What do you think?
Rate this book
Wyatt in Wichita: A Historical Novel
Author John Shirley turns his pen to the Wild West and the legendary Wyatt Earp!
Wyatt in Wichita fuses historical fact with fiction, following the adventures of the young Wyatt Earp. Following the tragic loss of his first wife in the Missouri of 1870 in his early days on the dark side of the West, Wyatt eventually makes his way to Ellsworth and Wichita, where by confronting corruption he would eventually finally find his life’s work as a tough lawman.
Could Wyatt Earp have known Billy the Kid when the kid was really just that? Could Wyatt have met up with Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood? Using the sparse trails of historical evidence available to him, the lives of the famous and infamous intersect in Shirley’s novel, which revolves around Wyatt’s search for the murderer of an innocent young woman of Wichita. With Bat Masterson at his side, and bawdy girls about him in the smoky light of crowded saloons, Shirley explores the possible origins of the legendary figure who would forever remain synonymous with the Wild West.
Stemming from a true passion and interest in one of the Wild West’s most indelible characters, Wyatt in Wichita is a thrilling read and an imagined glimpse into a seldom-seen side of Wyatt Earp and the untamed frontiers of early America.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Wyatt in Wichita fuses historical fact with fiction, following the adventures of the young Wyatt Earp. Following the tragic loss of his first wife in the Missouri of 1870 in his early days on the dark side of the West, Wyatt eventually makes his way to Ellsworth and Wichita, where by confronting corruption he would eventually finally find his life’s work as a tough lawman.
Could Wyatt Earp have known Billy the Kid when the kid was really just that? Could Wyatt have met up with Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood? Using the sparse trails of historical evidence available to him, the lives of the famous and infamous intersect in Shirley’s novel, which revolves around Wyatt’s search for the murderer of an innocent young woman of Wichita. With Bat Masterson at his side, and bawdy girls about him in the smoky light of crowded saloons, Shirley explores the possible origins of the legendary figure who would forever remain synonymous with the Wild West.
Stemming from a true passion and interest in one of the Wild West’s most indelible characters, Wyatt in Wichita is a thrilling read and an imagined glimpse into a seldom-seen side of Wyatt Earp and the untamed frontiers of early America.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
47 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
John Shirley
320 books463 followersJohn Shirley won the Bram Stoker Award for his story collection Black Butterflies, and is the author of numerous novels, including the best-seller DEMONS, the cyberpunk classics CITY COME A-WALKIN', ECLIPSE, and BLACK GLASS, and his newest novels STORMLAND and A SORCERER OF ATLANTIS.
He is also a screenwriter, having written for television and movies; he was co-screenwriter of THE CROW. He has been several Year's Best anthologies including Prime Books' THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR anthology, and his nwest story collection is IN EXTREMIS: THE MOST EXTREME SHORT STORIES OF JOHN SHIRLEY. His novel BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE telling the story of the creation and undoing of Rapture, from the hit videogame BIOSHOCK is out from TOR books; his Halo novel, HALO: BROKEN CIRCLE is coming out from Pocket Books.
His most recent novels are STORMLAND and (forthcoming) AXLE BUST CREEK. His new story collection is THE FEVERISH STARS. STORMLAND and other John Shirley novels are available as audiobooks.
He is also a lyricist, having written lyrics for 18 songs recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult (especially on their albums Heaven Forbidden and Curse of the Hidden Mirror), and his own recordings.
John Shirley has written only one nonfiction book, GURDJIEFF: AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, published by Penguin/Jeremy Tarcher.
John Shirley story collections include BLACK BUTTERFLIES, IN EXTREMIS, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WEIRD STORIES, and LIVING SHADOWS.
source: Amazon
He is also a screenwriter, having written for television and movies; he was co-screenwriter of THE CROW. He has been several Year's Best anthologies including Prime Books' THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR anthology, and his nwest story collection is IN EXTREMIS: THE MOST EXTREME SHORT STORIES OF JOHN SHIRLEY. His novel BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE telling the story of the creation and undoing of Rapture, from the hit videogame BIOSHOCK is out from TOR books; his Halo novel, HALO: BROKEN CIRCLE is coming out from Pocket Books.
His most recent novels are STORMLAND and (forthcoming) AXLE BUST CREEK. His new story collection is THE FEVERISH STARS. STORMLAND and other John Shirley novels are available as audiobooks.
He is also a lyricist, having written lyrics for 18 songs recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult (especially on their albums Heaven Forbidden and Curse of the Hidden Mirror), and his own recordings.
John Shirley has written only one nonfiction book, GURDJIEFF: AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, published by Penguin/Jeremy Tarcher.
John Shirley story collections include BLACK BUTTERFLIES, IN EXTREMIS, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WEIRD STORIES, and LIVING SHADOWS.
source: Amazon
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2017
This is a historical fiction western. Shirley tells the story of the early years of Wyatt Earp. The author has done extensive research on Earp which shows in the story. Shirley uses fictionalized dialogue and actions to tell about the early life of Earp.
The book starts in Ellsworth, Missouri and includes the death of Urilla Sutherland, his first wife from typhoid fever during childbirth. In real life, the tragedy led to Earp’s depression and his questionable behavior. The story proceeded on to Wichita, Kansas and to Deadwood in Dakota territory. There is also a mystery as Wyatt solves the murder of Dandy, a young girl from Louisiana. The story has action and lots of interesting characters and real life people.
John Shirley is an award-winning author. John McLean does a good job narrating the story. McLean is a voice over artist and audiobook narrator.
The book starts in Ellsworth, Missouri and includes the death of Urilla Sutherland, his first wife from typhoid fever during childbirth. In real life, the tragedy led to Earp’s depression and his questionable behavior. The story proceeded on to Wichita, Kansas and to Deadwood in Dakota territory. There is also a mystery as Wyatt solves the murder of Dandy, a young girl from Louisiana. The story has action and lots of interesting characters and real life people.
John Shirley is an award-winning author. John McLean does a good job narrating the story. McLean is a voice over artist and audiobook narrator.
November 7, 2015
This was a very interesting, entertaining read.
Wyatt Earp is shown in this novel to be a "normal" man, and not necessarily the "super-lawman" we normally see him portrayed as in movies such as "Tombstone" and "Wyatt". He was a rabble-rowser, ran a riverboat brothel, a drunk, and one that was viewed as an all-around trouble maker. Until he grew up, that is.
This book covers the years he spent in Ellsworth and Wichita, Kansas, in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and as a shotgun rider on a Wells-Fargo stagecoach to Colorado Springs. In an interesting twist which was quite possible, he took in Henry McCabe (later to become William Bonney-Billy the Kid), stood side by side with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, share deputy duties with Bat Masterson.
The research that went into this vivid novel is exceptional. While this is a fictionalized account a great Western hero, it felt very real and very possible.
I'm not a fan of westerns by any means, but this book makes me want to dig further into the history of Wyatt Earp.
Wyatt Earp is shown in this novel to be a "normal" man, and not necessarily the "super-lawman" we normally see him portrayed as in movies such as "Tombstone" and "Wyatt". He was a rabble-rowser, ran a riverboat brothel, a drunk, and one that was viewed as an all-around trouble maker. Until he grew up, that is.
This book covers the years he spent in Ellsworth and Wichita, Kansas, in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and as a shotgun rider on a Wells-Fargo stagecoach to Colorado Springs. In an interesting twist which was quite possible, he took in Henry McCabe (later to become William Bonney-Billy the Kid), stood side by side with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, share deputy duties with Bat Masterson.
The research that went into this vivid novel is exceptional. While this is a fictionalized account a great Western hero, it felt very real and very possible.
I'm not a fan of westerns by any means, but this book makes me want to dig further into the history of Wyatt Earp.
December 15, 2025
3.5 🌟
Well, I wanted to try something a bit different, this was definitely different for me and I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it. Sometimes audible plus is great for this!
Well, I wanted to try something a bit different, this was definitely different for me and I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it. Sometimes audible plus is great for this!
September 24, 2014
Wyatt’s story is part mystery, part historical fiction, all western. He’s the flawed, badass, poker-faced, don’t-take-no-shit lawman that every Western aficionado secretly wishes to be. The man who hates unfinished things. Shirley writes him well, and establishes a great tension between Earp and the megalomaniacal laird Pierce, along with Pierce’s murderous hired gun, Johann Burke, which results in an intense, satisfying resolution that doesn’t hesitate to look closely at the grisly reality of violence. A great read
March 29, 2017
Part conjecture, part history, this book paints a vivid picture of Wyatt Earp, a restless but courageous man. The story begins slowly but soon heats up, and we meet a number of legendary law (and lawless) Western characters. If you enjoy historical fiction, I reckon you'll like this book.
September 20, 2020
This was an engrossing story about Wyatt's beginnings.
around 1874/5 in Witchita - [Wyatt] was just about to enter Rowdy Joe's when two men came tumbling out the door, flailing wildly at one another. The smaller one, sprawling in the dirt, was trying to grab a fallen pistol with one hand, kicking at the other drunk the while. Wyatt picked up the gun and tossed it out of reach, thinking to stop at least one killing. The men rolled about on the ground, thrashing at one another and cursing, right to the toes of Wyatt's boots, forcing him to step over them. He was tempted to step in - something in him fairly ached to do it - but he reminded himself he was no longer a constable or a deputy anywhere. He was just an unconvicted horse thief and a former bawdy house bouncer. He sighed, and walked into the saloon.
"Tomas," Wyatt said, "what's an Apache doing so far North?"
Sanchez shrugged. "I am but only half Apache. My mother. My father, he worked up here for the railroad. He come back and die there, Texas. They treated him like el perro there. Up here, he had work and respect. I come to find it."
There was threat of Indians too, out here. "Tomas, you talk Sioux much, since you been up this way? I mean lately?"
"Some. I went hunting, come across some Lakota. I know one of them."
"They going to war on us?"
"Some want war. Some don't. There was a treaty, to say the white man can't come here to the sacred Black Hills. Then comes Custer, finding gold...no treaty anymore. So some want to fight."
Wyatt nodded. "The President did try to negotiate with them. Tried to buy the land. They wouldn't sell."
"Belongs to the ancestors. The spirits. Not theirs to sell. They say Deadwood is stealing their land."
"That how you feel about it? The Sioux were cheated?"
"I feel about it...that maybe some other tribe had this land, long ago, and the Sioux took it. People push people. Some people are better than others but everybody has to move and push, sometime." He fell silent, drank liquor and stared into the fire, its flames doubled in his eyes. "But I tell you something - I don't like a...a mentiroso. A man who tells no truth."
"I agree with you there, Tomas. Governments sometimes lie. There's so many people under them, why, if they tell the truth they're bound to make someone mad. Easier to lie."
around 1874/5 in Witchita - [Wyatt] was just about to enter Rowdy Joe's when two men came tumbling out the door, flailing wildly at one another. The smaller one, sprawling in the dirt, was trying to grab a fallen pistol with one hand, kicking at the other drunk the while. Wyatt picked up the gun and tossed it out of reach, thinking to stop at least one killing. The men rolled about on the ground, thrashing at one another and cursing, right to the toes of Wyatt's boots, forcing him to step over them. He was tempted to step in - something in him fairly ached to do it - but he reminded himself he was no longer a constable or a deputy anywhere. He was just an unconvicted horse thief and a former bawdy house bouncer. He sighed, and walked into the saloon.
"Tomas," Wyatt said, "what's an Apache doing so far North?"
Sanchez shrugged. "I am but only half Apache. My mother. My father, he worked up here for the railroad. He come back and die there, Texas. They treated him like el perro there. Up here, he had work and respect. I come to find it."
There was threat of Indians too, out here. "Tomas, you talk Sioux much, since you been up this way? I mean lately?"
"Some. I went hunting, come across some Lakota. I know one of them."
"They going to war on us?"
"Some want war. Some don't. There was a treaty, to say the white man can't come here to the sacred Black Hills. Then comes Custer, finding gold...no treaty anymore. So some want to fight."
Wyatt nodded. "The President did try to negotiate with them. Tried to buy the land. They wouldn't sell."
"Belongs to the ancestors. The spirits. Not theirs to sell. They say Deadwood is stealing their land."
"That how you feel about it? The Sioux were cheated?"
"I feel about it...that maybe some other tribe had this land, long ago, and the Sioux took it. People push people. Some people are better than others but everybody has to move and push, sometime." He fell silent, drank liquor and stared into the fire, its flames doubled in his eyes. "But I tell you something - I don't like a...a mentiroso. A man who tells no truth."
"I agree with you there, Tomas. Governments sometimes lie. There's so many people under them, why, if they tell the truth they're bound to make someone mad. Easier to lie."
October 19, 2014
Nothing short of a masterpiece. John Shirley, one of the founding fathers of the cyberpunk literary genre, turns his considerable talents to the Wild West in this blend of historical fiction and fact. This is the untold story of a young Wyatt Earp, before Dodge City, before Tombstone, and before the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral. As frontier fiction, it's right up there with the best of Larry McMurtry and the early westerns of Elmore Leonard. As historical fiction, the story weaves it's way across the territories from Wichita to Deadwood, crossing paths with well known figures like Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, Martha "Calamity" Jane Cannary, Charlie Utter, and many others, bringing them to life as never before. The novel is dark, but uplifting; unflinchingly violent, but heartfelt. Shirley's decision to use a period voice even in his omniscient narration was bold, but flawlessly executed. It's also a thrilling, action-packed, rip-roaring tale, well told. Don't miss it!
December 11, 2015
Another of my finds at the Tribune, John Shirley's historical novel about Wyatt Earp's early days as a lawman is both entertaining and interesting.
This book captures an earlier version of Earp than some of the recent very successful historical fiction about him. At this point, his side kick is Bat Masterson rather than Doc Holliday.
But the righteous Earp is the same character, just a younger, less experienced version of the man who would end up in Tombstone. And the mingling of real and fictional characters makes it a very good historical fiction effort.
This book captures an earlier version of Earp than some of the recent very successful historical fiction about him. At this point, his side kick is Bat Masterson rather than Doc Holliday.
But the righteous Earp is the same character, just a younger, less experienced version of the man who would end up in Tombstone. And the mingling of real and fictional characters makes it a very good historical fiction effort.
November 27, 2025
Obviously I am right in the pocket for this kind of fare, and it starts well enough - rich in detail, big characters, ripe Western dialogue, hookers with hearts of gold and all that jazz.
But as the narrative unwinds into a series of side quests, this starts to feel more and more like a certain popular Wild West-set video game (Protect the stagecoach! Protect the train! Bring Mr DeWittiger his magic gloves!), and then a series of cringe-inducing Old West Easter eggs really locked in the sense that what I was reading was fan fiction, not a ‘historical novel’ of any seriousness or note.
Big chapter-long villain monologue/exposition dump at the end. Urgh.
I enjoyed it just about well enough while it lasted, but by most traditional metrics, this is not good.
But as the narrative unwinds into a series of side quests, this starts to feel more and more like a certain popular Wild West-set video game (Protect the stagecoach! Protect the train! Bring Mr DeWittiger his magic gloves!), and then a series of cringe-inducing Old West Easter eggs really locked in the sense that what I was reading was fan fiction, not a ‘historical novel’ of any seriousness or note.
Big chapter-long villain monologue/exposition dump at the end. Urgh.
I enjoyed it just about well enough while it lasted, but by most traditional metrics, this is not good.
October 17, 2017
Slow, convoluted.
I love historical fiction but this was a slog to get through. Hard to follow. Cheesy descriptions. I got 95% through and couldn't muster the interest to finish.
I love historical fiction but this was a slog to get through. Hard to follow. Cheesy descriptions. I got 95% through and couldn't muster the interest to finish.
November 28, 2023
An interesting look into what might have been going on behind Wyatt Earp's stoic exterior, along with a good adventure plot interwoven with historical happenings.
January 28, 2025
Interesting novel,
Real events/rumours with artistic embellishments.
Quite a standard western when all is said and done.
Real events/rumours with artistic embellishments.
Quite a standard western when all is said and done.
October 1, 2014
Wyatt in Wichita is a novel I have been reading about for a long time. Being that one of all time favorite authors was spending years working on passion project western, I had of course been intrigued. I really hate to think of authors ever as totally genre exclusive, I mean in this case John Shirley while know as both a Horror and Science Fiction writer transcends the genre almost everything he writes a novel marketed in either genre.
Authors known for genre fiction have a history of writing historical novels that they consider some of their best work, and often they end up pleading with their readers to pay attention to these books. David Morrell a thriller writer known as the father of Rambo had this experience with the Last Reveille and F.Paul Wilson with Black Wind (However The Wilson novel fits into his mythos and doesn't feel like a departure to me). Each are excellent novels, and WIW clear deserves equal praise.
While a historical western on surface seems like a departure for the writer who stories were once called Lollipops of Pain, Shirley was up to his old tricks. He delivered an intense view of the world just set in this period.
Focused on a less famous part of the legendary life of Wyatt Earp's life this novel follows a fictionalized murder case. This is a tool to explore the life of the famous sometimes Lawman sometimes gambler. While sometimes the legend paints a hero, or villain the strength of this novel is shades of grey Shirley paints with. This novel has plenty of action but it is above all a character study.
I recently read/reviewd a horror western that I thought lacked many elements needed for a successful Western I was pleased that they were all here. Period accurate action, engulfing natural landscapes that jumped off the page and characters that made me a little uncomfortable. That is a western in a nut shell.
I found myself dog earing some pages and some quotes that I really liked. Many of things quotes will show off the tiny details that set the western tone such as…
“It was largely a land without Borders - something that attracted him and disturbed him both. The land didn't need laws. But the people did."
“The room was quiet, for a moment, but for their breathing. Santilli waited for the order to commence shooting.”
“It was a hot day, though scarely past midmorning. When the weather turned in the Dakotas, Swinnington reflected, it turned like a marching solider doing a left face.”
Read it!
Authors known for genre fiction have a history of writing historical novels that they consider some of their best work, and often they end up pleading with their readers to pay attention to these books. David Morrell a thriller writer known as the father of Rambo had this experience with the Last Reveille and F.Paul Wilson with Black Wind (However The Wilson novel fits into his mythos and doesn't feel like a departure to me). Each are excellent novels, and WIW clear deserves equal praise.
While a historical western on surface seems like a departure for the writer who stories were once called Lollipops of Pain, Shirley was up to his old tricks. He delivered an intense view of the world just set in this period.
Focused on a less famous part of the legendary life of Wyatt Earp's life this novel follows a fictionalized murder case. This is a tool to explore the life of the famous sometimes Lawman sometimes gambler. While sometimes the legend paints a hero, or villain the strength of this novel is shades of grey Shirley paints with. This novel has plenty of action but it is above all a character study.
I recently read/reviewd a horror western that I thought lacked many elements needed for a successful Western I was pleased that they were all here. Period accurate action, engulfing natural landscapes that jumped off the page and characters that made me a little uncomfortable. That is a western in a nut shell.
I found myself dog earing some pages and some quotes that I really liked. Many of things quotes will show off the tiny details that set the western tone such as…
“It was largely a land without Borders - something that attracted him and disturbed him both. The land didn't need laws. But the people did."
“The room was quiet, for a moment, but for their breathing. Santilli waited for the order to commence shooting.”
“It was a hot day, though scarely past midmorning. When the weather turned in the Dakotas, Swinnington reflected, it turned like a marching solider doing a left face.”
Read it!
November 8, 2014
Interesting book, Western history about Wyatt Earp in his younger days while in Witchita, Kansas. It is also a detective story of Wyatt sleuthing about the death of a young woman. Finally, did Wyatt befriend the young Billy the Kid?
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews