The Name's Buchanan

Buchanan #1

by Jonas Ward

He was a tall son—taller than most men by a head, with a look of wildness in his battered, tough face.

He was Tom Buchanan out of West Texas, who fought with joy and loved with gusto—who many times had gone to meet death without pause and with great good nature.

This time he took on the whole of Agry County and the violent bandit clan that ran it. It was no fight of his—but a girl had been violated and a family’s honor tarnished.

So Buchanan settled his gunbelt and flexed his great hands and went surging into battle like a one-man troop of cavalry.

And, by God, in the end there was left even to burn in Agrytown …

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

125 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1956

About the author

A pseudonym used by William Ard. House name from 1960 to 1986.

In 1956, hardboiled writer William Ard turned his pen westward and introduced one of the genre’s most enduring characters: Thomas Buchanan, better known as just “Buchanan,” a drifter as likeable as he is deadly. The first novel in the series was called The Name’s Buchanan and appeared under the pseudonym “Jonas Ward.”

Only the first 6 books in the series were written by Ard, and the last, Buchanan on the Prod, was completed by Robert Silverberg.

After Ard's death in 1960 "Jonas Ward" became a house name. Brian Garfield did one and then William R. Cox took over the series and it continued until 1986.

Reviews

[Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish every Western novel I read could be as fast-moving as this.
I've been trying to amass the complete Buchanan novels for the past 4 years.
I'm close but have yet to complete the entire series run.

When we meet Buchanan he's heading north out of Mexico after serving as a gun-for-hire in the service of a Mexican bandito modeled on Pancho Villa. He comes to the aid of a young girl who's been raped, beaten into unconsciousness and left to drown face-down in a stream by her assailant.
Buchanan delivers the young woman to her family and goes on his way, anxious to get back to Texas and on to California.
Instead he winds up in the middle of a war between two families.

Extremely fast-paced and a most enjoyable read.
Recommended to readers new to the Western genre as well as long-time Western fans.

This novel was adapted by screenwriter Charles Lang for the great director Budd Boetticher as a vehicle for Randoph Scott and released as "Buchanan Rides Alone" in 1958. It's one of Randolph Scott's best Westerns.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only recently found out that the first six Buchanan books were written by a writer named William Ard. The seventh was started by Ard before he died, and finished by Robert Silverberg. The eighth was written by Brian Garfield and the rest by William R. Cox. I didn't know this when I first read through various books in the series and I judged all of them as by the same writer, not realizing that Jonas Ward was actually four different people. I went back to look at the works I'd reviewed in the series and found that I liked the Ard books considerably better than the later books by another author.

This book was the first in the series, written by Ard, and is really a solid four star work in my book. I'm going to go back and revisit my reviews of the other Buchanan books and clarify them with the new information I've been given.

[Jim Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buchanan is a former hired gun for the Mexican Revolution. He just wants to leave that behind and return to the US when he rescues a young woman who has been attacked. After she’s brought to her family he plans on heading out, but he winds up getting caught up in a fight between two families on either side of the US/Mexican border.

This book was written by William Ard writing as Jonas Ward. He also wrote hard boiled detective novels and it really shows. It often felt like a western noir.

The book was fast paced with some hard boiled dialogue. There was some humor as well. It had a great cast of characters and the conflict between them all was well done. I loved it.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent western, but nothing special. I'd try more of the Buchanan books but they won't be at the top of the list.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining enough book, but how this was turned into such a long series, I don't know. Buchanan doesn't really stand out as a cowboy hero other than having the crap beat out of him routinely and showing zero ill effects from it.

[John Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Buchanan is a West Texan who's been fighting in a revolution in Mexico. Tired of the corruption, he heads home - and discovers that Americans can be just as bad when he lands in Agry country. The corrupt sheriff and his even worse brother are trying to build an empire, and Buchanan is in their way.

The first in a popular series, this is immense fun, with a collection of entertaining characters and an offbeat plot. Buchanan just wants to be peaceably left alone, but he keeps collecting unwanted sidekicks, sadistic enemies and hot-blooded women. Life can get complicated for a man called Buchanan...

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a bunch of these Buchanan books when I was a kid. My dad had stacks and stacks of westerns around, along with ERB's Mars series and Howard's Conan and other books of that nature.

Buchanan is a character that made an impression on me at a young age, so I've been collecting these when I can find them and plan on rereading them all, if I can.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy the Buchanan books, Tom Buchanan is a character with courage, integrity and honor. The stories are simplistic but timeless.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, tough, western tale, first in the series. Good stuff.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this over the course of a 3 hour plane ride. Opened it on takeoff and finished on descent. Perfect! My copy looks exactly like this.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by William Ard, Buchanan is a traveling bum. Though he is a tough man, good with guns and fighting in general. He comes up on a violated young woman, who he tended to the best he could. Running into her family he was able to give her to them and keep heading away from Mexico. However he falls into the family business again, this time dealing with the son, when he helps him. This starts a battle where there won't be much left of a town or of Buchanan one.

Highly recommended, looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In most westerns, the hero doesn't get beat all to crap. Happens to Buchanan. I think that's why I like this guy. Except that I would complain and groan more.
In this book, Buchanan leaves Mexico, happy to be returning to the US. Things don't go smoothly the very first day. Go figure.

[Bradley Schlieper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick story!

[Piker7977 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-reading western.

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