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The Lawless West: A Western Trio

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Jane Stacey comes out West to teach school in "From Missouri" by Zane Grey. Three cowhands working for the Spring Ranch tried to discourage her, but letters from a mysterious Frank Owens convinced her to come. When she arrives, the hands are amazed to see that she isn't the matronly schoolmarm they expected, and half the men in town are falling all over themselves over her. In Max Brand's "Over the Northern Border," Jack Trainor learns that a posse is on its way to arrest his brother-in-law for a stage robbery and decides to make himself a decoy for his sister's sake. His plan is to lead the law on a chase until he crosses into Mexico. When that plan fails, he heads north. The posse won't get him, but the Canadian wilderness might. In "Riders of the Dawn" by Louis L'Amour, we meet Matt Sabre. He's a drifter, a veteran of foreign wars, and he's seeking his fortune out West. Though he's not particularly interested in staying in Haddan's Point, when he's ordered to choose sides or get out of town his stubborn streak emerges. One look at Olga Maclaren is the deciding factor. This is the woman he'll marry - if he lives long enough . . .

333 pages, Library Binding

First published October 2, 2007

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About the author

Louis L'Amour

995 books3,469 followers
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".

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Community Reviews

5 stars
551 (51%)
4 stars
334 (31%)
3 stars
142 (13%)
2 stars
28 (2%)
1 star
22 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Clint.
57 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2019
Best Western author.

I have read Louis l'amour since I was a child and he has never lost my interest. As a life long voracious reader of many genres this is only author that I know will more than satisfy my reading addiction. Each and every novel of his I have read multiple times and his writing never grows stale. What like most is the interest I seem to take in his characters and after these many years I am still engrossed. Many critics may complain over his simplistic plots but no one tells a better story.
138 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2022
Three great Western stories from the three preeminent old west authors: Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour and Max Brand. My favorite was Over the Northern Border by Max Brand, a great story about a trapper and love letters. Good guys and bad guys in all three stories where real men did the right thing because it was the right thing to do.
Profile Image for Donadee's Corner.
2,648 reviews64 followers
December 13, 2024
"The Lawless West," edited by Jon Tuska, is a compelling collection of three classic Western short novels by renowned authors Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, and Max Brand. This anthology features L'Amour's "Riders of the Dawn," Grey's "From Missouri," and Brand's "Over the Northern Border," each restored to their original form from the authors' manuscripts. These tales capture the essence of the Old West with vivid characters, thrilling action, and timeless themes of adventure and justice, making it a must-read for fans of Western fiction.
4 reviews
December 5, 2022
Three top Western authors write 3 great stories…

Anyone who follows any one or all three of these authors will enjoy both the history of each man, and the individual stories which illustrate the prowess of the writers. A combination of romance, morality, and action separate this book from most western novels. The final Louis Lamour writing is a thrilling tail which combines great illustration of western men and geography with a rich, and exciting plot.
994 reviews10 followers
November 11, 2019
ACTION PACKED, GUN PLAY, RANGE WAR

Louis L'Amour with his 5 STARS does not disappoint; he packs action that contains lots of western gun play and a range war that is a fight of ranches. This wonderful written work has characters that you follow and get invested in. Who can resist a Louis L'Amour?
1 review
February 4, 2020
Well written story of the West

Not Zane Grey but still a good read of the days when the West was ruled by the gun more than the law. Strong characters in the fight of good vs evil. Even had several twists of events to keep the plot moving. Great descriptions with vivid word pictures of the western landscapes.
Profile Image for Sam.
273 reviews4 followers
December 22, 2020
Great variety from proven authors....excellent reading

Outstanding characters with page-turning action....classic old west as seen through the point of view of three distinct experts on writing western fiction. Each story a great tale and fascinating in their differences and similarities. Well worth the time.
Profile Image for Nolan.
1,038 reviews3 followers
January 22, 2022
Three stories by three different authors in one book.

From Missouri by Zane Grey. Rancher, his men, other men and a schoolteacher.

Over the Northern Border by Max Brand. A trapper and another guy want the same woman. I liked this story the best.

Riders of the Dawn. Just another range war with a twist.
43 reviews
August 21, 2019
A range war with mystery and murder

Land grabs, silver mines, murder for money and fast guns. Finished the novel in two days. You will not put it down except to eat and sleep. Enjoy!
1,838 reviews18 followers
August 22, 2020
The lawless west

A good read for people who are in to the series recommend highly can't wait for the next one of the series a really enjoyable read but quick shaping up to be a enjoyable series must read the next one of the series
9 reviews
September 7, 2020
Louis L’Amour’s story was excellent. The other two not bad

Three stories. The first two are pretty good, but as always Louis L’Amour is the best. I can see why so many of his works ended up as great movies as well. I can see this one would make another great film.
22 reviews
October 21, 2020
Three good reads

All three stories are good and held my interest. I’ve read most of Louis L’Amour’s books and short stories and the one here is pretty good. I’ll keep an eye out for Max Brand and Zane Gray stories now.
49 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2022
another great tale

Always the writing, describing the terrain, the sky, mountains, the faces of the killers. Their horses, guns, clothing. Puts the reader right there. A great Talent Lamont is
Profile Image for Fred.
401 reviews13 followers
June 30, 2023
Louis L'Amour Wins

All the stories here were fun. Louis L'Amour 's was the best. A tough and fair hero with the skill of a lawyer.

The stories by L'Amour that I read in the 70's, Sacketts, Hondo, carried more weight but I suspect it was because I was reading as a teenager.
2 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2017
Good read.

I just plum like Louis L'Amour. Gonna go hunt up more stories to read from the # 1 western writer.
1 review
May 11, 2019
L'Amour is always great. Not a fan of the other writers
Profile Image for Ronald L Brown.
71 reviews
Read
August 29, 2019
Very fast Nov story

I expected more of a Sane Grey story of beautiful disruptions of western scenery. Instead it was a fast moving him singer type but I liked it.
50 reviews
November 27, 2019
Typical gun slinger story!

Legend was interesting, good bad man finally got his man, and some how got a wife! To much killing, but great scenery views.
208 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2020
All three stories are great

I liked all three stories very much. They made me feel like an observer of the real old west. Excellent.
Profile Image for Jessica Ashley.
176 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2020
Crap

How could He sell the stuff? A as cv better the merchant marine z o well times a changer eh or so he said b b
120 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2020
I enjoyed reading the stories from these 3 western authors. Each are very different in their style and the things that they do but all are westerns and so share a common background and theme.
Profile Image for Lazarus.
9 reviews
June 20, 2020
Wasn't much a fan of Zane or Brand, but L'Amour is great and saved this book for me. What a fun ride.
23 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2020
L'Amour at his best

Hands down my favorite western author. A action packed, dip roaring of a western. I could not put it down.
5 reviews
September 26, 2020
Good reads

Two thumbs up for Zane Grey, Max Brand and Louis L'Amour. Easy to read, stand the test of time, classic stories.
Profile Image for Billy.
44 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2020
3 fine Western stories

These three stories were fine reading! I liked them and will be seeking others from these authors, and they wrote plenty!
Profile Image for William Thornhill.
14 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2022
Exciting read

It Will keep your interest until the ending. A lot of fighting but we know that
the good man will win in the end.





191 reviews
June 15, 2024
Awesome

I enjoyed these short stories very much. They were very entertaining, classic Old West cowboy stories. This was a quick, easy read for a nice diversion.
Profile Image for Bill Hooten.
924 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2021
For 40+ years I have enjoyed reading Louis L'Amour books and stories. This volume contains 3 short stories (or novellas), one each by Zane Grey, Max Brand, and Louis L'Amour. The stories by Grey and Brand make up the first half of the book, and the L'Amour the last half. I enjoyed all of them, and I think I liked the Brand story the best. It's not that the L'Amour story was bad, it didn't just quite strike me as well as Max Brand's. I sort of liked the main character in L'Amour's, Matt Sabre -- he just seemed to have just a little bit of a different attitude (particularly toward the ladies) than most of the leading men in a L'Amour story. What I liked about the Brand story, was the moral that you could draw from the story (telling the truth is always the best) and Joe Bigot was just a really likeable character. He may have been a little slow, but he wanted to be truthful. The Zane Grey book, was just another Zane Grey story to me -- not anything really special about it.
Profile Image for Ryan Burt.
471 reviews20 followers
July 2, 2014
I loved westerns when I was younger. Louis L'Amour more than most. I read through this book but didn't enjoy it as much as I felt I should. Part of the problem was that the Louis L'Amour story was one I had read before and remembered.
260 reviews
February 25, 2015
Writers history

It was interesting to read a history of the of the three authors before reading the short stories. You also were given the names of other stories they have written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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