Buchanan's Range War

Buchanan #20

by Jonas Ward

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 1980

About the author

A pseudonym used by William Ard. House name from 1960 to 1986.

In 1956, hardboiled writer William Ard turned his pen westward and introduced one of the genre’s most enduring characters: Thomas Buchanan, better known as just “Buchanan,” a drifter as likeable as he is deadly. The first novel in the series was called The Name’s Buchanan and appeared under the pseudonym “Jonas Ward.”

Only the first 6 books in the series were written by Ard, and the last, Buchanan on the Prod, was completed by Robert Silverberg.

After Ard's death in 1960 "Jonas Ward" became a house name. Brian Garfield did one and then William R. Cox took over the series and it continued until 1986.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Porado is a man that possesses documents of old Spanish land grants to vast regions of territory. Some of that land is owned by Billy Button and Porado is determined to acquire it. Billy, his wife Nora and their young son are the closest thing that Buchanan has to family. To put pressure on Billy, Porado has his giant goon beat him nearly to death. This brings Buchanan and his friend Coco Bean back to Billy’s place and makes them frontline soldiers in a vicious range war.
This story is a bit different from the other Buchanan stories in that he drops his extreme reluctance to kill, openly stating that the opponents deserve to be killed. Vastly outnumbered, Buchanan is able to engage them in a series of small skirmishes where small numbers of the opposition are killed. There is a climactic final battle and an epilogue. Once again, Buchanan is the target of some temptation to settle down by a widow woman that fights alongside him.
This is another of the Buchanan stories where you know that he will prevail in the end, yet still find it exciting and entertaining.

[John Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buchanan and his prize-fighting friend, Coco, are heading back to visit their friends Billy and Norah Button. They discover that they're in trouble - Billy has been badly beaten up by thugs working for Don Porado, who is trying to create his own cattle empire. Buchanan is a peaceable sort of a fella, but one thing he won't tolerate is anyone hurting his friends. Buchanan steps into the growing range war, aiming to stamp it out.

For once, the usually brilliant "Buchanan" books have something of a misfire. It's not bad, as such - just not as captivating as usual.