Riding for the Brand

by Louis L'Amour

offered by a trusted seller

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Adventure, Classics, Action

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[John Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a typical L’Amour story of the rugged and Wild West, gunfighters and rustlers vying for cattle and land. Narrated by Willie Nelson, with characters played by Kris Kristopherson and Johnny Cash. These three crusty characters make the story really come alive.

[John P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this at a free book exchange stand near our house. I grabbed it immediately as I have never read a L'Amour but have heard about his works and was curious.

Okay - 3 stars. It would probably have been better to have searched out a full length novel instead of this collection of his short stories. Why? There is just too much repetition and predictability. One finds no moral ambiguity here - none.

There are good guys and there are bad guys. The good guy is reserved, not looking for trouble, and appears 'yeller' when he cannot be provoked into a fight or shootout. In the end he outsmarts, outfights, and outdraws his antagonists while winning the grateful admiration and respect of the townsfolk as well as the love of the doe-eyed girl and sometimes her ranch to boot.

This reviewer cannot deny the popularity of the L'Amour formula: his huge circulation and fan base speak volumes. And it's not the stories themselves that have earned my 3 stars. It's the collection of similar tales in the edition. Taken in infrequent doses, say once a month, a reader may be quite happy to find a familiar, predictable, satisfying theme in his hands and may well be moved to rate higher.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three stories written under the Mayo pen name, these are three early L'Amour adventures. Good clean reading with moral lessons in place of violence and sex like many of modern westerns. Centers around the principle of kiality.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Westerns are not my usual genre but I heard good things about L'Amour so I gave his work a try. He is definitely a gifted story teller.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
This was a very entertaining collection of stories from a master storyteller.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this and genuinely enjoyed it. It’s a typical Louis Lamour western, great story, lots of gunslinging action. The audio version included Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. It was very good!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audio book with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and others is perfect for the cowboy characters and a good family audiobook for older kids.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical western story by L'Amour, man has to defend an attractive woman and ranch from a n'erdo-well

[Evita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gun slinger with a heart of gold saves ranch with pretty lady 283738.0 by Louis L'amour

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always a lover of Louis L’Amour and I struck gold on Audible with a production of this book featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. It does not get better than that

[William Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

It short storys

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In about the author, Louis L'Armour is quoted: "I think of myself in the oral tradition-as a troubadour, a village tale teller, a man in the shadows of the campfire. That's the way I'd like to be remembered-as a storyteller. A good storyteller." I would say he more than met his mark with this publication. I would call him extraordinary even exceeding what he had heretofore written which are not exceptionally memorable to me. This edition stands out, even though the formula is not much changed, because the characters take on a new dimension which could be reflection of the growing of his skill as a writer as this collection of stories is from 1986.

The Foreword explains that this collection was pressed into immediate publication by virtue of an unauthorized publisher who was in the process of issuing magazine versions of HIS stories in a book that carries his name and the same title of this "authorized" edition. In 1983 the same publisher issued unauthorized editions of past frontier and detective stories as well. This may be the reason I discovered more than two errors not caught by the editor- the name of a primary character went uncapitalized and in another instance to was written where too was intended.

The story lines were of interest to me because of their novelty though may not be so to regular readers of Westerns. L'Amour's title story is about a frontiersman Jed Asbury who uncovers the remains of a covered wagon following an Indian attack of which he himself is a victim only have escaped death by playing dead after being stripped of his clothes. The Indians had been in a hurry during their looting as valuables were left behind uncovered by a very lucky Jed. Not only was he thus supplied with sufficient clothing to end his nakedness but legal papers that identified the holder as the beneficiary of certain properties willed to him by an uncle of the deceased.

The above story as well as each thereafter were preceded by a note from the author explaining the significance of the title, characters or history afforded by choosing what he did to write about and expand on. "The term "riding for the brand" was an expression of loyalty to a man's employer ort the particular outfit he rode for. It was considered a compliment of the highest order in an almost feudal society. If a man did not like a ranch or the way they conducted their affairs he was free to quit, and many did, but if he stayed on he gave loyalty and expected it." I found these notes fascinating in explaining the times of which he was writing. A good read!

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started out talking about a guy who got mugged and robbed by a Indian group. The Indians toke him as a hostage and he got away. When we went back to the carriage he got money notes and guns. In the middle he found out that his friend was offered a whole bunch on land. He imposed as his friend and toke his life over. I give this book four stars because it was interesting but the way it was written was choppy and hard to understand. This book would probably be great for people born in the fifty in the south but no where else.

[Kev Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. It was a really short story that was easy to follow. The plot was so simple, I believe I could have written it, yet it was still intriguing and had a great ending. For the western genre, it is somewhat ironic that there is a plethora of books available (so much so that you could never read them all in one lifetime), yet western movies are almost as scarce as terrapin feathers. There was a small plot twist at the end that I didn't see coming, and true to the genre, the bad guy gets what's coming to him by the end of the story. I recommend this one.

[Danice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of short stories. What really completed this collection, was the author's note before each story. The stories may be published in other collections, but they would be incomplete without the author's note, which featured an anecdote, historical reference, or jargon, and/or named a bibliographic source.

[Oleta Blaylock · Rating 4 out of 5]

More short stories: Riding for the Brand; Four-Card Draw; His Brother's Debt; A Strong Land Growing; The Turkeyfather Riders; Lit a Shuck for Texas; The Nester and the Piute; Barney Takes a Hand; Man Riding West; Fork Your Own Broncs; Home In the Valley; West is Where the Heart Is. I love these short stories. They are all good and worth the time to enjoy.

[Rod Innis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of short stories; many of these stories were written early in Louis L'Amour's career as a writer and put together much later. There are several such compilations. Some of these stories were later turned into full-length novels.
I enjoyed these stories. I have quite a number of these collections and plan to reread some of them.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun. I didn’t think I would like westerns so much! The short stories keep you engaged wanting to know what types of trouble is around the corner for these western heroes. You can feel the struggle and sigh of relief. This is the first Louis L’Amour’s works I’ve read and will not be the last!

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good set of short stories. It had only one that I had previously read. I suppose if these stories have a common theme, it is loyalty. Frankly, as much as I like L'Amour, I wonder if the short story was his best vehicle.

[Delonna Oskouee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner!

There was only 1 story that I'd read before, but I enjoyed all of Mr. L'Amour's stories about the old west. A few of them had places that I know of or have been to in Arizona.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escaping Indians Jed finds a murder and a new cause, This was a good read.

[Robert Lariviere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read by a top western author

[Jas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read of various stories of western adventure; some evidently based on fact. Was fun to find that the last one included Cimarron, NM, Maxwell, and Bill Ketchum; all stories from around Philmont Scout Ranch.

[RONWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short stories. Twelve total. About four of them are as good as anything Louis ever wrote. The last one? Probably my favorite ever. It's called "Home is where the heart is".

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting western adventure by an American classics writer. Very well narrated Tom Werner.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible Audiobooks Library 📚: A surprisingly good dramatization of an abridged Louis L’Amour novel. Well narrated dramatized audiobook presentation I enjoyed far more than I’d anticipated.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stars for the story; five stars for the audio production by The Highwaymen.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable short stories.

[Dennis Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible Short Story! 4/5