. I expected more out of L. Ron Hubbard. :(

[Jeff]

Thank you. I just won this audio CD book in a first reads giveaway. I will listen and comment once I get the audio book.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good reading of two decent westerns by L Ron Hubbard.

The music was good, and I enjoyed the action in the second tale quite a bit.

[Ron]

Classic pulp Western. Nothing fancy, reads like an old Roy Rogers B movie.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book via the Goodreads First Reads program.

This book was intriguing. I thought it had a good amount of suspense, and had a nice plot line.

[James Mourgos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couple of good Western yarns. A man getting along in years has been bested by his worst enemy -- but who's the real enemy? Another tale of Western pulp fiction in "Blood on his Spurs." That with "Gunboss of Tumbleweed" make for some fun pulpy fiction.