What do you think?
Rate this book
Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories
Trust was rare and precious in the wide-open towns that sprung up like weeds on America's frontier—with hustlers and hucksters arriving in droves by horse, coach, wagon, and rail, and gunmen working both sides of the law, all too eager to end a man's life with a well-placed bullet. The New York Times-bestselling Grand Master of suspense deftly displays the other side of his genius, with seven classic western tales of destiny and fatal decision . . . and trust as essential to survival as it is hard-earned.
193 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1953
176 people are currently reading
2920 people want to read
About the author
Elmore Leonard
205 books3,761 followersElmore John Leonard lived in Dallas, Oklahoma City and Memphis before settling in Detroit in 1935. After serving in the navy, he studied English literature at the University of Detroit where he entered a short story competition. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
Father of Peter Leonard.
Father of Peter Leonard.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
July 14, 2024
Outstanding western stories
I almost didn't buy this book as I thought it was probably made up of stories which I already had in other collections. To my pleasant surprise I found that most of the stories were new to me. All were very good.
Two of the stories have been made into notable movies. Actually, Three-Ten to Yuma has been made into two fine movies. The Captives was the basis for one of Randolph Scott's best movies, The Tall T.
I almost didn't buy this book as I thought it was probably made up of stories which I already had in other collections. To my pleasant surprise I found that most of the stories were new to me. All were very good.
Two of the stories have been made into notable movies. Actually, Three-Ten to Yuma has been made into two fine movies. The Captives was the basis for one of Randolph Scott's best movies, The Tall T.
November 12, 2015
I'm not a fan of most of Leonard's crime fiction, though The Moonshine War and Valdez Is Coming managed to hit all the right buzzers.
This collection of seven of the man's western tales didn't start too well for me. The first two, Cavalry Boots and Under the Friar's Ledge, seemed like they were just getting started when they ended. I was thinking that perhaps this Leonard guy just wasn't cut out for short fiction when along came the title tale.
DAMN!
Contained in just a few pages is a terrific story with all the action, drama and humor you could ever wish for. The same again in his longer story, The Captives. (Okay - substitute love story for humor in that one, but it was still good.) On the basis of those two tales alone, I'm giving this four instead of three stars.
I think The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard might just be waiting in my future.
This collection of seven of the man's western tales didn't start too well for me. The first two, Cavalry Boots and Under the Friar's Ledge, seemed like they were just getting started when they ended. I was thinking that perhaps this Leonard guy just wasn't cut out for short fiction when along came the title tale.
DAMN!
Contained in just a few pages is a terrific story with all the action, drama and humor you could ever wish for. The same again in his longer story, The Captives. (Okay - substitute love story for humor in that one, but it was still good.) On the basis of those two tales alone, I'm giving this four instead of three stars.
I think The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard might just be waiting in my future.
November 12, 2018
Really solid short western, which provided the core story for successful movie versions. Elmore Leonard's story goes directly to the climatic finish, where the deputy races through a hail of bullets to get this man on the train to the prison in Yuma so as he can make his paltry bounty money. Leonard packs in the tension and manages to make us care about the characters in very few pages. This is quality stuff.
August 3, 2012
Seven tales of good men in tough situations
We know all about Elmore Leonard these days, the master of the underworld dialogue and plots like corkscrews. It was a surprise to hear he made his name writing tales of the 19th century western frontier but no surprise at all to find that this early work was very well written and an enjoyable read.
I say that but I still don't consider myself a westerns man, the closest I get to that would be drooling over the cinematic achievement of There Will Be Blood, and loving the Altman revisionist western McCabe and Mrs Miller.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that these stories were formulaic but once I got a feel for them I knew the general outline of what would come. That's a bit of a drawback, but then a lot of people love to read predictable stories because they're comfortable. It seems odd to describe a collection of stories that feature the deaths of many an innocent and many an outlaw as comfortable but that's the way Leonard structured them.
The situations are all different, but the men are the same. These are good men in a place that functions almost without law, where trust is at a premium and greed at an all time high. These are real people so minor acts of heroism are countered by genuine fear, cruelty is seen as a direct result of laziness and greed, strong men are only as strong as the woman they have to support them (a surprising point in a genre that gave us the stereotypical black hats vs white hats amongst others,) and to use the title of an E.L. Doctorow western these early stories of Leonard serve as a Welcome to Hard Times for the western novices amongst us.
A word on the title story, having seen the James Mangold remake starring Batman and Gladiator this was not what I was expecting, it's subtle and poses questions about human behaviour, it blurs the lines between what is traditionally considered good and bad men. The movie is a bit of a joke in comparison. I am yet to see the original but I'm sure I will at some point if it's closer to the source material.
I'm not sure if I'll read more of the western stories of Leonard but I enjoyed this one enough and will look forward to reading his novel Hombre (it means man, Paul Newman is Hombre! to quote the movie poster.)
We know all about Elmore Leonard these days, the master of the underworld dialogue and plots like corkscrews. It was a surprise to hear he made his name writing tales of the 19th century western frontier but no surprise at all to find that this early work was very well written and an enjoyable read.
I say that but I still don't consider myself a westerns man, the closest I get to that would be drooling over the cinematic achievement of There Will Be Blood, and loving the Altman revisionist western McCabe and Mrs Miller.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that these stories were formulaic but once I got a feel for them I knew the general outline of what would come. That's a bit of a drawback, but then a lot of people love to read predictable stories because they're comfortable. It seems odd to describe a collection of stories that feature the deaths of many an innocent and many an outlaw as comfortable but that's the way Leonard structured them.
The situations are all different, but the men are the same. These are good men in a place that functions almost without law, where trust is at a premium and greed at an all time high. These are real people so minor acts of heroism are countered by genuine fear, cruelty is seen as a direct result of laziness and greed, strong men are only as strong as the woman they have to support them (a surprising point in a genre that gave us the stereotypical black hats vs white hats amongst others,) and to use the title of an E.L. Doctorow western these early stories of Leonard serve as a Welcome to Hard Times for the western novices amongst us.
A word on the title story, having seen the James Mangold remake starring Batman and Gladiator this was not what I was expecting, it's subtle and poses questions about human behaviour, it blurs the lines between what is traditionally considered good and bad men. The movie is a bit of a joke in comparison. I am yet to see the original but I'm sure I will at some point if it's closer to the source material.
I'm not sure if I'll read more of the western stories of Leonard but I enjoyed this one enough and will look forward to reading his novel Hombre (it means man, Paul Newman is Hombre! to quote the movie poster.)
February 27, 2024
El cuento La gran cacería se trata con mayor detalle en el programa de Gabinete de Curiosidades La gran cacería de Elmore Leonard: la extinción del bisonte americano a través de la épica del western: https://go.ivoox.com/rf/124926636
Luego de leer y disfrutar mucho de sus dos novelas cortas Hombre y Qué viene Valdez vuelvo a Nuevo México y a Arizona en la época de las guerras apaches en esta excelente colección de relatos que reúne la mitad de la producción cuentística de Elmore Leonard, celebérrimo autor de novela negra, el autor de Jackie Brown, sin ir más lejos, que hiciera sus pinitos en la literatura en el tan denostado género del western. Las historias de Leonard no se caracterizan por su originalidad sino por su enfoque fronterizo del indio y del blanco, más en la línea de Dorothy M. Johnson, la madre del género, que de los pastiches europeos de Winnetou o los bolsilibros de Marcial Lafuente Estefanía, es decir, sin caer en el error de representar al nativo como un asesino despiadado o como un buen salvaje roussoniano; representarlo, en cambio, como lo que es, miembro de una cultura ajena a la nuestra y con códigos muy alejados de las normas blancas. Aquí, hay apaches sanguinarios como bondadosos en la misma medida en la que hay vaqueros malvados y hombres honorables. Leonard logra imprimir verosimilitud a sus historias al dotar de humanidad a sus personajes.
Si hubiera que ponerles una pega a sus historias es que, como antología western que es, muchas tramas se repiten o parece que rimen. Y es que el escenario desértico a caballo entre Estados Unidos y México da para lo que da, y los conflictos son los que son: historias de venganza, escaramuzas contra los indios, forajidos que tratan de huir y forajidos a los que hay que aprehender, la caballería avanzando por terrenos inexplorados expuestos a cualquier emboscada, riñas de borrachos, la tiranía de los hacendados ganaderos, la opresión del apache por parte del hombre blanco y su reclusión en las reservas. No hay margen de maniobra para experimentar con muchas tramas. Aún así, este defecto es fácil de ignorar si se sigue la sabia estrategia de dosificar la lectura y compaginarla con otras, pues no hay ningún relato que pueda considerarse malo; a lo sumo, mediocre.
La antología recoge los siguientes relatos:
El rastro de los apaches (****): el debut de Leonard no pudo ser mejor. La historia de un explorador apache, veterano de las guerras indias y ahora supervisor de la paz en la reserva india, deberá enseñar todas las estrategias para sobrevivir a un joven teniente bostoniano. Una historia típica pero efectiva.
Medicina apache (****): el protagonista comete el error de matar, en defensa propia, al hijo de un caudillo apache. Durante el forcejeo se hace con la bolsita en la que el indio guardaba su medicina, el talismán protector personal y sagrado en grado sumo, tan valioso, que le servirá al protagonista para deshacerse de un par de forajidos que han atracado un convoy y asesinado a todo el pasaje. Me encanta este relato por su ingenioso desenlace.
Nunca ves a los apaches... (***): un explorador es contratado para acompañar y guiar a una pareja de aventureros que buscan un tesoro en territorio apache. Hay aprenderán dos importantes lecciones: no ofender ni atacar nunca a los indios pues, aunque tú no los veas, ellos siempre están vigilando. Satisfactorio, nunca está de más ver a un yanki sufrir por su estupidez.
Infierno en El Cañón del Diablo (***): una incursión de la caballería en territorio apache acaba en un tiroteo bastante reñido. Dado que ninguno de los dos bandos se impone, deciden dirimir el enfrentamiento con un concurso de beber tizwin, cerveza de maíz india. La frase con la que acaba el relato me hizo muchísima gracia: "De todos los que había conocido Darck, aquel joven oficial fue el único que rechazó un ponche de whisky a la vuelta de una abrasadora patrulla de cuatro días."
La mujer del coronal (**): otro relato de regimientos de la caballería persiguiendo apaches rebeldes. De los relatos menos memorables del conjunto.
La ley de los perseguidos (***): dos soldados recién licenciados buscan empezar una nueva vida, pero su empresa se ve frustrada al toparse con unos forajidos. La experiencia del más veterano consigue mantener a raya la susceptibilidad del más joven, al menos hasta que se añade una mujer a la ecuación. Otro buen relato que, sin embargo, tampoco resulta muy memorable.
Botas de caballería (***): al igual que hiciera El hombre que mató a Liberty Valance, esta historia nos demuestra que el western se cimentó en la leyenda, y que su mitología dista mucho de la realidad, más prosaica, burda y, por supuesto, menos heroica. Aquí, un joven soldado se convierte en un héroe inesperado por pura mala suerte.
Bajo la repisa del fraile (***): un mestizo custodia desde hace años una mina abandonada con el ajuar completo de un santo. Obviamente, esta riqueza que solo él conoce es objeto muy codiciado por aventureros de moral bastante flexible. Uno de estos aventureros apresa, tortura y deja medio muerto al guardés, que por suerte es rescatado por un médico que cura sus heridas. En pago a su gesto humanitario, el mestizo decide regalarle parte de su plata. El problema es que los aventureros volverán a insistir. Un relato que, también, gana muchos puntos por su final.
Los cuatreros (***): el más joven de un grupo de vaqueros considera que robar caballos a su jefe no es la idea más estúpida que ha pasado por su cabeza. Desafortunadamente, tendrá que aprender que, en el Oeste, si bien matar a una persona en la calle principal no tenía mayores consecuencias si desenfundabas suficientemente rápido, la propiedad privada era objeto sagrado.
El tren de las 3:10 a Yuma (****): mi favorito de la antología. Adaptado al cine en dos ocasiones, esta historia es perfecta en su sencillez. Un ayudante de sheriff tendrá que escoltar a un forajido para que coja el tren que le lleve a la cárcel de Yuma. Sin embargo, tendrá que hacer frente al resto de la banda de forajidos, que no están dispuestos a que su compañero ingrese en prisión. Aquí el ayudante deberá decidir si el sueldo que le paga el condado es merecedor de jugarse el tipo.
La gran cacería (****): hubo un tiempo, antes de la llegada del ferrocarril o del Ponny Express, cuando las grandes llanuras del centro de Estados Unidos no habían sido holladas por el hombre blanco, que podían contarse las manadas de bisontes por millones. Ya no es así: menos de cien años de caza indiscriminada convirtió a este noble animal del herbívoro más abundante del continente a una especie en peligro de extinción. Este relato nos cuenta una historia discreta, cómo un joven debe defender su modo de vida, es decir, la caza del bisonte, de otros cazadores sin escrúpulos. Quizá de aquí pueda sacar un programa para mi podcast...
La larga noche (****): un vaquero desempleado regresa a casa, a estar con su mujer embarazada, luego de toda la tarde buscando empleo. Allí encontrará a su mujer y a dos fantasmas de su pasado como cuatrero, uno de ellos herido y necesitado de ayuda. En este relato queda de manifiesto la valentía de la mujer del oeste, sin nada que perder.
El chico que sonreía (****): me encantan las historias de venganzas indias. Un joven vio cómo el hacendado de turno acusó falsamente y ahorcó a su padre de robar su caballo. Por supuesto, el joven expresará su disconformidad con este juicio utilizando todo su odio, racial y adquirido. Nada como el odio para estimular la creatividad.
A la brava (***): el ayudante del sheriff tendrá que aprender a la brava qué es la justicia y cómo debe preservarse en el pueblo. O lo que es lo mismo, que la ley ha de aplicarse en tanto no entre en conflicto con los intereses del rico de turno. Una historia desencantada y un tanto fatalista.
El último tiro (**): un soldado confederado es derribado por una patrulla del ejercito para evitar comprometer a su compañero por haber errado el tiro a un soldado de la unión. De regreso al pueblo, deberá dar explicaciones a su superior inmediato, que le acusará de colaboracionismo. La verdad es que es un relato muy flojo con el que cerrar una antología de calidad tan regular.
Luego de leer y disfrutar mucho de sus dos novelas cortas Hombre y Qué viene Valdez vuelvo a Nuevo México y a Arizona en la época de las guerras apaches en esta excelente colección de relatos que reúne la mitad de la producción cuentística de Elmore Leonard, celebérrimo autor de novela negra, el autor de Jackie Brown, sin ir más lejos, que hiciera sus pinitos en la literatura en el tan denostado género del western. Las historias de Leonard no se caracterizan por su originalidad sino por su enfoque fronterizo del indio y del blanco, más en la línea de Dorothy M. Johnson, la madre del género, que de los pastiches europeos de Winnetou o los bolsilibros de Marcial Lafuente Estefanía, es decir, sin caer en el error de representar al nativo como un asesino despiadado o como un buen salvaje roussoniano; representarlo, en cambio, como lo que es, miembro de una cultura ajena a la nuestra y con códigos muy alejados de las normas blancas. Aquí, hay apaches sanguinarios como bondadosos en la misma medida en la que hay vaqueros malvados y hombres honorables. Leonard logra imprimir verosimilitud a sus historias al dotar de humanidad a sus personajes.
Si hubiera que ponerles una pega a sus historias es que, como antología western que es, muchas tramas se repiten o parece que rimen. Y es que el escenario desértico a caballo entre Estados Unidos y México da para lo que da, y los conflictos son los que son: historias de venganza, escaramuzas contra los indios, forajidos que tratan de huir y forajidos a los que hay que aprehender, la caballería avanzando por terrenos inexplorados expuestos a cualquier emboscada, riñas de borrachos, la tiranía de los hacendados ganaderos, la opresión del apache por parte del hombre blanco y su reclusión en las reservas. No hay margen de maniobra para experimentar con muchas tramas. Aún así, este defecto es fácil de ignorar si se sigue la sabia estrategia de dosificar la lectura y compaginarla con otras, pues no hay ningún relato que pueda considerarse malo; a lo sumo, mediocre.
La antología recoge los siguientes relatos:
El rastro de los apaches (****): el debut de Leonard no pudo ser mejor. La historia de un explorador apache, veterano de las guerras indias y ahora supervisor de la paz en la reserva india, deberá enseñar todas las estrategias para sobrevivir a un joven teniente bostoniano. Una historia típica pero efectiva.
Medicina apache (****): el protagonista comete el error de matar, en defensa propia, al hijo de un caudillo apache. Durante el forcejeo se hace con la bolsita en la que el indio guardaba su medicina, el talismán protector personal y sagrado en grado sumo, tan valioso, que le servirá al protagonista para deshacerse de un par de forajidos que han atracado un convoy y asesinado a todo el pasaje. Me encanta este relato por su ingenioso desenlace.
Nunca ves a los apaches... (***): un explorador es contratado para acompañar y guiar a una pareja de aventureros que buscan un tesoro en territorio apache. Hay aprenderán dos importantes lecciones: no ofender ni atacar nunca a los indios pues, aunque tú no los veas, ellos siempre están vigilando. Satisfactorio, nunca está de más ver a un yanki sufrir por su estupidez.
Infierno en El Cañón del Diablo (***): una incursión de la caballería en territorio apache acaba en un tiroteo bastante reñido. Dado que ninguno de los dos bandos se impone, deciden dirimir el enfrentamiento con un concurso de beber tizwin, cerveza de maíz india. La frase con la que acaba el relato me hizo muchísima gracia: "De todos los que había conocido Darck, aquel joven oficial fue el único que rechazó un ponche de whisky a la vuelta de una abrasadora patrulla de cuatro días."
La mujer del coronal (**): otro relato de regimientos de la caballería persiguiendo apaches rebeldes. De los relatos menos memorables del conjunto.
La ley de los perseguidos (***): dos soldados recién licenciados buscan empezar una nueva vida, pero su empresa se ve frustrada al toparse con unos forajidos. La experiencia del más veterano consigue mantener a raya la susceptibilidad del más joven, al menos hasta que se añade una mujer a la ecuación. Otro buen relato que, sin embargo, tampoco resulta muy memorable.
Botas de caballería (***): al igual que hiciera El hombre que mató a Liberty Valance, esta historia nos demuestra que el western se cimentó en la leyenda, y que su mitología dista mucho de la realidad, más prosaica, burda y, por supuesto, menos heroica. Aquí, un joven soldado se convierte en un héroe inesperado por pura mala suerte.
Bajo la repisa del fraile (***): un mestizo custodia desde hace años una mina abandonada con el ajuar completo de un santo. Obviamente, esta riqueza que solo él conoce es objeto muy codiciado por aventureros de moral bastante flexible. Uno de estos aventureros apresa, tortura y deja medio muerto al guardés, que por suerte es rescatado por un médico que cura sus heridas. En pago a su gesto humanitario, el mestizo decide regalarle parte de su plata. El problema es que los aventureros volverán a insistir. Un relato que, también, gana muchos puntos por su final.
Los cuatreros (***): el más joven de un grupo de vaqueros considera que robar caballos a su jefe no es la idea más estúpida que ha pasado por su cabeza. Desafortunadamente, tendrá que aprender que, en el Oeste, si bien matar a una persona en la calle principal no tenía mayores consecuencias si desenfundabas suficientemente rápido, la propiedad privada era objeto sagrado.
El tren de las 3:10 a Yuma (****): mi favorito de la antología. Adaptado al cine en dos ocasiones, esta historia es perfecta en su sencillez. Un ayudante de sheriff tendrá que escoltar a un forajido para que coja el tren que le lleve a la cárcel de Yuma. Sin embargo, tendrá que hacer frente al resto de la banda de forajidos, que no están dispuestos a que su compañero ingrese en prisión. Aquí el ayudante deberá decidir si el sueldo que le paga el condado es merecedor de jugarse el tipo.
La gran cacería (****): hubo un tiempo, antes de la llegada del ferrocarril o del Ponny Express, cuando las grandes llanuras del centro de Estados Unidos no habían sido holladas por el hombre blanco, que podían contarse las manadas de bisontes por millones. Ya no es así: menos de cien años de caza indiscriminada convirtió a este noble animal del herbívoro más abundante del continente a una especie en peligro de extinción. Este relato nos cuenta una historia discreta, cómo un joven debe defender su modo de vida, es decir, la caza del bisonte, de otros cazadores sin escrúpulos. Quizá de aquí pueda sacar un programa para mi podcast...
La larga noche (****): un vaquero desempleado regresa a casa, a estar con su mujer embarazada, luego de toda la tarde buscando empleo. Allí encontrará a su mujer y a dos fantasmas de su pasado como cuatrero, uno de ellos herido y necesitado de ayuda. En este relato queda de manifiesto la valentía de la mujer del oeste, sin nada que perder.
El chico que sonreía (****): me encantan las historias de venganzas indias. Un joven vio cómo el hacendado de turno acusó falsamente y ahorcó a su padre de robar su caballo. Por supuesto, el joven expresará su disconformidad con este juicio utilizando todo su odio, racial y adquirido. Nada como el odio para estimular la creatividad.
A la brava (***): el ayudante del sheriff tendrá que aprender a la brava qué es la justicia y cómo debe preservarse en el pueblo. O lo que es lo mismo, que la ley ha de aplicarse en tanto no entre en conflicto con los intereses del rico de turno. Una historia desencantada y un tanto fatalista.
El último tiro (**): un soldado confederado es derribado por una patrulla del ejercito para evitar comprometer a su compañero por haber errado el tiro a un soldado de la unión. De regreso al pueblo, deberá dar explicaciones a su superior inmediato, que le acusará de colaboracionismo. La verdad es que es un relato muy flojo con el que cerrar una antología de calidad tan regular.
April 14, 2020
Agradable complemento a la lectura de Hombre / Que viene Valdez. Por el lugar donde se desarrollan los relatos (los territorios de Arizona y Nuevo México) y el peso de la interacción entre los colonizadores y las diferentes tribus apaches. A veces en plena guerra de guerrillas con los agentes de las reservas y los retenes de la caballería, pero muchas otras con unas connotaciones positivas que no se veían en las películas de los 50, padeciendo en sus carnes el racismo y los excesos del hombre blanco. Leonard acierta a convertir cada relato en un pequeño misterio: cómo se ha llegado a una situación de enfrentamiento y/o cómo se va a salir de ella. Y así te empuja pieza a pieza, con alguna sorpresa como "Botas de caballería" donde glosa la medalla concedida a un cobarde en una escaramuza con los apaches. Llama poderosamente la atención "El tren de las 3:10 a Yuma" porque apenas tiene nada que ver con el resto.
November 13, 2019
No sé qué me pasa. Libro western que leo, libro que me gusta. Será porque Alfredo Lara tiene un ojo fantástico para elegir qué publicar en su colección Frontera de la editorial Valdemar o simplemente porque sin saberlo el género me gusta más de lo que creía, pero da igual que sean novelas, novelas cortas o cuentos, que los disfruto casi por igual.
Este libro como el propio título indica es una selección de relatos de Elmore Leonard y quitando un par de ellos que sin ser malos sí me han parecido algo más flojos, me parecen más que notables y muy disfrutables.
Un 7.75
Este libro como el propio título indica es una selección de relatos de Elmore Leonard y quitando un par de ellos que sin ser malos sí me han parecido algo más flojos, me parecen más que notables y muy disfrutables.
Un 7.75
November 19, 2024
Find myself wishing he had done more westerns, even if that meant less crime. Worth your time.
January 17, 2018
THREE-TEN TO YUMA AND OTHER STORIES by Elmore Leonard is a wonderful assortment of short western stories that previously were issued in western magazines in the early to mid fifties, with the title story being made into a screenplay for the classic western movie in 1957 starring Glen Ford and Van Heflin; and later remade in 2007 starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
Elmore Leonard is a treasure for all of his novels, with many having found their way onto the silver screen, but I’ve been remiss on reading his western novels, and that’s something I will make amends for after reading this assortment of stories that I enjoyed from cover to cover; of interest to me was that all of the stories take place at locations in AZ where I lived for a decade; yet were written by an author with ties to the Detroit area where I was born and raised.
I’d like to continue reading Leonard’s western fiction starting with Valdez Is Coming, also a film starring Burt Lancaster in 1971.
5 stars.
Elmore Leonard is a treasure for all of his novels, with many having found their way onto the silver screen, but I’ve been remiss on reading his western novels, and that’s something I will make amends for after reading this assortment of stories that I enjoyed from cover to cover; of interest to me was that all of the stories take place at locations in AZ where I lived for a decade; yet were written by an author with ties to the Detroit area where I was born and raised.
I’d like to continue reading Leonard’s western fiction starting with Valdez Is Coming, also a film starring Burt Lancaster in 1971.
5 stars.
July 5, 2021
I only read the title story, "Three-Ten to Yuma," which is one of the Library of America's Stories of the Week online. This entertaining Western story was originally published in the Dime Western Magazine in 1953. A deputy is escorting a criminal from Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to meet a train that will take them to the prison in Yuma. The prisoner's friends have other ideas, and plan to intercept the prisoner before he boards the train. This story was expanded to form the screenplay for the movie with the same title. Great story with two interesting characters!
January 7, 2018
Basically a re-read, still have a few of his Westerns to read, but for me Elmore Leonard, along with Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, my Dad's favorite 'Native American' book, and his favorite Western Larry McMurtry's 'Lonesome Dove', Terry C. Johnstone's 'Seamus Donegan/ Plainsman Series and watching Westerns on TV, got me hooked on reading Westerns.
Leonard in class of his own, along with several other authors that never ever disappointed their readers and created a nice escape from the annoying things in life.
I liked everyone of the 7 stories in this volume, rare with short stories book, that I like everyone of them and definitely recommended reading.
Thanks to the late Marina Keegan, whose writing open my eyes to realize just how much I was missing by avoiding reading short stories.
Leonard in class of his own, along with several other authors that never ever disappointed their readers and created a nice escape from the annoying things in life.
I liked everyone of the 7 stories in this volume, rare with short stories book, that I like everyone of them and definitely recommended reading.
Thanks to the late Marina Keegan, whose writing open my eyes to realize just how much I was missing by avoiding reading short stories.
January 13, 2016
Actual rating 3.5.
A collection of western short stories. If you are expecting the movie version of Three-Ten to Yuma, forget about it. The story is about the last fifteen minutes of what the movie portrayed and was changed quite drastically.
A collection of western short stories. If you are expecting the movie version of Three-Ten to Yuma, forget about it. The story is about the last fifteen minutes of what the movie portrayed and was changed quite drastically.
March 3, 2023
classic leonard. terse and to the point.
February 5, 2018
I am a big fan of short stories and I am always on the lookout for good ones. Leonard does it amazingly. The short stories 3:10 to Yuma and The Captives were the standouts for me. Particularly the latter which I was left wanting more.
October 20, 2024
La narrativa de Leonard es impecable: nada le sobra, nada le falta. Dice lo que tiene que decir a buen ritmo y con la fuerza adecuada.
Tiene una visión muy realista del Territorio, de la Frontera. Los apaches tienen una naturaleza muy distinta a la de los americanos, pero ambas se entienden como naturales y lógicas para cada sociedad. No hay juicios, no hay reproches, solo hay realidad y miedo.
A pesar de la crueldad y brutalidad de la naturaleza apache, Leonard no refleja odio en sus páginas, tan solo temor. Un temor parecido al que se tiene del desierto, se asume lo terrible que es y no se le odia por ello, tan solo se le teme y respeta por su inclemencia.
Al comenzar el libro pensaba que el hilo conductor, lo que relacionaría todos los relatos para incluirlos en esta antología, era el trato con los apaches, pero me equivocaba. Lo que une todos estos relatos es la crueldad del Territorio, del desierto, las penurias por las que pasan los protagonistas a causa de su naturaleza cruel y despiadada.
Está claro que la vida en el lejano oeste no era fácil, tanto hombres como mujeres necesitaban hacerse duros para poder sobreponerse y las personas cambian hasta puntos insospechados cuando está en juego su vida.
De esos cambios va esta antología.
Tiene una visión muy realista del Territorio, de la Frontera. Los apaches tienen una naturaleza muy distinta a la de los americanos, pero ambas se entienden como naturales y lógicas para cada sociedad. No hay juicios, no hay reproches, solo hay realidad y miedo.
A pesar de la crueldad y brutalidad de la naturaleza apache, Leonard no refleja odio en sus páginas, tan solo temor. Un temor parecido al que se tiene del desierto, se asume lo terrible que es y no se le odia por ello, tan solo se le teme y respeta por su inclemencia.
Al comenzar el libro pensaba que el hilo conductor, lo que relacionaría todos los relatos para incluirlos en esta antología, era el trato con los apaches, pero me equivocaba. Lo que une todos estos relatos es la crueldad del Territorio, del desierto, las penurias por las que pasan los protagonistas a causa de su naturaleza cruel y despiadada.
Está claro que la vida en el lejano oeste no era fácil, tanto hombres como mujeres necesitaban hacerse duros para poder sobreponerse y las personas cambian hasta puntos insospechados cuando está en juego su vida.
De esos cambios va esta antología.
April 18, 2020
I had seen the movie a long back with my dearly departed dad and liked it well enough and imagine my surprise when I saw that it was based on the short story by Elmore Leonard now I might have a read a book or two by him but since then I wanted to read the short story or the collection so here I am then. It was nice to read a book set in a different time because for a very long time I was either reading fantasy or the books set in current time so it was refreshing to read the stories set in the wild west of the western movies of Hollywood. The stories are set in various situations involving the classic western characters Military men, bandits, Indians etc. and I liked them well enough of course not all stories were equal but enough were :)
So yeah here it goes and do check as its good for reading to read short stories collections once in a while and then just keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
So yeah here it goes and do check as its good for reading to read short stories collections once in a while and then just keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
December 10, 2022
7 great short stories. Each one is better than the last. My favorite is the last one called The Kid.
December 12, 2012
A Breath of Fresh Air
I've been away from reading anything for some time, consumed with other necessary distractions, and have a good twenty books on my bedside table to read, and another dozen on my Kobo. The kind of funk that settles in when you're away from something you love for a long time clouds everything, so I wanted to read something different.
I had not knowingly been exposed to Elmore Leonard until I watched "Justified", and then (as slow-witted as I sometimes can be) realized he had written some wonderful crime stories that had been turned into film ("Get Shorty", "Jackie Brown" - from the book "Rum Punch", and a host of others).
Martin Amis has called him the Dickens from Detroit, and I can understand why. There is a strong social and moral tone underlying his writing, but you're never really aware of it. You just want to know how the scenes he writes are going to play out. His writing is elegant in its transparent simplicity. THAT is how you should write fiction.
The title story, "Three-Ten to Yuma", is quite different from the movies of the same name. Those add a tremendous amount of back story where there is none in Leonard's work. This itself is a revelation of how Hollywood works. Leonard himself says that's fine - films aren't short stories - and so it's fascinating at one level to look back at some of these stories written in the fifties to see how other creative forces were inspired do do something with them.
Westerns were popular when Leonard started writing, which is why he chose to write them. When that market dried up, he switched to crime fiction. That pragmatism might make you think he's just another genre writer out to make a buck and nothing more. But, no, he has something to say. The way he says it is what is so compelling. The hero is seldom the one you think it ought to be. And, once in a while, there is no hero at all, as in the opening story, "Cavalry Boots".
Quite probably, Leonard is as important to American literature as Hemingway. He should not be easily dismissed by anyone, at any rate, and should quite probably be required reading in high school, college or university.
I've been away from reading anything for some time, consumed with other necessary distractions, and have a good twenty books on my bedside table to read, and another dozen on my Kobo. The kind of funk that settles in when you're away from something you love for a long time clouds everything, so I wanted to read something different.
I had not knowingly been exposed to Elmore Leonard until I watched "Justified", and then (as slow-witted as I sometimes can be) realized he had written some wonderful crime stories that had been turned into film ("Get Shorty", "Jackie Brown" - from the book "Rum Punch", and a host of others).
Martin Amis has called him the Dickens from Detroit, and I can understand why. There is a strong social and moral tone underlying his writing, but you're never really aware of it. You just want to know how the scenes he writes are going to play out. His writing is elegant in its transparent simplicity. THAT is how you should write fiction.
The title story, "Three-Ten to Yuma", is quite different from the movies of the same name. Those add a tremendous amount of back story where there is none in Leonard's work. This itself is a revelation of how Hollywood works. Leonard himself says that's fine - films aren't short stories - and so it's fascinating at one level to look back at some of these stories written in the fifties to see how other creative forces were inspired do do something with them.
Westerns were popular when Leonard started writing, which is why he chose to write them. When that market dried up, he switched to crime fiction. That pragmatism might make you think he's just another genre writer out to make a buck and nothing more. But, no, he has something to say. The way he says it is what is so compelling. The hero is seldom the one you think it ought to be. And, once in a while, there is no hero at all, as in the opening story, "Cavalry Boots".
Quite probably, Leonard is as important to American literature as Hemingway. He should not be easily dismissed by anyone, at any rate, and should quite probably be required reading in high school, college or university.
March 30, 2019
اين كتاب شامل مجموعه داستان هاي كوتاست .. از خوندنش واقعا لذت بردم..
هيچوقت از خوندن نوشته هاي المور لئونارد خسته نميشم ..
هيچوقت از خوندن نوشته هاي المور لئونارد خسته نميشم ..
September 13, 2007
I have only read the title story, but I have a feeling the rest of the stories in this collection are very entertaining as well. Elmore Leonard penned these in the early fifties. This book caught my eye a few weeks ago while I was shelving books at the store where I work. The cover makes use of the colors of the desert.
I mentioned the book to a friend before I bought it and he said there's been a good movie called THE 3:10 TO YUMA in the fifties. The next day I heard that Russell Crowe's new movie was going to be called THE 3:10 TO YUMA, so I said to myself "I'd better read this before my friend shows me the old movie and before the new one comes out."
The short story is only about twelve pages long but it is crisp, to the point and enjoyable. It's just the story of like-minded people on opposite sides of the law.
I saw the new movie a few nights ago. I thought it was powerful, but, as Elmore Leonard points out in an interview he did after a screening, some of the dialogue is strictly Post- World War Two. The characters would not have used certain expressions because these expressions didn't exist at the time the story takes place. Some of the alterations undercut the story's humor. But, for a really good insight into how a piece of writing translates (Ultimately successfully) to cinema, read the story AND see the movie.
Again, I haven't read the other stories in the collection, but the main story itself is worth the very small price you'll pay for this paperback.
I mentioned the book to a friend before I bought it and he said there's been a good movie called THE 3:10 TO YUMA in the fifties. The next day I heard that Russell Crowe's new movie was going to be called THE 3:10 TO YUMA, so I said to myself "I'd better read this before my friend shows me the old movie and before the new one comes out."
The short story is only about twelve pages long but it is crisp, to the point and enjoyable. It's just the story of like-minded people on opposite sides of the law.
I saw the new movie a few nights ago. I thought it was powerful, but, as Elmore Leonard points out in an interview he did after a screening, some of the dialogue is strictly Post- World War Two. The characters would not have used certain expressions because these expressions didn't exist at the time the story takes place. Some of the alterations undercut the story's humor. But, for a really good insight into how a piece of writing translates (Ultimately successfully) to cinema, read the story AND see the movie.
Again, I haven't read the other stories in the collection, but the main story itself is worth the very small price you'll pay for this paperback.
July 11, 2014
This is a fun collection of western short stories. The draw for me was "3:10 to Yuma", which has been adapted into two very good movies. This story features a lone deputy trying to get a dangerous criminal onto a train leaving for Yuma so he can be transferred to prison. In the meantime, the criminal's gang is trying to rescue the leader before they can board the train. A couple other great stories include a story featuring two hostages being held for ransom, and another featuring someone who joined the cavalry and is greatly regretting that decision. Elmore Leonard has a great writing style that has a quick pace, but does a great job fleshing out the characters. As these are all short stories, it is amazing how much depth he gives characters we spend maybe 20ish pages with. He also creates a lot of tension in each story. The book is a quick read, so give it a try if you are interested in something different.
September 4, 2021
Not the usual plot for this fine author but this short story is exciting and action-filled. Enjoyable reading experience and an entertaining narration.
April 26, 2017
As someone who very rarely reads westerns and generally isn't a huge fan, I ended up picking this up because a friend had recommended Elmore Leonard as an author and had mentioned that she thought he was particularly good at short stories. After reading the book, I'd have to agree. It kept me at least interested enough to want to read more, even if it didn't sweep me off my feet. All of the stories take place at various forts and towns in the Arizona Territory during the 1880's.
Cavalry Boots - ★★
Bud Nagle is a relatively green cavalry officer posted at Fort Bowie and his first run-in with the Apache leads to him getting a medal from his actions at the Battle of Dos Cabezas. Reality is a bit different than the official report however and Leonard reveals what really happened at the "battle."
Probably one of the most mediocre stories of this collection, traversing the worn ground of the green recruit vs seasoned natives. Bud is clearly not a natural fit for the cavalry and things don't get any easier for him as it progresses. The wrap-up at the end was darkly humorous to say the least but it's a well written story, if not a terribly interesting one.
Under the Friar's Ledge - ★★
In this story, a former surgeon at Fort Huachuca named Struggles has been prospecting in his spare time and after almost 20 years of service with the army, decides to make prospecting a full time occupation. Struggles ventures on down to Mexico, where he rescues a man named Juan Solo and his reward is as dangerous as any punishment when Juan promises to give him a portion of the wealth of a hidden old Spanish mine.
Again, not the best story in the collection, but not bad. Under the Friar's Ledge is essentially a story about trust. The knowledge of the mine that Juan Solo has has caused him pain in the past and only Struggles' altruistic attempts to rescue him from a former friend have convinced the old Apache to share the information in return. Solo's former friend isn't particularly inclined to take no for any answer though and both Struggles and Juan Solo are faced with a heck of a fight if they want to make it out alive.
Three-Ten to Yuma - ★★★★
Deputy Paul Scallen has been tasked with getting notorious outlaw Jim Kidd on the 3:10 train to Yuma so that he can face trial and is forced to contend with Kidd's band of outlaws who are just as determined to spring him free.
Easily the best story of the bunch, as you might expect if you've seen either of the movies. The story only covers the deputy and the outlaw as they arrive in the town where the train is set to leave but it's full of action. The relationship that develops between the deputy and the outlaw becomes one of grudging respect and the ending is damn well done.
Long Night - ★★★
Dave Boland is a down-on-his-luck rancher who is just trying to make ends meet but keeps running into problems. After an afternoon of failed attempts to persuade others to help him out, he runs into some old compatriots who offer yet another challenge.
This story was more amusing than you might expect due to the relationship between Dave and his wife Virginia and the lengths they'll go to to protect what's theirs. While the story is mostly meh, I'm giving it an extra star just for the way those two interacted.
The Captives - ★★★
Pat Brennan is a rancher who ends up riding on a rather ill-fated stagecoach and is taken captive by a band of outlaws. Brennan's fellow captives include the daughter of the richest man in the territory, her slimy husband and the driver of the stagecoach who is an old friend of Brennan's. As you might expect, it is not an easy ride for any of them.
This is the longest story in the collection and it's built with a tense action that makes for an interesting and enjoyable read if not a super compelling one. Brennan is easy to like (unlike some of the other characters) and I found myself caring more than I expected about what happened to him. The collection's theme of trust is particularly strong in this story.
Jugged - ★★★
Pete Given is unlucky enough to have to share a cell with a violent outlaw by the name of Obie Ward after a night of drinking gets out of hand. Obie Ward has no intention of waiting around to be judged and plans on getting out with Pete's help, willing or not.
This was an odd little story, so little on the surface but more complicated underneath. Pete has some sympathetic qualities but he's a little on the self-justifying side in terms of stupid decisions made while drunk. Obie is flat out menacing and one hell of a punishment for anyone who's a little too big for their britches. If anything displays Leonard's talent for flawed characters in this collection, it's this one.
The Kid - ★★
Told from the viewpoint of the owner of a general store, this story focuses on the conflict between an old mustanger named Max Repper and a young prospector named Terry McNeil. When Max discovers a feral kid trying to steal from him, he decides to make the kid work for him and is none too kind about it. Terry finds his own way of talking to the boy and the two men instantly clash over the fate of the kid.
Not the strongest story to end the collection with but a good connection to dangerous and sometimes damaged people learning to trust each other in order to make it to the next day and maybe a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
While I wouldn't call this collection one of the best things I've ever read, I did enjoy it. Leonard has a talent for character-driven stories full of flawed but ultimately sympathetic characters and the short stories are well written and interesting without getting too much into the Western tropes that I find annoying. I'd recommend it for fans of Westerns and anyone who enjoys imperfect characters.
Cavalry Boots - ★★
Bud Nagle is a relatively green cavalry officer posted at Fort Bowie and his first run-in with the Apache leads to him getting a medal from his actions at the Battle of Dos Cabezas. Reality is a bit different than the official report however and Leonard reveals what really happened at the "battle."
Probably one of the most mediocre stories of this collection, traversing the worn ground of the green recruit vs seasoned natives. Bud is clearly not a natural fit for the cavalry and things don't get any easier for him as it progresses. The wrap-up at the end was darkly humorous to say the least but it's a well written story, if not a terribly interesting one.
Under the Friar's Ledge - ★★
In this story, a former surgeon at Fort Huachuca named Struggles has been prospecting in his spare time and after almost 20 years of service with the army, decides to make prospecting a full time occupation. Struggles ventures on down to Mexico, where he rescues a man named Juan Solo and his reward is as dangerous as any punishment when Juan promises to give him a portion of the wealth of a hidden old Spanish mine.
Again, not the best story in the collection, but not bad. Under the Friar's Ledge is essentially a story about trust. The knowledge of the mine that Juan Solo has has caused him pain in the past and only Struggles' altruistic attempts to rescue him from a former friend have convinced the old Apache to share the information in return. Solo's former friend isn't particularly inclined to take no for any answer though and both Struggles and Juan Solo are faced with a heck of a fight if they want to make it out alive.
Three-Ten to Yuma - ★★★★
Deputy Paul Scallen has been tasked with getting notorious outlaw Jim Kidd on the 3:10 train to Yuma so that he can face trial and is forced to contend with Kidd's band of outlaws who are just as determined to spring him free.
Easily the best story of the bunch, as you might expect if you've seen either of the movies. The story only covers the deputy and the outlaw as they arrive in the town where the train is set to leave but it's full of action. The relationship that develops between the deputy and the outlaw becomes one of grudging respect and the ending is damn well done.
Long Night - ★★★
Dave Boland is a down-on-his-luck rancher who is just trying to make ends meet but keeps running into problems. After an afternoon of failed attempts to persuade others to help him out, he runs into some old compatriots who offer yet another challenge.
This story was more amusing than you might expect due to the relationship between Dave and his wife Virginia and the lengths they'll go to to protect what's theirs. While the story is mostly meh, I'm giving it an extra star just for the way those two interacted.
The Captives - ★★★
Pat Brennan is a rancher who ends up riding on a rather ill-fated stagecoach and is taken captive by a band of outlaws. Brennan's fellow captives include the daughter of the richest man in the territory, her slimy husband and the driver of the stagecoach who is an old friend of Brennan's. As you might expect, it is not an easy ride for any of them.
This is the longest story in the collection and it's built with a tense action that makes for an interesting and enjoyable read if not a super compelling one. Brennan is easy to like (unlike some of the other characters) and I found myself caring more than I expected about what happened to him. The collection's theme of trust is particularly strong in this story.
Jugged - ★★★
Pete Given is unlucky enough to have to share a cell with a violent outlaw by the name of Obie Ward after a night of drinking gets out of hand. Obie Ward has no intention of waiting around to be judged and plans on getting out with Pete's help, willing or not.
This was an odd little story, so little on the surface but more complicated underneath. Pete has some sympathetic qualities but he's a little on the self-justifying side in terms of stupid decisions made while drunk. Obie is flat out menacing and one hell of a punishment for anyone who's a little too big for their britches. If anything displays Leonard's talent for flawed characters in this collection, it's this one.
The Kid - ★★
Told from the viewpoint of the owner of a general store, this story focuses on the conflict between an old mustanger named Max Repper and a young prospector named Terry McNeil. When Max discovers a feral kid trying to steal from him, he decides to make the kid work for him and is none too kind about it. Terry finds his own way of talking to the boy and the two men instantly clash over the fate of the kid.
Not the strongest story to end the collection with but a good connection to dangerous and sometimes damaged people learning to trust each other in order to make it to the next day and maybe a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
While I wouldn't call this collection one of the best things I've ever read, I did enjoy it. Leonard has a talent for character-driven stories full of flawed but ultimately sympathetic characters and the short stories are well written and interesting without getting too much into the Western tropes that I find annoying. I'd recommend it for fans of Westerns and anyone who enjoys imperfect characters.
April 13, 2024
The film adaptation is able to take the theme of this story in a lot more depth, plus some cool gunfights, so I think it’s better than the short story.
Still, this thing holds its own. Not boring and doesn’t overstay its welcome
Still, this thing holds its own. Not boring and doesn’t overstay its welcome
February 3, 2023
Great writing, but so emotionally bleak, I really can't give it five stars. I need more lightness than this.
April 18, 2020
Nice collection of Western themed short stories.
August 4, 2011
There's only one lengthy story in there. Leonard keeps things (very) simple, but also very tight. There's not much material, but I enjoyed the hell out of the crazy settings and the lean dialogues. His characters are men of action and it's often comical to read how they handle themselves socially. CAVALRY BOOTS, THREE-TEN TO YUMA and THE CAPTIVES were very enjoyable.
April 29, 2015
A book of Western tales. Some are better than others. I especially enjoyed “The Captives”, “The Kid”, and “Jugged.” He doesn't have the best writing style, but he has some really good plot ideas. I like Westerns.
October 19, 2022
All Leonard needs is a dozen pages and you’ll have one rip-roaring tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews