It was dark times during the Civil War. Owen Danforth is wounded and comes home to heal but he finds "home guards" or "heal flys" as the locals call them, trying to take over the counry. Owen is caugh up in it and has no choice but to join forces with the men against the "heal flys". Their leader is Shattuck, a man who will do anythng. He killed Owen's Uncle and tries to kill the rest of Owen's family. It is the story of people who hide, and wait for the proper time to take care of the "home guard". It is a quick read and the story line is very good. Kelton makes you feel like you are there.

This sequel to Slaughter is a good story, but it wraps up too many loose ends too quickly. There is good action, but it happens too fast and is too predictable. It is very well written, like all of Kelton's novels, and is an accurate description of the climate and environment of South-Central and West Texas. It is also an accurate description of the hard work needed to survive on the high plains and panhandle of Texas and in the post-Civil War South. Poor plot but good description of Texas at that time an the environment of West Texas.

Personally, I liked the Far Canyon. Anything Kelton writes is ahead of the game. It far outweighs most writers in the genre, and in my opinion most writers in ANY genre. The only person who can rival Kelton is Kirby Jonas, The New Louis L'Amour, but they both have their niche. Jonas is best at description, but Kelton just has such a real, experienced feel. The only way for full satisfaction is to read them both. Great book!

Thirty years after the Texans defeated Santa Anna's Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto, the area in far Southwest Texas betwen the Nueces river and the Rio Grande was still a virtual battleground between Texans and Mexicans. Texans claimed the area by virtue of the treaty ending the conflict with Mexico, and Mexican settlers claimed the area because the land had been in their families for generations. As usual, Kelton brings a great sense of place and local dialogue to this novel. The settings and people around which the action takes place are, in many instances, drawn directly from the pages of Texas history.

Lanham Neal, a Confederate vetran wounded in his first and last battle against the Yankees, had finally settled in as "caporal" at the small ranch run by Griffin Daingerfield and his daughter Zoe. While Lanham, Zoe, and some ranch hands were away from the ranch house rounding up and branding their cattle, Mexican guerillas crossed the border, killed Griffin Daingerfield and others, and burned the ranch buildings to the ground. Neal found himself in the middle of the conflict. He must balance his priorities between his love and loyalty to Zoe, her insistence on revenge for the death of her father, and his own conscience. Eventually Captain L.H. McNelly and his small company of Texas Rangers enter the scene with orders to bring law and order to the territory regardless of the price in lives and property and the action excalates.

This novel is part of a series of "Tales of Texas." Anyone reading this book will gain an interesting insight into this violent time in Texas history.

Let me begin by saying that this is a very typical historical fiction novel. You take a real place, real events, and then weave the characters in. Kelton, who sets most of his work in Texas during this time period, produces a book that his fans will love.

What is strange with this book is the time and place chosen -- the site of the worst attrocity of the Texas War for Independence. And yet it works. Kelton's Buckalew brothers are solid characters, and will certainly appeal to most readers. Teresa, the book's love interest, is appropriately enticing.

If there is one problem with the book, it is that Kelton makes the romance seem too unattainable. This is especially true in light of the fact that so many Tejanos were active supporters of Independence, and indeed were leaders in it. Furthermore, the selection of Goliad for the backdrop is disconcerting -- the tragedy to come is almost too overpowering for those who know Texas history. But the key word here is "almost," for that is Kelton's gift.

Much as the improbable romance and impending tragedy of TITANIC appealed to millions, so, too, does this story.

I bought this primarily as a reference on Plains culture and McCarthy's crisp, graphic style provided much-needed detail on dress, weapons and decoration that have proved invaluable. Unfortunately, I have since discovered that some of his reconstructions are a little suspect historically, based on reservation-period pieces I believe.

His favourite subjects are the Plains tribes, mountain men and the cavalry, each tackled with an eye for detail and story which is quite compelling. I suspect that, like Constable, he would gladly paint unpopulated scenes - his love of the plains, mountains and forests of North America shows in his sensitive and meticulous portrayal of landscape and sky and his keen eye for lighting shows in virtually every canvas.

McCarthy's mastery of texture and form, and his handling of atmospheric effects like dust is second to none. His ability to capture movement and the broad sweep of action is thrilling but his draughtsmanship is a touch weak at times, his horses having a slightly homogeneous look and his depiction of Native faces can occasionally appear a little stilted to my eye.

The text by Elmer Kelton is a bit mellifluous for my taste but suits the stirring nature of many of the pieces and often provides a narrative not obvious to a viewer unfamiliar with the subject.

Despite these minor reservations this remains a valued book in my collection, evoking a great feel for place and time, and I find myself leafing through it quite often.

If you like McCarthy's style, look out for "The Art Of Howard Terpning" (also sadly out of print) you should like his work too.

This is a very good western. It is not filled with a lot of curse words or bad acts. It is really a story about the hate between two men. Thomas Canfield and Branch Isom. Canfield is called The Hawk on the back cover but I never did understand why or where that came into play. Canfield owns lots of land and cattle, Isom owns most of the business in town. They fight all the time. It is about their lives and the people around them. The ending will surprise you, it is very good. Kelton writes so you can feel like you are there. It is a book taht could have really happened. If you like a quick read with good characters that are well described and you can relate to, I think you will enjoy this book.

This book is a awesome book so people should defintely read it. There's just one part I think wasn't there. About who Judge Roy Beans fell in love with.

Joe Pepper, not his real name, tells his own story in this book, He has done a little of everything, some good and a lot bad. He has been on both sides of the law, serving as a deputy and also killing people. He says he never killed a man except in self defense of one that needed killing. He tells how he got the name Joe Pepper. His is now in jail for killing man and is to hang. He tells his story to a preacher. The book is only fair in my openion. Have read several Kelton books and most are better than this one. I got tired of it long before it was done. Did not grab me and make me want to continue reading. Would suggest other books by him if you want a good western.

This is a dandy anthology presenting short works from excellent western writers of the past(L'Amour, John Jakes, Hamlin Garland and others) and the present (Elmer Kelton, James Reasoner, Bill Pronzini, Bill Crider and others). A nice selection of stories that displays the many facets of living, working and surviving in the old west.