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The Floating Outfit #20
The Bad Bunch
The Bad Bunch
- GenresWesterns
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
J.T. Edson
183 books79 followersJohn Thomas Edson is an English writer of Westerns.
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 16, 2018
THE BAD BUNCH'S LEADER
A gang is going around robbing banks and nobody knows who this gang is or where their home base is located. Dusty and his friends are on guard looking for this gang, because they aren't killing anyone but, they rob the banks and while that's happening they throw a detour by starting a fire in a big warehouse. Dusty and his gang with the help of Belle Boyton, who works
for the Secret Service, Belle Starr, Calamity Jane will join up with Dusty Fog to bring this gang to and end. Lots of action, a typical western but with a the touch of the Dusty Fog The Wedge, and OD Outfit who are known nationally for their leadership and heroism during the War of Insurrection between the North and the South which shouldn't haven't never happened..but that's life and history.
A gang is going around robbing banks and nobody knows who this gang is or where their home base is located. Dusty and his friends are on guard looking for this gang, because they aren't killing anyone but, they rob the banks and while that's happening they throw a detour by starting a fire in a big warehouse. Dusty and his gang with the help of Belle Boyton, who works
for the Secret Service, Belle Starr, Calamity Jane will join up with Dusty Fog to bring this gang to and end. Lots of action, a typical western but with a the touch of the Dusty Fog The Wedge, and OD Outfit who are known nationally for their leadership and heroism during the War of Insurrection between the North and the South which shouldn't haven't never happened..but that's life and history.
April 30, 2020
Some of the names mentioned in these novels are real people.
That is where the similarity ends.
In many ways these are modern versions of the old dime novels. The only similarity to the truth are the fact that... The author mentions real people.
However if you just want to read an old fashion cowboy shoot em up, that's what these books are.
That is where the similarity ends.
In many ways these are modern versions of the old dime novels. The only similarity to the truth are the fact that... The author mentions real people.
However if you just want to read an old fashion cowboy shoot em up, that's what these books are.
February 2, 2018
One of the better of Edson's books. Certainly with a tricky main focus and heavy involvement by all of the ladies
February 27, 2018
Wonderful!
I believe I have found an author as good as, if not better than William Johnstone. This author’s stories are written and edited better for sure!
I believe I have found an author as good as, if not better than William Johnstone. This author’s stories are written and edited better for sure!
May 3, 2023
Another fine example of the good, old-fashioned. bang- bang, shoot-em-up Western from J T Edson - the master of the genre. A good, easy read.
July 9, 2013
I love reading Westerns, there's something about that period that just makes it a great landscape for storytellers. JT Edson is one of the most prolific Western authors that I've come across, and judging by some of the interviews I've seen he is a very funny man too. Sadly, as far as I'm aware he has now passed away.
It's been many years since I've read about the adventures of Dusty Fogg and his friends, but I remember this, very clearly, as being the first Edson book I read. It deals with a bunch of female bandits who are causing havoc, Fogg sets out to stop them and the action begins there.
The exact details of this book are very sketchy but for a while after I was always on the lookout for Edson books and collected several afterwards. But this is always the one that sticks out the most as it was my first. If you're into westerns I recommend checking out Edson's work, the research and descriptions are meticulous and there is a vast wealth of characters from the resourceful Dusty Fogg to the handsome giant Mark Counter to the pessimistic, moaning Billy Jack - and much more!
It's been many years since I've read about the adventures of Dusty Fogg and his friends, but I remember this, very clearly, as being the first Edson book I read. It deals with a bunch of female bandits who are causing havoc, Fogg sets out to stop them and the action begins there.
The exact details of this book are very sketchy but for a while after I was always on the lookout for Edson books and collected several afterwards. But this is always the one that sticks out the most as it was my first. If you're into westerns I recommend checking out Edson's work, the research and descriptions are meticulous and there is a vast wealth of characters from the resourceful Dusty Fogg to the handsome giant Mark Counter to the pessimistic, moaning Billy Jack - and much more!
December 24, 2013
This book opens with the end of the Civil War. Despite being informed that the war is over Dusty insists on completing his final mission and wiping out a band of guerillas. He makes a fatal mistake that will nearly cost him his life. Years later a secretive group of outlaws plague Texas leaving no witness. Striking at night they successfully murder tough capable men without a fight. When several old friends join the ranks of the victims Dusty and the floating outfit turn their attention to the outlaws but even Mark Counter and Dusty himself are almost killed in the process. It falls to the assembled cast of most of JT's female characters: Belle Boyd, Calamity Jane, Belle Starr and Betty Hardin to take the gang down. This book is unique in that it is one of only three to feature Danny Fog, Dusty's younger brother, who joins the Texas Rangers in this story; It is the only one in which we get to see him interact with his famous older brother and the other members of the floating outfit.
February 18, 2012
Good read. Good western. Great characters and an easy to follow storyline. Mr. Edson is a good story teller.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews