Tag Archives: Dead Man's Hand

The Hell-Bound Stagecoach by Mike Resnick

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Hell-Bound Stagecoach
Author: Mike Resnick
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Weird Westerns, Westerns
Dates read: 29th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: She indicated her basket.

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Synopsis

Ben and Miss Alicia are travelling to the end of the line. Along the way, they pick up the Wichita Kid and another mysterious traveller. But when they realise that they don’t want to ride to the end of the line… things get a little… hell-bound.

Thoughts

I had a good giggle at this short story. Which makes sense, because I have frequently found myself giggling a little at Resnick’s writing. There is this incredibly satirical, dry sense to his writing that manages to fit perfectly into the genres he is writing in, whilst simultaneously highlighting some of the more ridiculous aspects of them.

At the beginning of this story, I didn’t really think much about the fact that Ben and Abigail were travelling in the same coach together. To the end of the line. It didn’t really seem like anything drastically surreal or monumental. Until the second man, the Witchita Kid got into the coach. Then I began to realise that maybe things weren’t quite what they seem in this story line… that’s when the smiling and giggling really and truly began…

The characters in this may be “bad”, but they were also completely delightful. They made you want them to win the final altercation. Even if it really wasn’t something that could be considered “for the best”. I love stories in which the “bad guys” are the ones you’re gunning for… pun and everything intended.

<- Hellfire on the High FrontierStingers and Strangers ->

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Hellfire on the High Frontier by David Farland

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: Hellfire on the High Frontier
Author: David Farland
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Cyborgs, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 23rd June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: The cigar clenched between his teeth smelled of sulfur.

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Synopsis

Morgan is hunting a murderer and a skinwalker. Then, after accepting help from a stranger, he is sent on a journey. To try and stop another murderer, one that he has little hope of surviving.

Thoughts

I really liked the book ending of this story – it started with Morgan on a hunt for justice. And ended with him on another hunt for justice. Two totally different culprits, but that same need for justice that made me wonder what was going to happen next almost from the very first moment. I loved that sense of justice – it’s always a great driver for a story in my mind – justice is almost impossible to truly get, but always desired.

Morgan is a great lead character. You spend the whole time hoping and wishing that he’s going to get his happily ever after. But you’re kind of resigned to something that’s not going to be so happy… it’s a weird dichotomy. You know that there will be a tragic ending because this story has great emotional foreshadowing, but you also hope against hope that you’re wrong. Since Morgan is just such a beautiful, relatable character.

This is a great reminder that there is no justice, only money. Particularly in the Old West which is run by gunslingers and gamblers. Demons and ghouls. And emotionless cyborgs.

<- The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From SpaceThe Hell-Bound Stagecoach ->

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The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space by Ben H. Winters

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space
Author: Ben H. Winters
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Urban fantasy, Westerns
Dates read: 13th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: The old man snorted.

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Synopsis

Two men are hunting for gold. But a surprise visit from an alien changes everything. Him and his Gold Gun from Space.

Thoughts

When I think about westerns, this is the kind of story that I imagine. Alright, there’s an alien and whatnot. But the backstabbing, guns and gold rush… that’s honestly what I picture when I think about a western. Not convoluted sentences and hard-to-understand story lines. But a story in which there are the rough and tumble cowboys in a lawless world.

I have this weird image of a gold rush in my head. A completely lawless world filled with men in cowboy hats. And a lack of rules. And tiny, dirty little towns that are completely out of the way. It might be a somewhat ridiculous and unrealistic image. But it is one that I really enjoy and like. This story fed into that image of a realm in which everyone is out for themselves. Which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

One of my favourite parts of this story is that from fairly on, they are told not to pull the trigger. So, of course. You want someone to pull the trigger. Desperately want someone to pull the trigger. Which of course, someone does. Ad then that leads to all kinds of happy thoughts and had me laughing a little. It wasn’t a good result, but I’m twisted, so I loved that this was how the story ends… with the trigger being pulled.

<- The Red-Headed DeadHellfire on the High Frontier ->

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The Red-Headed Dead by Joe R. Lansdale

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
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Title: The Red-Headed Dead
Author: Joe R. Lansdale
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Urban fantasy, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 8th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: No one answered.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

This is a story that starts with a dead horse… and steadily goes downhill.

Thoughts

I love that this weird western story includes the origins story of vampires. As in, the Judas origins story. I’m not really sure why… but I always love when this mythos is included in any kind of story. Partnering that with a western? It worked ridiculously well.

Although I enjoyed this story because of the content, I didn’t necessarily love the writing style. I found it a little disjointed and unapproachable. And a little hard to follow at times. Yet, I did really enjoy the storyline. So I found it hard to be frustrated by the style of writing when I was drawn in by the content.

This is a story that starts with a dead horse. That has had a pole flung through it’s brain. And that is the least violent moment throughout. It just steadily gets bloodier and bloodier. Which is exactly what a western should be… or at least, a weird western that features a vampire risen from the dead…

<- Dead Man’s Hand CollectionThe Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space ->

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