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Hot Iron and Cold Blood: An Anthology of the Weird West
Desperados and yellow-bellies be These ain’ t your typical westerns… Herein find legendary masters of anomalous Western and Horror stories— along with a posse of budding word-slingers— who all bring you an electrifying and frightening collection of extraordinary tales set in the Old West and beyond... Within these pages, the improbable is made cowboys encounter a chimeric critter of the night; dinosaurs return as massive poltergeists; Chinese railroad workers are haunted by invisible frights; outlaws experience Cronenbergian body-horror; fallen-light stalks mother and daughter upon a wintry prairie; a headless horseman roams the badlands; otherworldly creatures hunt within our domain; screaming spectral birds nest within the damned; and gunslinging women with murderous skills annihilate foolish notions of a man’ s world. These are just a handful of the offerings in this body of macabre lore. So, mount your saddle-horse and join this gang of rogue authors for a ride down dark trails of terror and unsettling thoroughfares that lead deep into strange, nightmarish territory.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 12, 2024
What comes to your mind when you think of the “Wild West”?
Horses, bandits, cowboys, wise natives, prostitutes in petticoats dancing to piano songs in wooden saloons, rangers, scorching heat, guns, dust, grave diggers, Sheriffs and Reverends, public hangings, even Chinese railroad workers and wandering medicine men?
Well, Hot Iron and Cold Blood adds flesh eating birds, vampires, worshipers of Yog-Sothoth, revenge spells, headless warriors, ghost dinosaurs, spirits, crazy pimps, and speaking holes to that, and so here we have one of the most original and well-done anthologies of the past decade which absolutely succeeds in wonderfully integrating the weird and unsettling, sometimes the outright body horror into this intrinsically surreal and hostile, but at the same time free and hopeful environment.
The idea of living in a time without dentistry and my favorite bands is terrifying to me. Any historical story set in a time without these is principally uninteresting to me, let alone a time where guns, violence and horses or whatever the fascination with the wild west is, set the tone. BUT there are of course exceptions and excellent writing or an ingenious plot or concept or some kind of appeal can make me read it. This anthology here does all of it – Believe me, every single story is so well chosen, well written, so well incorporated into the theme that even though I'm still no fan of the wild west, I loved this book. I really hope to find more of such wonderful anthologies.
As usual, I do have highlights that stood out for me. Here they are;
Holes by Brennan LaFaro; an unpopular ex-sheriff who lives an isolated life discovers holes in his land which he first attributes to the critters. But then, they begin to TALK...
Soiled Doves by Vivian Kasley; assuming she won't be able to work if she falls pregnant, a young saloon girl takes a powder given to her by the madame of the rival saloon. Surely this can't go well...
The Deviltry of Elemental Valence by Edward Lee; in the (almost) present time a grave digger is overjoyed by the promiss of earning some money on the side and buying sex workers by opening a grave out of the record for a rich client. What comes out and the direction this story goes is unexpected to say the least.
Sedalia by David J. Schow
“More than the end of the world, Americans dislike inconvenience.”
A time in which dinosaurs make a re-appearance (alongside the honorable Godzilla) and a group of cowboys observing them, all from different backgrounds.
I'm pretty sure that Schow will be asked to write a full-sized book out of this story, which is already on the longer side. And it would deserve to be written out, it was amazing.
Rope and Limb by Jeff Strand; if you're familiar with Strand's writing, you probably can guess the kind of humor in this story. We follow a guy about to be hanged (and the reason he's being prosecuted is grotesque enough), arguing for a proper execution to which the cheap-ass frugal mayor opposes.
Dread Creek by Briana Morgan; a group of travelers are in serious trouble when they drink water from a dubious source and pay for it, like really brutally.
Old Habits by L. M. Labat; a young man who has a complicated relationship to his father, a quack doctor, receives unexpected supernatural help to finally break free.
Hungry by Jess Allen Champion; Chinese workers aren't necessarily that first thing that come to mind when thinking about the wild west, especially for Non-Americans, but they actually built the Transcontinental Railroad, and it was an unexpected pleasure to find a story set among these workers.
The Redheaded Death by Joe R. Lansdale; redheaded vampires and a Reverend? Sign me up immediately! Seeing all the awesome short stories Lansdale writes for various horror anthologies, it has been an itch of mine to read a full book by him, maybe this story will finally give me that push.
