What do you think?
Rate this book
Buchanan #11
Buchanan's Siege
Older western fiction paperback. Good.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
10 people want to read
About the author
Jonas Ward
68 books7 followersA 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 15, 2017
One of the best heroes of western fiction is once again engaged in a battle that he would prefer to avoid. Buchanan is a peaceable man; however, the rest of the world is not. A man named Bradbury sent for him with the reasons being unknown. There is no question that it was not to act as a hired gun, for Bradbury knew that Buchanan could not be hired to kill, even though he would not hesitate to do so if the cause was right.
That trigger cause appears before Buchanan ever meets Bradbury, when he arrives he discovers a farmer hung and labeled as a cattle rustler. Buchanan spots the “evidence” and it is clear to him that it was planted. Furthermore, the dead farmer’s widow was a fellow traveler and he must do what he can to comfort her.
Bradbury is an official in what is called the Cattleman’s Association, an organization supposedly designed to further the interests of the ranchers, but is the umbrella under which they hope to engage in a range war over land. It is to be the ranchers versus the farmers and the ranchers are bringing in hired guns. It was Bradbury’s hope that Buchanan could calm the storm without bloodshed, the hanging ends all hope of that and Buchanan takes the side of the farmers.
He quickly emerges as their leader and even though his group is badly outnumbered, and the cause appears hopeless, Buchanan stays in the fight. Coco is not there in the beginning, but when Buchanan is in trouble, he travels to his aid. This is a good story, one that readers of westerns will enjoy.
That trigger cause appears before Buchanan ever meets Bradbury, when he arrives he discovers a farmer hung and labeled as a cattle rustler. Buchanan spots the “evidence” and it is clear to him that it was planted. Furthermore, the dead farmer’s widow was a fellow traveler and he must do what he can to comfort her.
Bradbury is an official in what is called the Cattleman’s Association, an organization supposedly designed to further the interests of the ranchers, but is the umbrella under which they hope to engage in a range war over land. It is to be the ranchers versus the farmers and the ranchers are bringing in hired guns. It was Bradbury’s hope that Buchanan could calm the storm without bloodshed, the hanging ends all hope of that and Buchanan takes the side of the farmers.
He quickly emerges as their leader and even though his group is badly outnumbered, and the cause appears hopeless, Buchanan stays in the fight. Coco is not there in the beginning, but when Buchanan is in trouble, he travels to his aid. This is a good story, one that readers of westerns will enjoy.
January 22, 2022
Took me a bit to finish this one. Not bad.
December 17, 2014
A nice range war adventure.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews