The Arizonans

by Brian Garfield

Since the end of the War of Rebellion, Eric Stratemeier thought he had put his past behind him for good. He came to the Arizona high country as the new owner of the embattled Hatchet outfit, boss to a dozen men and ten thousand cattle. But there his past was waiting for him, along with a passel of angry men who wanted the rich Hatchet spread for themselves. Stratemeier stood alone, with no law to back him, no secrets to shield him -- with sudden death breathing down his neck.

Genres: Westerns

147 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1961

About the author

Brian Francis Wynne Garfield was a novelist and screenwriter. He wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen, and gained prominence with 1975 his book Hopscotch, which won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He is best known for his 1972 novel Death Wish, which was adapted for the 1974 film of the same title, followed by four sequels, and a remake starring Bruce Willis.

His follow-up 1975 sequel to Death Wish, Death Sentence, was very loosely adapted into a film of the same name which was released to theaters in late 2007, though an entirely different storyline, but with the novel's same look on vigilantism. Garfield is also the author of The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Garfield's latest book, published in 2007, is Meinertzhagen, the biography of controversial British intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen.

Brian Garfield was the author of more than 70 books that sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and 19 of his works were made into films or TV shows. He also served as president of the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America.

Pseudonyms:
• Bennett Garland
• John Ives
• Drew Mallory
• Frank O'Brian
• Brian Wynne
• Frank Wynne

Reviews

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good western about a man who kills the wrong man in a revenge murder and then goes on the run for twenty years. When he tries to settle down his past catches up to him and he must fight to protect his ranch and his honor. Recommended to western fans.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of 13 Western stories edited by Bill Pronzini and Martin Greenberg. All stories take place in various locations around Arizona. It was published in 1989 by Fawcett. It is most likely out of print. I picked this up at a used bookstore, I'm sure, though I can't remember which one.

The anthology contains the following stories. All are reprints except for the Estleman entry.

All the stories are enjoyable. There wasn't a dud in the bunch. Some are better than others, of course, but all are excellent. The editors did a fine job of selecting stories.

The Tonto Woman by Elmore Leonard
The Angel of Santa Sofia by Loren D. Estleman
The Hunting of Tom Horn b Clay Fisher
One Night in the Red Dog Saloon by Hal G. Evarts
Buried Treasure by Stewart Edward White
Two-Gun Farewell by C.S. Park
Black Horses by Jay Lucas
Way of the Law in Calico by John Prescott
Specimen Jones by Owen Wister
The Tombstone Hearse by Edward D. Hoch
The Toll at Yeager's Ferry by Brian Garfield
Decision by Bill Pronzini
The Code of Arizona by W.C. Tuttle