Looking for Dark Gritty Western

jason.jackal · 12-19-2014, 10:24 PM

Folks:
I am looking for dark and gritty westerns, which are similar in atmosphere to the spaghetti westerns of the 60s: Good the Bad and the Ugly, Fist Full of Dollars, Django, etc.

I have never purchase or read a western; however, some seem pretty love originated or cheesy.

Looking for recommendations

Thanks
JJ

rjv · 12-20-2014, 12:19 AM

Try the Last Gunfighter series by William W. Johnstone. If you like that, he has plenty more. Also, you might like the Jess Williams series by Robert J. Thomas.

speakingtohe · 12-20-2014, 03:03 AM

Louis L'Amour Sackett series
Robert B. Parker Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch
Elmore Leonard wrote quite a few
His Raylon Givens series is the basis for the TV Series Justified. Sort of modern day western.

None are overly romantic, just a touch here and there.
Helen

Helen

gunbad · 12-20-2014, 06:46 AM

The darkest western I remember reading is Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian".

jason.jackal · 12-20-2014, 10:10 AM

Thanks everyone for the recommendations.

Apache · 12-20-2014, 11:23 AM

My favorite author for westerns has always been Louis L'Amour. The characters in his books seem alive and the way he describes the land is wonderful. I would not describe his westerns as dark though.
I bought The Desert Crucible by Zane Grey from Amazon yesterday. This is the sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage. The original publishers released an abbreviated and heavily censored version. This is the original as Zane Grey wrote it and I am looking forward to reading it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Apache

bill_mchale · 12-22-2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason.jackal

Folks:
I am looking for dark and gritty westerns, which are similar in atmosphere to the spaghetti westerns of the 60s: Good the Bad and the Ugly, Fist Full of Dollars, Django, etc.

I have never purchase or read a western; however, some seem pretty love originated or cheesy.

Looking for recommendations

Thanks
JJ

Some decent recommendations already. Though I think I would only read Blood Meridian if I wanted to never read another Western... mainly I think McCarthy is just too dark for the book to be a fun read (Not saying the man is not talented, just not my cup of tea). I am going to recommend Lonesome Dove; its a long read but easily one of the best novels I have ever read. It can be very dark sometimes. Larry McMurtry can kill his characters quickly and without mercy, but the novel is also filled with humor and adventure.

--
Bill

ccowie · 12-22-2014, 11:40 AM

I'll second Blood Meridian.

But, a book I absolutely loved is The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt.

gunbad · 12-23-2014, 07:54 AM

The Sisters Brothers was an enjoyable read. A refreshing twist on the western theme. I'm glad to see it suggested.

Lonesome Dove is one of my favorites but I never considered it to be dark. It is a wonderful story full of great characters and action. McMurtry holds nothing back and I think it's great when an author is willing to kill off an interesting character quickly. It's more exciting in a story when you know no character is sacred and you just don't know who is next to die. His Comanche Moon is another great read. I reread both from time to time.

crich70 · 12-23-2014, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

My favorite author for westerns has always been Louis L'Amour. The characters in his books seem alive and the way he describes the land is wonderful. I would not describe his westerns as dark though.
I bought The Desert Crucible by Zane Grey from Amazon yesterday. This is the sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage. The original publishers released an abbreviated and heavily censored version. This is the original as Zane Grey wrote it and I am looking forward to reading it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Apache

Don't forget we also have collections of Mr. Grey's works here at MR:
Vol. I Click

Vol. II Click

DiapDealer · 12-26-2014, 06:40 PM

James D. Best's Steve Dancy series (starts with the Shopkeeper). I don't know about "gritty," but there's shootouts, moral ambiguity and a definite lack of "cheese."

I second Parker's Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch books (though I stopped reading the new ones that are being written under Parker's name). I enjoyed The Sisters Brothers, too: quirky without being ridiculously so.

BenG · 12-29-2014, 07:07 PM

If you liked the movie try Gone to Texas (AKA The Outlaw Josie Wales) by Forrest Carter

http://www.amazon.com/Josey-Wales-We...=Gone+to+Texas

Apache · 12-29-2014, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

If you liked the movie try Gone to Texas (AKA The Outlaw Josie Wales) by Forrest Carter

http://www.amazon.com/Josey-Wales-We...=Gone+to+Texas

Yep this is a good read. There is a sequel, The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales and an omnibus, The Outlaw Josey Wales. I have all three in paper.
Apache

irishmac473 · 01-08-2015, 11:33 PM

As already mentioned Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
True Grit by Charles Portis

Apache · 01-09-2015, 05:58 AM

I don't know that they are dark. But, The Lawmen, Scalp Hunters and The Dispatch Rider by Robert Bloomall are certainly gritty.
http://www.amazon.com/Dispatch-Rider...words=broomall
http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Hunters-...words=broomall
http://www.amazon.com/Lawmen-Robert-...words=broomall
Apache

12-19-2014, 10:24 PM	#1
jason.jackal Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Sony	Looking for Dark Gritty Western Folks: I am looking for dark and gritty westerns, which are similar in atmosphere to the spaghetti westerns of the 60s: Good the Bad and the Ugly, Fist Full of Dollars, Django, etc. I have never purchase or read a western; however, some seem pretty love originated or cheesy. Looking for recommendations Thanks JJ

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12-20-2014, 12:19 AM	#2
rjv Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: California Device: Kobo H2O, nook simple touch, Kobo mini, Nexus 7	Try the Last Gunfighter series by William W. Johnstone. If you like that, he has plenty more. Also, you might like the Jess Williams series by Robert J. Thomas.

12-20-2014, 03:03 AM	#3
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Louis L'Amour Sackett series Robert B. Parker Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch Elmore Leonard wrote quite a few His Raylon Givens series is the basis for the TV Series Justified. Sort of modern day western. None are overly romantic, just a touch here and there. Helen Helen

12-20-2014, 06:46 AM	#4
gunbad Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 6968070 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Intransit Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo BW	The darkest western I remember reading is Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian".

12-20-2014, 10:10 AM	#5
jason.jackal Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: Sony	Thanks everyone for the recommendations.

12-20-2014, 11:23 AM	#6
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	My favorite author for westerns has always been Louis L'Amour. The characters in his books seem alive and the way he describes the land is wonderful. I would not describe his westerns as dark though. I bought The Desert Crucible by Zane Grey from Amazon yesterday. This is the sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage. The original publishers released an abbreviated and heavily censored version. This is the original as Zane Grey wrote it and I am looking forward to reading it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Apache

12-22-2014, 11:40 AM	#8
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	I'll second Blood Meridian. But, a book I absolutely loved is The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt.

12-23-2014, 07:54 AM	#9
gunbad Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 6968070 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Intransit Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo BW	The Sisters Brothers was an enjoyable read. A refreshing twist on the western theme. I'm glad to see it suggested. Lonesome Dove is one of my favorites but I never considered it to be dark. It is a wonderful story full of great characters and action. McMurtry holds nothing back and I think it's great when an author is willing to kill off an interesting character quickly. It's more exciting in a story when you know no character is sacred and you just don't know who is next to die. His Comanche Moon is another great read. I reread both from time to time.

12-26-2014, 06:40 PM	#11
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,534 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	James D. Best's Steve Dancy series (starts with the Shopkeeper). I don't know about "gritty," but there's shootouts, moral ambiguity and a definite lack of "cheese." I second Parker's Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch books (though I stopped reading the new ones that are being written under Parker's name). I enjoyed The Sisters Brothers, too: quirky without being ridiculously so.

12-29-2014, 07:07 PM	#12
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	If you liked the movie try Gone to Texas (AKA The Outlaw Josie Wales) by Forrest Carter http://www.amazon.com/Josey-Wales-We...=Gone+to+Texas

01-08-2015, 11:33 PM	#14
irishmac473 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10126 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Nebraska, USA Device: Kindle PW 11th gen / Kindle 11th gen	As already mentioned Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy True Grit by Charles Portis

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01-09-2015, 05:58 AM	#15
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I don't know that they are dark. But, The Lawmen, Scalp Hunters and The Dispatch Rider by Robert Bloomall are certainly gritty. http://www.amazon.com/Dispatch-Rider...words=broomall http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Hunters-...words=broomall http://www.amazon.com/Lawmen-Robert-...words=broomall Apache