Tag Archives: Weird Western

Second Hand by Rajan Khanna

October 14, 2020Book ReviewDead Man's Hand, Rajan Khanna, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

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Title: Second Hand
Author: Rajan Khanna
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird western, Wild west
Dates read: 19th September 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: No wonder Gunsmith survived for as long as she did.

In a world where you are gifted one deck of Cards, people are constantly scrambling to find a way to prolong their powers…

Cards and gambling appear to be a fairly big aspect of westerns and the whole idea of the Wild West. So of course, in a collection of Weird Westerns, there should be one that focuses on the power of cards. And boy is it a power. I love how the cards are magical weapons. It’s such a fantastic idea, and I’m kind of hoping that there are more stories which use this idea by Khanna.

At the beginning of this short story, I was convinced that it was all about gambling and card games and the dangers of this. It wasn’t until a little further in that I realised that it was more of a gunslinger story. Just with the guns being constructed by something else – playing cards that can do powerful and very intriguing things.

This story was a little fun. And a little evil. After all, it’s a mother and daughter who try and kill each other. And then they try and kill the protagonists. And just in general, there is a lot of scheming and killing. But, nevertheless. I still really enjoyed it. And can’t wait to sink my teeth into more, similar stories!

<- Hell From the East

Alvin and the Apple Tree ->

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Hell from the East by Hugh Howey

October 7, 2020Book ReviewDead Man's Hand, Hugh Howey, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

Title: Hell from the East
Author: Hugh Howey
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird westerns, Westerns
Dates read: 14th September 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Their final resting spot was a scrabble of tents and rickety shacks ringed by a shoddy wall of pine stumps where the best that could be said was they fed you twice a day.

He’s supposed to be fighting for his people. But sometimes hell rises in the East and there is just no escaping it…

This was a nice little, short story. It was nothing intense and completely unforgettable. But it was enjoyable and memorable. It also touched on a good topic – the darkness and horror of colonisation and invasion. The damage that is done with the arrival of colonisers and all sorts of horrible people.

One of the aspects of this story that I loved was that you never quite knew what side the narrator of the story was actually on. Whether they were “good” or “bad”. And really, who the “good” and “bad” were. For me, it helped to highlight the confusion that such a time in history could cause and create.

The conclusion of this story helps to highlight the fact that everything comes full circle. That everything will happen again and history constantly repeats. It might be stated in the fact that “hell comes from the east”. But it most certainly does. Actually, in some ways it reminded me very much of some parts of Terra Nullius.

<- Wrecking Party

Second Hand ->

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Wrecking Party by Alastair Reynolds

September 29, 2020Book ReviewAlastair Reynolds, Cyborgs, Dead Man's Hand, Weird Westernskyebjenner

Title: Wrecking Party
Author: Alastair Reynolds
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Cyborgs, Weird western
Dates read: 29th August 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: It’s like a disease.

A series of wrecks of the trains have left the town confused and angry. But when the local sheriff is told the truth by his friend… it’s seriously unexpected and more than a little dangerous.

I’m not sure if I just wasn’t paying overly much attention when I was reading this. Or whether it’s just not my kind of story. But, regardless, I did have to keep flicking back through this story to check out what on earth was happening. And although I love this premise, I really wasn’t all that hooked by it. Which was, honestly, a bit of a pity.

One of the things I did really love about this short story was the idea of cyborgs and this kind of massive conspiracy that reared its ugly head throughout this story. It was somewhat brilliant, and probably why I’m so disappointed that I didn’t get so hooked into this from the very beginning – the premise and conspiracy theory theme was just dang awesome.

This was a nice and easy read, but definitely one that I will try and revisit when I’m not in such a funky mood I think. Just to make sure that it was my mood and concentration which made me score this kind of low… or if the writing was really just not my style…

<- The Man With No Heart

Hell From the East ->

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The Man With No Heart by Beth Revis

September 24, 2020Book ReviewBeth Revis, Cyborgs, Dead Man's Hand, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

Title: The Man With No Heart
Author: Beth Revis
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cyborgs, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 22nd August 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Finally, he had something worth betting on, Ray could tell.

Ray is a betting man. But when he decides to follow the mechanical spiders to try and find out where he truly comes from… all bets are off.

This short story honestly gave me a little bit of a Harry Potter déjà vu. It was such a fun, pleasant feeling. Not that the ting that gave me the Harry Potter déjà vu was all that fun and pleasant, but I love anything that thrusts me back into that world. In this case, it was the idea of “follow the spiders” that had me picturing Ron and laughing. There really was no other actual similarities. But I definitely was filled with thoughts. Happy. Positive. Bright thoughts.

This short story is honestly incredibly light and easy. It also has a great sense of hope throughout. Luckily, there is a happily ever after at the end of the story. At least, it felt like a happily ever after to me. It just finished off that feeling of completeness and hope that the rest of the short story had.

I absolutely loved the idea of alternate realities / worlds and the descriptions throughout this story. Then, there is a brilliant idea of gatekeepers and the idea that the lead character is heavily embroiled within this world. Unexpectedly so. But, still enjoyably so.

<- Holy Jingle

Wrecking Party ->

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The Ghost in the Doctor by Brenda Cooper

September 11, 2020Book ReviewBrenda Cooper, Weird Western, Westward Weirdskyebjenner

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Title: The Ghost in the Doctor
Author: Brenda Cooper
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird western
Dates read: 14th August 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Even the ghost inside of him.

Aeons ago it seems (but in reality, it was only years), a doctor made a deal with a medicine man which would make him just as powerful. Now, he realises that the gift may just be a curse. One that he really doesn’t want.

I found the idea in this short story completely intriguing. The fact that a man who is also a doctor has a slightly weird and definitely judgemental ghost sitting in his being sitting judgement on others. The fact that the consequences of this judgement are kind of severe just helped to add to my level of fascination. There were some slightly awkward moments. But it did really, really love this idea.

Most of the Weird westerns that I’ve been reading have featured cowboys. Even most of the westerns for that matter. Yet, this is the first one that seems to seriously feature Indians. The lead character might still be a white man. But the feature of the Indian culture and Medicine Man was beautiful. And it completely drew me in.

This short story brilliantly explored the pitfalls of power and getting what you think you want. Particularly in the case of this doctor – someone who kind of holds the power of life and death in their hands. But then seriously does so once a little magic is performed. It’s confusing and brilliant and wonderful. The ending was nothing like what ia expected. And somehow all that much more brilliant for it.

<- The Flower of Arizona

Surveyor of Mars ->

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Holy Jingle by Alan Dean Foster

September 10, 2020Book ReviewAlan Dean Foster, Dead Man's Hand, Urban Fantasy, Weird Westernskyebjenner

Title: Holy Jingle
Author: Alan Dean Foster
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Urban fantasy, Weird western
Dates read: 13th August 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Regaining her poise, she replayed her smile.

He’s been asked by a friend to help someone return to the fold. But what he finds instead is a little unexpected…

I loved that this short story bought in the Chinese settlers to the Western front. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but it worked brilliantly. And I love that it bought in a new perspective that I hadn’t really expected / anticipated. It wasn’t quite what I’ve come to expect from Weird Westerns. But I loved the departure from the expected.

This story seriously felt like it must be part of a bigger series. And, without actually looking any further into that theory. I’m completely intrigued by the idea that it is. It felt a little bit like a crime / mystery series with a super awesome paranormal spin. I could be completely nuts… but I’m hoping that I’m not. I’m looking forwards to adding a few more books to my ever expanding wish list…

It did take a little bit for the title of this story to actually make sense. But, once I finally clicked… I actually thought that it was quite clever. Pleasantly and unexpectedly so to be honest. Not only was the title clever, but it was also nice to see the lengths that some people could go to to protect each other, even if they are complete and total strangers.

<- Bookkeeper, Narrator, Gunslinger

The Man With No Heart ->

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Bookkeeper, Narrator, Gunslinger by Charles Yu

September 3, 2020Book ReviewCharles Yu, Dead Man's Hand, Psychics, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

Title: Bookkeeper, Narrator, Gunslinger
Author: Charles Yu
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Psychics, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 7th August 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: And that, to my great and everlasting surprise, is where I come into the story.

They’re the narrator and the bookkeeper for their tiny little town. But, when an accidental slip of the tongue leads them into a gunfight… they also become a gunslinger.

I’ve been reading a lot of western short stories lately. Yet, weirdly enough, this felt like the first story which features a gunslinger. I’m not entirely sure how that hasn’t happened before now. But I definitely loved reading about a gunslinger. The fact that he’s a bit of a dweeby guy who is also the town narrator and bookkeeper… it just made me that, that, that much happier…

From the very beginning, there is something slightly different and weird about the narrator’s talent as a gunslinger. And I loved how the truth behind their new-found talent is slowly revealed. This slow trickling of information is seriously brilliant. And it made it all that much more difficult to actually put the book aside…

I love when the title of a story makes total sense once you read that tale. In this case, the title of this short story is completely self-explanatory and wonderful once you’ve read through it all. I loved that each and every role that the lead character filled was pretty much outlined from the very beginning…

<- Stingers and Strangers

Holy Jingle ->

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Lowstone by Anton Strout

August 24, 2020Book ReviewCyborgs, Weird Western, Westward Weird, Zombiesskyebjenner

Title: Lowstone
Author: Anton Strout
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cyborgs, Weird westerns, Zombies
Dates read: 28th July 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The gunslinger looked at Alice.

This small mining town is about to have a gunslinging visitor. She’s not what they’d normally expect or want in their little town. But she might just be their saviour.

I love that this story is a final stand… Wild West Style. The fact that it involves zombies and cyborgs just makes it so, so, so much better. And more enjoyable. And just all-round amusing.

This short story had both a great, happy ending. And a kind of tragic one. In one part, there were survivors and hope for a future. But, in the other. It was seriously a story of a last stand. One which almost had that comfort and bitter sweetness of death featured. In a way that makes you wonder if death wasn’t actually the worst thing.

One of my favourite things about this short story though, aside from the great writing and the fun storyline… it was the fact that somehow Strout was able to mix cyborgs and zombies in with a story of the wild west. And gunslingers. And just, in general, a great and slightly unexpected journey.

<- The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters

The Flower of Arizona ->

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The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters by Larry D. Sweazy

July 29, 2020Book ReviewDemons, Larry D. Sweazy, Weird Western, Westerns, Westward Weirdskyebjenner

Title: The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters
Author: Larry D. Sweazy
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 29th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: It was like they were real, burrowing into my own eyes with anger and resentment or maybe doubt of my fortitude.

They’ve been friends and companions for years. But it isn’t until his secret identity gets out that their friendship is truly tested in this fun little Weird Western story.

This is a fun little short story which features an illegitimate heir and cowboys. Demon hunting and secrets. It’s an interesting mix that features your ideas of a western cowboy. But also partners that with ideas of the monarchy, which kind of took me a little bit by surprise. A good read and one that I would probably pick up again.

I really liked the idea of cowboys going demon hunting on the mean streets. That the gunslingers are the ones who are bringing down creatures from hell. It made for a fun little diversion and journey that I really wasn’t expecting and thoroughly enjoyed.

I seriously enjoyed this story. It may not be one of those that is crazy, rich with detail and intense. But it was most definitely an enjoyable journey. One that I look forward to embarking on again in the future.

<- The Temptation of Eustace Prudence McAllen

Lowstone ->

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The Hell-Bound Stagecoach by Mike Resnick

July 28, 2020Book ReviewDead Man's Hand, Humour, Mike Resnick, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

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.

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.

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 Frontier

Stingers and Strangers ->

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Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

Tag Archives: Weird Western

Second Hand by Rajan Khanna

Hell from the East by Hugh Howey

Wrecking Party by Alastair Reynolds

The Man With No Heart by Beth Revis

The Ghost in the Doctor by Brenda Cooper

Holy Jingle by Alan Dean Foster

Bookkeeper, Narrator, Gunslinger by Charles Yu

Lowstone by Anton Strout

The Last Master of Aeronautical Winters by Larry D. Sweazy

The Hell-Bound Stagecoach by Mike Resnick