The Book Shelf

Dictionary of the American West, Winfred Blevins, 1993, Facts on File
Review by Ned Buntline
If you want to know what they really said, and what it meant, this is the place to look it up. You'll find something interesting, or funny, or both, on every page.





The Friends of Pancho Villa, James Carlos Blake, 1996, Berkley Publishing Group
Review by Ned Buntline
James Carlos Blake has written only two books. His first, The Pistoleer (see below), was well-received in the book world; the El Paso Herald-Post said that it "captures the music of the West within its pages". His second, The Friends of Pancho Villa, may be better.
Written from the point of view of Rudolfo Fierro, right hand man to Villa, it deals with the Mexican Revolution from the inside out, with all the power and sweep due its subject.
The book is not only very well written, but also provided this gringo with both a thrilling read and an education in the history of the Revolution. Did you know that there were two presidents of Mexico named Huerta, or that Francisco Villa was born with the less-than-intimidating name Doroteo Arrango? I thought not...
Sex, violence, and a good history lesson, all in a engrossing and believable package. What could be finer? Ned B. says check it out.

Lonesome Dove, James McMurtry, Simon & Schuster, 1985
Review by H.P. Tyner
Lonesome Dove is just about perfect. The book is special in its own way, though the rendition of Woodrow F. Call and Gus McRae by Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall in the film is damn near heartbreaking.
Any man who can read it and not cry once don't deserve to live in Texas.

The Professionals, based on the Frank O'Rourke book A Mule for the Marquesa.
Review by Henry Fardan
The Professionals is one of those Westerns that's loved by those who've seen it, but unseen by many people who'd love it. The movie is based, loosely, on the Frank O'Rourke book A Mule for the Marquesa. It's sadly out of print, but you can try to find a used copy on Amazon.

The Pistoleer, James Carlos Blake, Berkley Publishing Group
Review by Ned Buntline
Blake's earlier book; it looks at J.W. Hardin from the inside. If you like this, you'll love The Friends of Pancho Villa, and vice versa.






The Return of Little Big Man, Thomas Berger, 1999, Little Brown
Review by Henry Fardan
If you liked Little Big Man, and I did {even the movie}, you'll like this reprise.
He's got every event from the Little Big Horn to the OK Corral, with everyone who was anyone in the Old West making an appearance. Worth it just for the photo on the jacket of Buffalo Bill and his troupe of Indians on the Grand Canal in Venice. History the easy way.

The Shootist, Glendon Swarthout,
Review by Ned Buntline
This is what the end of the Old West was really like. A true gem. An old gunfighter comes to town to die, but some people aren't willing to wait that long. Their mistake. Read it before you see The Shootist, the movie.