The Gunslinger (Saturday Matinee Western Adventure Thriller #1)

by E.H. Kincaid

The Gunslinger is the first book of the Saturday Afternoon Matinee Western Adventure Thriller Series. Each book in the series depicts an adventure taking place in the American West. They are written for readers who enjoy classic western books or movies such as Shane, The Searchers, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, or The Wild Bunch.The Gunslinger, at fewer than twenty five thousand words, is a novella that is considerably longer than the average short story, but significantly shorter than the typical novel. It can be read by the average reader in a long afternoon or savored over a weekend. The Gunslinger focuses on Wyatt Jackson a professional “gunslinger” who at forty five years of age has just begun to enter middle age, a time when most people in his profession are either dead or thinking about other ways to make a living. The story is set in 1890 in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming, and begins when Jackson is hired by a rancher named Ted Wilson who resides in the mythical town of Riverton. Wilson is involved in a dispute with a neighboring rancher named Fred Cutler with whom he was once childhood friends, and wants Jackson to serve as his bodyguard. Nearly broke and very much alone because of profligate living, Jackson takes the job more from dire necessity than desire. During his journey to Riverton Wyatt encounters several unusual events including an encounter with bandits and an assault by a wild animal which causes him to reflect on life, death, and what it means to be alive.Arriving in Riverton he encounters a tangled web of jealousy and betrayal which sets the scene for a tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions. A complex, morally ambiguous, reluctant hero and a man of action rather than words, there is an existential tone to Jackson’s journey in the book that coupled with the author’s use of symbolism echo themes of journey, destiny, redemption, and fulfillment found in many classics of Western literature.Packed with action, adventure, true historical details of the period, and sizzling gritty realism the book should appeal to readers who have enjoyed classic western novels such as Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, or classic western films such as Shane, the Searchers, the Good ,the Bad and the Ugly, or The Wild Bunch.Adult Reader Warning this book contains profanity, scenes of violence, and adult situations. Reader discretion is advised. Excerpts from the GunslingerFrom Chapter 1 It was getting dark now. It was now very late in the summer. It always surprised Wyatt how fast the sun could go down as the summer waned.It was a lot like life he mused. In the spring and early summer the sun seems like it will never go down, just like when you are young you think you will never grow old. The sun just hangs there up in the sky shining down on everyone. And then all of sudden it starts to disappear earlier and earlier.Wyatt wondered if he was entering the end of his own summer. From Chapter 2As he walked out of the general store there they were… the two gunmen that Fred Cutler had hired. Both were tall, over six feet, and imposing with one slightly shorter and with darker hair. Their carefully fitted custom made holsters were slung about two inches below their belt line and equipped with modified double action Colts that they had custom ordered from Colt. Both guns had their barrels shortened and their triggers and hammers modified at Colt’s factory to improve their speed….Ted was a rancher not a gunman.

89 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2011

Reviews

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads just like a Saturday Matinee

The reason that I chose this rating was the simple fact that the author left out the subject in a couple of so sentences in the book. Other than that this was a good story that reminded me of those Saturday afternoons at the movies. I felt like I was in the theater with my popcorn and soda again. Although this story was a bit more like the adult Westerns that started up in the late 50's it had a good plot to it and was in a way a character study of the main protagonist, Wyatt Jackson. The thing I liked best was how you come to see Jackson as a man, who knows his way of life is ending. So if you're looking for a good story then this one to look at.

[Kevin Bowser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the author has the makings of a great story. I am not sure it was executed as well as it could have been executed. But, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a false review

It was simply a very poorly developed and written story. I used to enjoy the Saturday matinees, and they had more CHARACTER! Go back to your day job

[daniel yvon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

I'm not much of a reader but this book kept me interested right to the end
I loved it thanks