Go read this anthology, now.
Horses, bandits, cowboys, wise natives, prostitutes in petticoats dancing to piano songs in wooden saloons, rangers, scorching heat, guns, dust, grave diggers, Sheriffs and Reverends, public hangings, even Chinese railroad workers and wandering medicine men?
Well, Hot Iron and Cold Blood adds flesh eating birds, vampires, worshipers of Yog-Sothoth, revenge spells, headless warriors, ghost dinosaurs, spirits, crazy pimps, and speaking holes to that, and so here we have one of the most original and well-done anthologies of the past decade which absolutely succeeds in wonderfully integrating the weird and unsettling, sometimes the outright body horror into this intrinsically surreal and hostile, but at the same time free and hopeful environment.
The idea of living in a time without dentistry and my favorite bands is terrifying to me. Any historical story set in a time without these is principally uninteresting to me, let alone a time where guns, violence and horses or whatever the fascination with the wild west is, set the tone. BUT there are of course exceptions and excellent writing or an ingenious plot or concept or some kind of appeal can make me read it. This anthology here does all of it – Believe me, every single story is so well chosen, well written, so well incorporated into the theme that even though I'm still no fan of the wild west, I loved this book. I really hope to find more of such wonderful anthologies.
As usual, I do have highlights that stood out for me. Here they are;
Holes by Brennan LaFaro; an unpopular ex-sheriff who lives an isolated life discovers holes in his land which he first attributes to the critters. But then, they begin to TALK...
Soiled Doves by Vivian Kasley; assuming she won't be able to work if she falls pregnant, a young saloon girl takes a powder given to her by the madame of the rival saloon. Surely this can't go well...
The Deviltry of Elemental Valence by Edward Lee; in the (almost) present time a grave digger is overjoyed by the promiss of earning some money on the side and buying sex workers by opening a grave out of the record for a rich client. What comes out and the direction this story goes is unexpected to say the least.
Sedalia by David J. Schow
“More than the end of the world, Americans dislike inconvenience.”
A time in which dinosaurs make a re-appearance (alongside the honorable Godzilla) and a group of cowboys observing them, all from different backgrounds.
I'm pretty sure that Schow will be asked to write a full-sized book out of this story, which is already on the longer side. And it would deserve to be written out, it was amazing.
Rope and Limb by Jeff Strand; if you're familiar with Strand's writing, you probably can guess the kind of humor in this story. We follow a guy about to be hanged (and the reason he's being prosecuted is grotesque enough), arguing for a proper execution to which the cheap-ass frugal mayor opposes.
Dread Creek by Briana Morgan; a group of travelers are in serious trouble when they drink water from a dubious source and pay for it, like really brutally.
Old Habits by L. M. Labat; a young man who has a complicated relationship to his father, a quack doctor, receives unexpected supernatural help to finally break free.
Hungry by Jess Allen Champion; Chinese workers aren't necessarily that first thing that come to mind when thinking about the wild west, especially for Non-Americans, but they actually built the Transcontinental Railroad, and it was an unexpected pleasure to find a story set among these workers.
The Redheaded Death by Joe R. Lansdale; redheaded vampires and a Reverend? Sign me up immediately! Seeing all the awesome short stories Lansdale writes for various horror anthologies, it has been an itch of mine to read a full book by him, maybe this story will finally give me that push.
Go read this anthology, now.
July 28, 2024
The Weird Wild West
Review of the Death’s Head Press eBook (September 26, 2023) edited by Patrick R. McDonough and released simultaneously with the Death's Head Press paperback.
[3.75 average rating for the 16 stories, rounded up to 4 for GR]
This was an excellent mix of wild west stories written with various horror tropes of hauntings, vampires, alien beings or worlds, mythology or just plain ornery evil goings on. Several of them entered 5 star territory for the imagination of the characters and place settings and their imagery.
I am admittedly always partial to anything Cthulhu Mythos related which was the case in #7 The Deviltry of Elemental Violence. Editor Patrick R. McDonough's own #12 It Calls impressed with the mystery behind the events which was left to the reader's imagination. The nihilism of the finale #16 Seeking a Grave in Canaan was a definite shock to the system.
The collection was rounded out with an Foreword by R.J. Joseph (Rhonda Jackson Garcia) and an Afterword from the editor which told the story of the genesis of the anthology.
The descriptions below give setups only so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. Ruthless **** by Jill Girardi. The attempted rescue of a woman who was kidnapped as a child by Comanche takes an unexpected turn.
2. Texas Macabre **** by Owl Goingback. A posse sets out after a band of horse thieves but finds that one of them is protected by dark forces.
3. Holes *** by Brennan LaFaro. A disgraced former sheriff finds his land suddenly erupting with dozens of black holes.
4. Soiled Doves *** by Vivian Kasley. A feud between dueling whorehouses gets out of hand.
5. About Her Given Name *** by Kenzie Jennings. A young girl grows up to take vengeance for the death of a childhood friend.
6. The Night of El Maldito **** by Ronald Kelly. A mysterious force is causing the death of cattle and a posse is formed to chase it down.
7. The Deviltry of Elemental Violence ***** by Edward Lee. A gravedigger is paid to secretly exhume a grave with shocking results. This one has a strong H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos tie-in.
8. Old World Birds *** by Drew E. Huff. Surrealistic and erotic tale of a sorceress who bewitches through birds which are released from her body.
9. Sedalia *** by David J. Schow. In a world where dinosaurs have returned to Earth, a group of drovers are now in the dino herding business.
10. Rope and Limb *** by Jeff Strand. A planned hanging degenerates into a bungled effort by a cost-cutting mayor and the residents of a western town.
11. Dread Creek **** by Briana Morgan. A gang of outlaws with relationship issues with girlfriends and wives find themselves with a limited choice of water sources.
12. It Calls ***** by Patrick R. McDonough. Surrealistic tale about a family trapped by a force of light (with tentacles) which seeks to entrap them.
13. Old Habits *** by L.M. Labat. A son is writing a journal about his journeys with his father, a doctor during a Scarlet Fever epidemic in the old west. An entity is hovering in the background.
14. Hungry **** by Jesse Allen Champion. A group of Chinese railroad workers are camped near the site of a historic disaster and find themselves haunted and attacked by mysterious forces.
15. The Redheaded Dead **** by Joe R. Lansdale. A reverend battles against a vampire which has been released during a storm.
16. Seeking A Grave in Canaan ***** Wile E. Young. A demonic sort of vigilante is hired by a family of Mormons to rescue 2 of their own who have succumbed to the enchantment of a rival religion.
I read Hot Iron and Cold Blood thanks to an enthusiastic review by GR Friend Inciminci which you can read here. Thank you Inci!
Review of the Death’s Head Press eBook (September 26, 2023) edited by Patrick R. McDonough and released simultaneously with the Death's Head Press paperback.
[3.75 average rating for the 16 stories, rounded up to 4 for GR]
This was an excellent mix of wild west stories written with various horror tropes of hauntings, vampires, alien beings or worlds, mythology or just plain ornery evil goings on. Several of them entered 5 star territory for the imagination of the characters and place settings and their imagery.
I am admittedly always partial to anything Cthulhu Mythos related which was the case in #7 The Deviltry of Elemental Violence. Editor Patrick R. McDonough's own #12 It Calls impressed with the mystery behind the events which was left to the reader's imagination. The nihilism of the finale #16 Seeking a Grave in Canaan was a definite shock to the system.
The collection was rounded out with an Foreword by R.J. Joseph (Rhonda Jackson Garcia) and an Afterword from the editor which told the story of the genesis of the anthology.
The descriptions below give setups only so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. Ruthless **** by Jill Girardi. The attempted rescue of a woman who was kidnapped as a child by Comanche takes an unexpected turn.
2. Texas Macabre **** by Owl Goingback. A posse sets out after a band of horse thieves but finds that one of them is protected by dark forces.
3. Holes *** by Brennan LaFaro. A disgraced former sheriff finds his land suddenly erupting with dozens of black holes.
4. Soiled Doves *** by Vivian Kasley. A feud between dueling whorehouses gets out of hand.
5. About Her Given Name *** by Kenzie Jennings. A young girl grows up to take vengeance for the death of a childhood friend.
6. The Night of El Maldito **** by Ronald Kelly. A mysterious force is causing the death of cattle and a posse is formed to chase it down.
7. The Deviltry of Elemental Violence ***** by Edward Lee. A gravedigger is paid to secretly exhume a grave with shocking results. This one has a strong H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos tie-in.
8. Old World Birds *** by Drew E. Huff. Surrealistic and erotic tale of a sorceress who bewitches through birds which are released from her body.
9. Sedalia *** by David J. Schow. In a world where dinosaurs have returned to Earth, a group of drovers are now in the dino herding business.
10. Rope and Limb *** by Jeff Strand. A planned hanging degenerates into a bungled effort by a cost-cutting mayor and the residents of a western town.
11. Dread Creek **** by Briana Morgan. A gang of outlaws with relationship issues with girlfriends and wives find themselves with a limited choice of water sources.
12. It Calls ***** by Patrick R. McDonough. Surrealistic tale about a family trapped by a force of light (with tentacles) which seeks to entrap them.
13. Old Habits *** by L.M. Labat. A son is writing a journal about his journeys with his father, a doctor during a Scarlet Fever epidemic in the old west. An entity is hovering in the background.
14. Hungry **** by Jesse Allen Champion. A group of Chinese railroad workers are camped near the site of a historic disaster and find themselves haunted and attacked by mysterious forces.
15. The Redheaded Dead **** by Joe R. Lansdale. A reverend battles against a vampire which has been released during a storm.
16. Seeking A Grave in Canaan ***** Wile E. Young. A demonic sort of vigilante is hired by a family of Mormons to rescue 2 of their own who have succumbed to the enchantment of a rival religion.
I read Hot Iron and Cold Blood thanks to an enthusiastic review by GR Friend Inciminci which you can read here. Thank you Inci!
December 22, 2023
Can I get a yee-haw?! Firstly, look at that retro pulp cover 🤩 if that's not enough to jingle your spurs the tales within surely will🤠 I do love an anthology and this weird western horror was a treat and a great way to dip my toes into the sub-genre which is new to me, there's a ton of variety here and each story is original, definitely one for fans of unhappy endings and the down right unusual!
September 26, 2023
I’m kind of right in the middle with this collection of short stories. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. That’s why I’m always iffy on reading short story collections, they’re always hit and miss for me! This one was definitely more hit than miss but it didn’t make me fall in love like I hoped it would. My favourite stories out of the collection were definitely Soiled Doves and Old World Birds, both got a solid five stars and blew my mind away. You’ll definitely want to check this collection out if you love weird western horror, this collection has that covered!
Read
October 6, 2023First of all, I’m super happy to see an anthology like this. I think it was curated really well, and I appreciated how the stories flowed. Not all of them worked for me, but the ones that did really did for varying reasons to stand out for me were “soiled doves” , “rope and limb” (which was equally hilarious and distressing) , “dread creek” (my fav) and “it calls” (I keep saying that I’m not a fan of cosmic horror, and yet I keep enjoying cosmic horror stories looks like I’m proving myself wrong. The story was black as fuck, but also really pulled at the heart strings)
Definitely for fans of horror without happy, endings, and weird and interesting tales!
Definitely for fans of horror without happy, endings, and weird and interesting tales!
September 2, 2023
Thank you so much to the editor, Patrick McDonough, for making sure I got an early peek at this. This collection is packed full of weird western horror and I loved every second I spent reading it. Most of the contributors were new to me except for a handful and I’m so thrilled to have discovered so many new and amazing voices.
The stories in this collection are all so different and raw and gritty and brutal at a lot of times. I’m new to the Western Horror sub-genre and have only started dabbling in it this year. This was such a great way to be exposed to so many western stories, which is something I’ve avoided in the past because I figured I wouldn’t be interested. But boy was I wrong. I could maybe even say it’s fast becoming one of my favorite sub-genre.
Also. That cover! It’s so rad. That alone is reason enough to pick up this book and I can’t wait to have a physical copy of it on my shelf.
I don’t want to spoil any of these so I won’t go into detail but horror/western fans need to add this book to their collections. From deserts to brothels and being submerged in SO much blood, Hot Iron and Cold Blood is a must-read, balls to the wall amazing ride. Saddle up, y’all.
The stories in this collection are all so different and raw and gritty and brutal at a lot of times. I’m new to the Western Horror sub-genre and have only started dabbling in it this year. This was such a great way to be exposed to so many western stories, which is something I’ve avoided in the past because I figured I wouldn’t be interested. But boy was I wrong. I could maybe even say it’s fast becoming one of my favorite sub-genre.
Also. That cover! It’s so rad. That alone is reason enough to pick up this book and I can’t wait to have a physical copy of it on my shelf.
I don’t want to spoil any of these so I won’t go into detail but horror/western fans need to add this book to their collections. From deserts to brothels and being submerged in SO much blood, Hot Iron and Cold Blood is a must-read, balls to the wall amazing ride. Saddle up, y’all.
October 2, 2023
I love anthologies. I also love westerns. So, when I saw a western horror anthology I was like, uh … yes. And friends, I need you to understand this is the best anthology I have read so far this year and maybe since I have been in this community. There are sixteen stories, but I will only be talking about the ones I gave 10/5 stars to. Now, I want to explain that there is only 1 - 4 star in this group. I will repeat that - out of sixteen stories only ONE is a four star. The rest are 5/5 or higher. That is absolute insanity. Anyway, let’s get into the super stars of the collection:
Ruthless by Jill Girardi - When a long believed, dead daughter is spotted, old wounds are felt by those affected by the disappearance. (One of my favorites.)
Holes by Brennan LaFaro - What happens to souls that just can’t quit you. The imagery and hopelessness in this story is phenomenally written.
Soiled Doves by Vivian Kasley - How many whorehouses are too many? Sometimes the competition can kill you. This one is bananas.
The Deviltry of Elemental Valence by Edward Lee - Don’t be nosy when digging up bodies. Things can get very time confused. Classic Lee and some of my favorite Easter eggs in this one.
Old World Birds by Drew E. Huff - Differences make you stand out but not always in a good way. Even if it can bring you love unknown. Bizarre, stunning, and brilliant.
Rope and Limb by Jeff Strand - Darius is sentenced to death by hanging for something he technically didn’t do. For his final words, he has some suggestions on improving in the future. I cackled throughout this whole story. It’s perfect.
It Calls by Patrick McDonough - Don’t wish upon a star, don’t assume everything you see is real, and don’t trust anything with tendrils. A creature feature with a whole lot of sadness.
Hungry by Jesse Allen Chapman - Chinese railroad workers must choose between their food or their lives while learning the horrible truth about their camp site.
Seeking a Grave in Canaan by Wile E. Young - A Gun and his owner walk into a bar… this is biblical, familial, and 100% unnerving.
Friends, you need this anthology. Not a want, a need. McDonough went above and beyond bringing it together and I promise you will not be disappointed.
An absolute DOUBLE OFF THE CHARTS 20/5.
Ruthless by Jill Girardi - When a long believed, dead daughter is spotted, old wounds are felt by those affected by the disappearance. (One of my favorites.)
Holes by Brennan LaFaro - What happens to souls that just can’t quit you. The imagery and hopelessness in this story is phenomenally written.
Soiled Doves by Vivian Kasley - How many whorehouses are too many? Sometimes the competition can kill you. This one is bananas.
The Deviltry of Elemental Valence by Edward Lee - Don’t be nosy when digging up bodies. Things can get very time confused. Classic Lee and some of my favorite Easter eggs in this one.
Old World Birds by Drew E. Huff - Differences make you stand out but not always in a good way. Even if it can bring you love unknown. Bizarre, stunning, and brilliant.
Rope and Limb by Jeff Strand - Darius is sentenced to death by hanging for something he technically didn’t do. For his final words, he has some suggestions on improving in the future. I cackled throughout this whole story. It’s perfect.
It Calls by Patrick McDonough - Don’t wish upon a star, don’t assume everything you see is real, and don’t trust anything with tendrils. A creature feature with a whole lot of sadness.
Hungry by Jesse Allen Chapman - Chinese railroad workers must choose between their food or their lives while learning the horrible truth about their camp site.
Seeking a Grave in Canaan by Wile E. Young - A Gun and his owner walk into a bar… this is biblical, familial, and 100% unnerving.
Friends, you need this anthology. Not a want, a need. McDonough went above and beyond bringing it together and I promise you will not be disappointed.
An absolute DOUBLE OFF THE CHARTS 20/5.
Read
May 29, 2025DNF.
I really thought this would be for me - Weird West!! Yes please!! - but there must be a part of the brief or a certain audience for this book that I wasn't aware of on picking it up. Because along with being weird, all these stories are also incredibly gory - I read about half of them and all but one or two involved someone getting their stomach cut open and all their organs spilling out (among other things, which were often straining to be as horrific as humanly possible - very much splatterpunk vibes). I don't mind some gore, but when it's a big feature of every single story and I wasn't expecting that - and combine that with a lot of these authors feeling like pretentious David Foster Wallace fanboys - then I have to admit it's not for me. I will say that, at least in all the stories I'd read so far, the weirdness was very unexpected, not straying into the realm of stereotype really at all. I was a bit gagged by the twist in the werewolf story! (and also gagging because of all the organs strewn over the page)
I really thought this would be for me - Weird West!! Yes please!! - but there must be a part of the brief or a certain audience for this book that I wasn't aware of on picking it up. Because along with being weird, all these stories are also incredibly gory - I read about half of them and all but one or two involved someone getting their stomach cut open and all their organs spilling out (among other things, which were often straining to be as horrific as humanly possible - very much splatterpunk vibes). I don't mind some gore, but when it's a big feature of every single story and I wasn't expecting that - and combine that with a lot of these authors feeling like pretentious David Foster Wallace fanboys - then I have to admit it's not for me. I will say that, at least in all the stories I'd read so far, the weirdness was very unexpected, not straying into the realm of stereotype really at all. I was a bit gagged by the twist in the werewolf story! (and also gagging because of all the organs strewn over the page)
September 30, 2023
Full disclosure, I’ve got a story in this anthology. Putting aside my own entry, this book is full of a variety of strange and horrific tales mainly set in the old west. A terrific mix of genre legends and new, exciting voices.
November 1, 2024
A wonderful collection of stories:
Chinese immigrants working on the railroad set up camp near a lake and get more than they bargained for... poor Donner Party.
Jeff Strand's story had me in stitches.
Sexy owl lady.
And more!
Chinese immigrants working on the railroad set up camp near a lake and get more than they bargained for... poor Donner Party.
Jeff Strand's story had me in stitches.
Sexy owl lady.
And more!
October 7, 2023
great collection
Ronald Kelly had the best story but there were no bad ones in this bunch. Highly recommend. A copacetic mix of horror in the West.
Ronald Kelly had the best story but there were no bad ones in this bunch. Highly recommend. A copacetic mix of horror in the West.
March 6, 2024
With the Old Wild West as the backdrop, the writers featured in this collection have definitely pushed the envelope. Some of the stories are so outlandish, yet still horrific. They imagined what horrors might appear during this time, and how the townsfolk might react. What if the Old Wild West had it’s own Headless Horseman? Or a zombie-like illness spread amongst the town’s brothels? Or a werewolf that takes over a body that isn’t human?
I’ll also have to give credit to R. J. Joseph, who wrote the forward. She sets the tone for the collection and hints at what’s to come. And once you’re finished, McDonough wraps up each story for readers in the afterword at the end of the book.
Complete Book Review on Cantina Book Club website: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/ho...
Interview with Patrick R. McDonough and R. J. Joseph: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xeqap-1...
I’ll also have to give credit to R. J. Joseph, who wrote the forward. She sets the tone for the collection and hints at what’s to come. And once you’re finished, McDonough wraps up each story for readers in the afterword at the end of the book.
Complete Book Review on Cantina Book Club website: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/ho...
Interview with Patrick R. McDonough and R. J. Joseph: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xeqap-1...
May 27, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up - honest I would say at least half of the stories are pretty meh but the good ones are SO GOOD they def pick up the slack for the others
April 3, 2025
Took the “long route” with this one. The story by Edward Lee was probably my favorite of the bunch, but overall a good collection.
November 25, 2023
This is a great anthology of stories encompassing the weird west/ western horror/ splatter western genre. There’s a few authors in here who I read for the first time and I’ll be reading more of them including Ronald Kelly, Brennan LaFaro, Jeff Strand and Owl Goingback. The last two stories, one by Joe Lansdale and the other by Wile E. Young, were great surprises, each containing characters from their previous works which I’ve read.
October 11, 2024
A mixed bag of mostly horror that stretched the theme of Western Horror.
January 31, 2025
An okay collection of weird fiction in the old west setting. A few good stories in here but nothing that really impressed me. Not terrible but I was just a bit let down by this.
September 26, 2023
I’ve been a fan of Death’s Head Press’ Weird West books from the first - ‘The Magpie Coffin’ was a pleasure to both read and review.
This anthology brings together some of their best authors, which is excellent for newcomers, as they then have other titles in the series to dive into!
As is usual for any collection, there’s stories here that both appealed and didn’t, but that’s subjective, and I’ve no doubt that everyone’s opinion will differ. However, the quality was consistently good, and the originality of every single tale shone out as bright as High Noon.
One particular thread that I found particularly pleasing was the amount of strong women and ‘minorities’. This isn‘t John Wayne’s West. Whether young society girls, Natives or ladies of the night, the sheer spine needed to survive in the old West is clear - and that’s before we even get into the supernatural. I loved that so many of their menfolk respected them too; all in difficult situations together, after all.
My favourite was ‘Rope and Limb’ by Jeff Strand, because I honestly did not see that twist coming, oh my gods! And Kenzie Jennings continues to be brilliant as always (‘Red Station’ is one of easily the best novels in this series).
If you want something unusual, with a heap of variety and stories told around a campfire that you’ve never heard the like - pick this up. Then go seek out your favourite authors, and tell them who sent you.
This anthology brings together some of their best authors, which is excellent for newcomers, as they then have other titles in the series to dive into!
As is usual for any collection, there’s stories here that both appealed and didn’t, but that’s subjective, and I’ve no doubt that everyone’s opinion will differ. However, the quality was consistently good, and the originality of every single tale shone out as bright as High Noon.
One particular thread that I found particularly pleasing was the amount of strong women and ‘minorities’. This isn‘t John Wayne’s West. Whether young society girls, Natives or ladies of the night, the sheer spine needed to survive in the old West is clear - and that’s before we even get into the supernatural. I loved that so many of their menfolk respected them too; all in difficult situations together, after all.
My favourite was ‘Rope and Limb’ by Jeff Strand, because I honestly did not see that twist coming, oh my gods! And Kenzie Jennings continues to be brilliant as always (‘Red Station’ is one of easily the best novels in this series).
If you want something unusual, with a heap of variety and stories told around a campfire that you’ve never heard the like - pick this up. Then go seek out your favourite authors, and tell them who sent you.
October 28, 2023
What’s great about Hot Iron and Cold Blood: An Anthology of the Weird West is that it not only delivers the gritty gunfighters I hoped for, but it also delivers many surprises. Stories contain unexpected perspectives, voices, situations, and, of course, all kinds of varmints–I mean it wouldn’t be the Weird West without them. Far from conventional, the collection features stories that mix time periods and settings. Some are more successful than others with nontraditional story structures. Many authors deliver new myths or reworked traditional tales, like births and rebirths of rural legends, perfect for a book of the Wild West–a mythology itself of survival, guardians, killers, and double-crossers galore.
You can read Stephen McClurg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Stephen McClurg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 27, 2023
Since I recently finished the first original run of the 14 books in the Splatter Western series from @deaths_head_press/@deadskypub I wanted to check out this anthology before I start the new run.
One big thing to note is that this isn't a full book of splatterpunk. Even though it doesn't claim to be, it's easy enough to make that mistake given who published it and the fact that some of the authors have written Splatter Westerns.
Speaking of that, @kenziejennings2 AND @texascthulhu have stories here, and BOTH feature characters from their Splatter Westerns, so if you've read those books, you're in for a special treat. On top of that, Edward Lee, @brianamorganbooks, and Jeff Strand have EXCELLENT stories here as well.
All in all, a balanced collection of ones I really liked and ones that left me a bit underwhelmed. Would I recommend it though? Absolutely, especially if you like the weird western vibes of the Splatter Westerns.
One big thing to note is that this isn't a full book of splatterpunk. Even though it doesn't claim to be, it's easy enough to make that mistake given who published it and the fact that some of the authors have written Splatter Westerns.
Speaking of that, @kenziejennings2 AND @texascthulhu have stories here, and BOTH feature characters from their Splatter Westerns, so if you've read those books, you're in for a special treat. On top of that, Edward Lee, @brianamorganbooks, and Jeff Strand have EXCELLENT stories here as well.
All in all, a balanced collection of ones I really liked and ones that left me a bit underwhelmed. Would I recommend it though? Absolutely, especially if you like the weird western vibes of the Splatter Westerns.
May 24, 2025
When I passed the halfway point of this book, I was under the impression that this anthology was a pet project put together by HWA members for the primary purpose of collaborating with each other. What gave me that impression was the lackadaisical curation of content, which included work that really had no business being a part of this collection – not necessarily due to quality, but because they just didn’t fit the theme.
I think the cover art did most of the heavy lifting in terms of marketing this work. The whole “weird west” theme seems kind of vague based on the blurb alone, but the cover really gives you a taste of what you’re in for.
For anthologies I like to say a little something about each story, but whatever I have to say is based on maybe a few focal points that stood out to me specifically.
Read my full breakdown: https://www.livefreeliverich.com/blog...
I think the cover art did most of the heavy lifting in terms of marketing this work. The whole “weird west” theme seems kind of vague based on the blurb alone, but the cover really gives you a taste of what you’re in for.
For anthologies I like to say a little something about each story, but whatever I have to say is based on maybe a few focal points that stood out to me specifically.
Read my full breakdown: https://www.livefreeliverich.com/blog...
January 17, 2024
A collection with plenty of variety, Hot Iron and Cold Blood presents the reader with 16 old west tales with a twist by leading genre authors. While some of the stories didn't work for me, fans of the splatterpunk genre might like those best of all, and I enjoyed almost all the rest. There are some typos, which can be alternately amusing and annoying, as with the phrase "growled like a rapid dog," but overall it's a high quality anthology. Biggest highlights include "Sedalia" by David J. Schow, which stands among my favorite weird fiction stories of all time, "The Night of El Maldito" by Ronald Kelly, "Old World Birds" by Drew E. Huff, and "Rope and Limb" by Jeff Strand. Other contenders: "Soiled Doves" by Vivian Kasley, "Holes" by Brennan LaFaro, "About Her Given Name" by Kenzie Jennings, and "The Deviltry of Elemental Valence" by Edward Lee.
April 8, 2024
Much like any anthology, these stores were hit or miss. The collection started off really strong with tales like Ruthless, Texas Macabre, and Holes. The good stuff continues with Soiled Doves and About Her Given Name and the coupe of stories after that. But when we get to Old World Birds and Sedalia, either I was Wierd Wested out, or I just needed a sniff of the glue the authors were snorkin' back when they wrote these ones. I even Googled to see if someone could explain Sedalia to me, as it seemed like a blunderbuss-filled-with-random-ideas blast to my face. Not that kind of tripped "whoa, that was intense" kind of read but more like "yeah, I'm reading the words but my brain has been singing Surfin' Bird for the last 10 mins instead of comprehending".
Recommended if you like Weird West stuff. One of the better anthologies I've read in a while.
Recommended if you like Weird West stuff. One of the better anthologies I've read in a while.
September 24, 2025
I just finished Hot Iron and Cold Blood, An Anthology of the Weird West. Every story had some very cool 'old west' theme with a cool horror bent to it. I loved reading the stories from Jill Girardi, Joe R. Lansdale, Kenzie Jennings, Jeff Strand, and many more. If you like western horror this is a homerun!!
September 3, 2023
This was a well-written, well-edited book of weird western horror. It's both brutal and magical, familiar and unexplained. It reads like a traditional western anthology, but then every tale has something strange that deviates from the norm. Quite enjoyable!
January 27, 2024
Pretty solid anthology. There’s a spectrum of tone within the stories ranging from bleak to comedy, so everyone should find something they like. There were a lot of formatting errors which I usually don’t notice. There were also two stories I didn’t finish. But most were at least entertaining.
February 6, 2024
Look, I bought this solely for the cover. Some great stories in the anthology. The weird West is a subgenre that is bristling with potential. Looking forward to reading more stories by a lot of these writers.
February 18, 2024
A roundup of western weird/horror stories with Goingback, Kelly, Strand, and Lansdale provide engaging tales; however, several less than savory stories soured the overall read.
dnf
October 9, 2024Far too "horror" for my taste.
April 17, 2025
An amazing anthology with a huge range of western styles and horror types, an intriguing and moving collection that I highly recommend.
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