The Tall Stranger / Kilkenny / Hondo / Showdown at Yellow Butte

by Louis L'Amour

Excellent Book

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

490 pages, Leather Bound

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reason Louis L'Amour is considered one of America's greatest western authors. The way he weaves his words captures the spirit of the old west. Of hard men and sometimes harder women. Giving you the sense of adventure one sometimes longs for. Are the stories perfect? No, but the ride is enjoyable none the less.

[David Colwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the weakest one was "The Tall Stranger". The rest were good, with the second and last one being the best. The first one just didn't seem to be too well put toghether. The others all had good backstories. Of course the main character always gets the girl in the end, so you can't beat that. I'm only knocking off a star because of the first story, and the last one had lots of typos.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I think people read these for the ambiance more than the story. The hero is basically the same in each -- the tough, lonely stranger who might be willing to settle down someday, if he met the right woman -- the woman is the same in each, the enemy, the horses, etc. I wish I had reviewed the stories individually, but that decision was made long ago by a different man. I have nothing bad to say about any of them, their repetitive plot points shouldn't distract from how richly detailed and engrossing they are. I would recommend this more as you might music than literature, little to no intellectual stimulation but tons of mood and flavor.

[Serena]

the Tall Stranger
Kilkenny 03 Kilkenny
Hondo
Showdown At Yellow Butte

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were such fun stories and so easy to read. I need to take some of these up to the cabin for guests. They're short and really capture all the best fantasies we have about the wild west. The good guys are quietly brave but deadly men when they need to be and their women are all astoundingly beautiful yet still strong and courageous. It's kind of interesting that he always makes mention of the Mormons or the Mormon Trail

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into his earlier works. I like his style. Men are all of questionable past. Women are mostly good. The descriptions of the West and the lif led are great. They are like chick-lets. You consume too man. I loved his writing.

[Cws]

JAR6+-L'Am

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun well-told stories. Easy to read.

[vahumbug]

its a book on tape, they have accents and the cell clinking noise from law and order