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Elmore Leonard's Western Roundup #1
Elmore Leonard's Western Roundup #1: Bounty Hunters, Forty Lashes Less One, and Gunsights
Bounty He is a legend in the rugged Arizona Territory--a U.S. cavalry-turned-army scout--and the only man alive who can bring in the fierce Mimbre Apache called Soldado Viejo. But for David Flynn, tracking down an elusive Indian with a price on his head south of the border is a dangerous business...especially when a cunning outlaw and a murderous bounty hunter dog his path. Now Flynn's riding hard for trouble on a bloody trail of treachery and slaughter in a lawless land where a man's got to watch his back against friend and enemy, red man and white man alike. And if he's Flynn--on the deadliest mission of his career--that means a one-way trip into a sultry desert hell...where the hunter is about to become the hunted...and where one man's struggle for justice has just erupted in the battle of his life....
Forty Lashes Less A hellhole like Yuma Prison does all sorts of things to a man. Mostly it makes him want to escape. For two men facing life sentences--Harold Jackson, the only black man behind the walls, and Raymond San Carlos, an Apache halfbreed--a breakout seemed nigh on impossible. That is, until the law gave them two rot in a cell, or track down and bring back the five most ruthless men in Arizona.
Brendan Early and Dana Moon. They were always something to see; real professionals, two of the toughest characters any man ever aimed a gun at. Sure they spent half their time feuding. But once there was the smell of guns and maybe a hint of glory in the air, they teamed up--armed to the teeth to grin down to trouble. Now they were holed up on an Arizona mountain with a copper war primed to explode in their faces. Early and Moon, together they fought through hell. Now they've got a fight to the finish.
Forty Lashes Less A hellhole like Yuma Prison does all sorts of things to a man. Mostly it makes him want to escape. For two men facing life sentences--Harold Jackson, the only black man behind the walls, and Raymond San Carlos, an Apache halfbreed--a breakout seemed nigh on impossible. That is, until the law gave them two rot in a cell, or track down and bring back the five most ruthless men in Arizona.
Brendan Early and Dana Moon. They were always something to see; real professionals, two of the toughest characters any man ever aimed a gun at. Sure they spent half their time feuding. But once there was the smell of guns and maybe a hint of glory in the air, they teamed up--armed to the teeth to grin down to trouble. Now they were holed up on an Arizona mountain with a copper war primed to explode in their faces. Early and Moon, together they fought through hell. Now they've got a fight to the finish.
512 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 1998
About the author
Elmore Leonard
205 books3,769 followersElmore John Leonard lived in Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis before settling in Detroit in 1935. After serving in the navy, he studied English literature at the University of Detroit where he entered a short story competition. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
Father of Peter Leonard.
Father of Peter Leonard.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 28, 2016
This is a reread for me. There are many great western writers--Louis Lamour, Zane Grey, etc.--and Elmore Leonard is right up there at the top. His westerns perhaps aren't as well-known as his later crime novels, but they should be. This book contains three novellas, which I would rate as follows: The Bounty Hunters-four stars, Forty Lashes Less One--four and a half, Gunsights-- three.
His stories feature gritty action, principled good guys, awful bad guys, and his usual spare dialog. Definitely escapist fiction, but well-done and very satisfying (except for Gunsights, which has the usual excellent ingredients, but is kind of a mess).
His stories feature gritty action, principled good guys, awful bad guys, and his usual spare dialog. Definitely escapist fiction, but well-done and very satisfying (except for Gunsights, which has the usual excellent ingredients, but is kind of a mess).
November 5, 2022
This is a must read for anyone interested in "genre" literature.
Three volumes in the collection. I've read them all and all of it is incredible writing that every budding author should read! I write this as an aspiring novelist in the Elmore Leonard sense of that term.
Leonard began his career writing westerns, quite amazing because even from the beginning the same themes are already in place. The situations are always interesting and surprising, with smart and cool twists in the plot. Unlike his later books, the dialogue in the western books isn't as much of a feature. He became really known for the dialogue, which is the only reason i mention this.
With one or two exceptions, the western books feature white main characters, but quite often in these novels, Leonard is interested in subverting the racial stereotypes of the time. Some of these are written early, fifties or sixties.
Many of his characters are black or native American. Often these characters are severely underestimated by the racist whites, who believe them to be different classes of sub-human. He treats the characters as equally intelligent people, capable of using the white man's racism against him in very cool and smart ways.
All in, a must read!
Three volumes in the collection. I've read them all and all of it is incredible writing that every budding author should read! I write this as an aspiring novelist in the Elmore Leonard sense of that term.
Leonard began his career writing westerns, quite amazing because even from the beginning the same themes are already in place. The situations are always interesting and surprising, with smart and cool twists in the plot. Unlike his later books, the dialogue in the western books isn't as much of a feature. He became really known for the dialogue, which is the only reason i mention this.
With one or two exceptions, the western books feature white main characters, but quite often in these novels, Leonard is interested in subverting the racial stereotypes of the time. Some of these are written early, fifties or sixties.
Many of his characters are black or native American. Often these characters are severely underestimated by the racist whites, who believe them to be different classes of sub-human. He treats the characters as equally intelligent people, capable of using the white man's racism against him in very cool and smart ways.
All in, a must read!
April 22, 2025
*Bounty Hunters* is easily the worst Leonard novel of the 18 I've read, but it's serviceable & interesting for being his 1st novel. 3 stars.
*40 Lashes -1* is one of the very best Leonard westerns (along w/ *Hombre* & *Valdez Is Coming*), & it's a screaming shame that we never got a QT adaptation of it in the late 90s or early 00s staring Samuel L. & Zahn McClarnon. 5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook (normally a great way to experience Leonard novels) of *Gunsights, but don't feel like I have a good handle on it, so I'll probably revisit it in a few years. Very interesting as Leonard's last western & for its meta commentary on western writing. 4 stars
*40 Lashes -1* is one of the very best Leonard westerns (along w/ *Hombre* & *Valdez Is Coming*), & it's a screaming shame that we never got a QT adaptation of it in the late 90s or early 00s staring Samuel L. & Zahn McClarnon. 5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook (normally a great way to experience Leonard novels) of *Gunsights, but don't feel like I have a good handle on it, so I'll probably revisit it in a few years. Very interesting as Leonard's last western & for its meta commentary on western writing. 4 stars
September 29, 2021
Funny talk. Air of times. Ex-soldier Early, ex-Indian agent Moon, and few Apaches, Mexicans, pals, against bad Shadeen and big mining company. Typo: 3.3 heresay * hearsay
February 7, 2014
Elmore Leonard certainly has a command of the English language and is able to transfer his thoughts onto paper. However, the first story, "The Bounty Hunters", was a struggle for me to finish. The topographical description was extremely actuate but the story was brutal, difficult to follow and hardly believable.
"Forty Lashes Less One" was a very enjoyable read. Standing on its own I would give the story 4 stars. This particular work was categorized as fiction but the setting was certainly historical, centered around the Yuma Territorial Prison at the turn of the century before it closed. The dialog was believable as were the characters. The plot kept my attention with twists and turns and had somewhat of a surprise ending.
For me, "Gunsights" was mediocre, at best. It was slow moving and only slightly believable. I nearly put the book down on several occasions.
"Forty Lashes Less One" was a very enjoyable read. Standing on its own I would give the story 4 stars. This particular work was categorized as fiction but the setting was certainly historical, centered around the Yuma Territorial Prison at the turn of the century before it closed. The dialog was believable as were the characters. The plot kept my attention with twists and turns and had somewhat of a surprise ending.
For me, "Gunsights" was mediocre, at best. It was slow moving and only slightly believable. I nearly put the book down on several occasions.
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January 20, 2011Good quick read for escapism. Leonard has a fast paced style with well rounded settings. Delivers for those who want a crisp no nonsense action piece. My only complaint is that the Apches in the Bounty Hunters are a bit stereotypical, but the story was written in 53. Other than that, great western pulp.
April 8, 2009
Tough, laconic men. Beautiful and resilient women. Dust, formidable deserts, high blue sky, Apaches, ambushes and six-shooters. Add whiskey and bake at 110° for a tasty, tasty escape.
May 5, 2012
Was curious about his Westerns based on the success of the TV show Justified. Really liked this and made me want to read more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews