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Coal
A young Black man rises from the brutal depths of slavery to deliver a long-overdue reckoning in this relentless Western classic. Justice has a new El Diablo Negrito—and if you've wronged him or his people, he's coming for you.
Since the age of six, Coal has been chained under the iron fist of his master, the notorious gunfighter Solomon Pinkney. When Pinkney sells Coal's mother and sister, Coal draws faster than his teacher—and leaves him dead in the dust.
Fueled by a determination to free the enslaved and protect the innocent, Coal rides across the frontier with an unerring aim and a reputation that grows with every encounter. Soon, they call him the Black Devil—the fastest, most formidable gunslinger between Texas and Mexico.
J. Jason Grant is the author of Coal, the seminal Black Western set in the 1800s Wild West
Since the age of six, Coal has been chained under the iron fist of his master, the notorious gunfighter Solomon Pinkney. When Pinkney sells Coal's mother and sister, Coal draws faster than his teacher—and leaves him dead in the dust.
Fueled by a determination to free the enslaved and protect the innocent, Coal rides across the frontier with an unerring aim and a reputation that grows with every encounter. Soon, they call him the Black Devil—the fastest, most formidable gunslinger between Texas and Mexico.
J. Jason Grant is the author of Coal, the seminal Black Western set in the 1800s Wild West
- GenresWesterns
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 21, 2025
Coal by J. Jason Grant, when the book starts we find Coal’s mama and sister Rebecca along with his six-year-old self tied up in a barn right before Mr. Pennington sold the only family he had. before they were taken away he gave them the only thing he could and that was a promise to kill the man who separated them. As Coal grew up Mr. Pennington although not a nice master taught him to read right do sums and on his 13th birthday gave him a gun. It didn’t take long for Mr. Pennington to see the boy was not only fast but faster than him. whenever they visited Mr. Pennington‘s hometown Coal stayed with the Swedish family the Mumford’s who he come to love like parents but soon the day came where he would have to fulfill the promise he gave to his mother and sister and he did it with no remorse. Even when he found out his master gave him his freedom and all his belongings he was just happy to be free. as a traveler Coal bowed down to no one and anyone who tried to stop his independence died from lead poisoning at the end of his gun. A lot of things happen in the book but soon he finds happiness with Lita and even has two children Koledo and autumn. He loved his in-laws his wife his children but then someone came from his past and almost ruined it all leaving Coal to seek revenge. let me just say this gunslinger has a way of making men die more than once an OMG some of it I just couldn’t take as far as westerns go this was a really good one it’s totally entertaining fast paced heart palpitating Western action. I thought Santana was such a great character and Coal is definitely someone you want to root for. This is a book I definitely recommend if you love great westerns you’ll love this book.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JJasonGrant, #Coal,
June 13, 2025
Just a perfect piece of genre literature
"Two men, four six-guns, one black, one Mexican together, would have caused mild spasms of consternation in any era. In Texas in the year 1866, it was provocation enough for mild coronaries."
"Two men, four six-guns, one black, one Mexican together, would have caused mild spasms of consternation in any era. In Texas in the year 1866, it was provocation enough for mild coronaries."
October 14, 2013
For some reason I was in the mood to read a Western and came upon this book. This is one of the rare Westerns where the main character is a minority. I wish that I had bought several copies as mine is so worn out from reading it several times.
May 1, 2013
A moment in time and history. Jason grant is an extraordinary writer. He also wrote a book called bitch. Both are must reads. Quinton t producing the movie coal.
January 1, 2026
Fascinating and violent book. A real masterpiece.
October 1, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
Woah. I wasn't prepared for this.
'Coal' is the only name he's ever known - so named for the darkness of his skin. He's been chained and beaten since the age of six, and he watched as his owner sold his mother and sister away. The only kindness he's ever been shown was from a Swedish-American couple, Lars & Benta Munsen, in Coal's owner's hometown.
Solomon Pinkney has always recognized that there was something special about his slave, Coal. He's seen how incredibly fast with a gun the young Coal is and he's known that Coal would probably be the death of him, still, he's tried to show the young man some kindness, thinking he's been kind, anyway, when he gives Coal a gun and promises that he'll be a free man upon his own death. But Coal has never forgotten any of the injustices that he's been subject to.
Once freed, Coal journeys through the American Southwest and into Mexico, meting out his own brand of justice and experiencing love. When Coal stops a ruthless beating of an individual by a group of young men - killing most and severely wounding one as a warning - he meets a Mexican family who welcomes him, not a bit concerned about the color of his skin. They welcome him as a son when he marries the rancher's daughter.
The rival ranching family has never forgiven Coal for killing their sons (the ones doing the beating) and take their time but ultimately get back at Coal and his new family with a raid that kills the women and children while the men are away. But Coal never forgets and dedicates his life to hunting them down and handing out his revenge.
I am always on the lookout for western fiction that isn't by one of the big names and the blurb in this book ("The greatest Black American Western ever written") really caught my attention.
This book was fantastic. Coal is such a great character. I feel like author Jason Grant really captured the strength and determination of a former slave who's watched some terrible things in his life. This has desensitized him which is why he's so able to commit such atrocious killings himself. But the balance with the love shown by the Munsens lends to Coal's being able to trust and see the goodness in people. It's quite a well-thought-out character development.
Somewhere around half way to 2/3 way through the book I had the sense that this was a bit of an odyssey or even a Don Quixote-like adventure with Coal going from one adventure to another. But just as I began to have that thought, the book settled in to Coal living with the ranch family. However, it remains just as violent.
Oh, and that violence .... This is what I was not expecting. This is one of THE most graphic, violent, books I've read in a long time. When Coal is out to get revenge he wants to make it hurt and he wants to make it last as long as possible, and therefore we get a lot of very disturbing vengeance. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart.
There's a fair bit of sex here as well. somewhat graphic, but nearly as much so as the violence.
Still, nothing really felt gratuitous, which makes reading it enjoyable. We truly understand his rage through his actions and we follow his coming of age as he's introduced first to sex and then to love.
All in all this was really a fantastic read. I was eager to pick this up each morning when I sat down to read, and I was eager to see what would happen next. I don't consider myself squeamish, but this did push my limits more than once, so reader beware.
Looking for a good book? Coal, by Jason Grant was first published in the late 1970's but is being reissued and it is definitely a book worth reading (if you can handle descriptive violence and sex).
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Woah. I wasn't prepared for this.
'Coal' is the only name he's ever known - so named for the darkness of his skin. He's been chained and beaten since the age of six, and he watched as his owner sold his mother and sister away. The only kindness he's ever been shown was from a Swedish-American couple, Lars & Benta Munsen, in Coal's owner's hometown.
Solomon Pinkney has always recognized that there was something special about his slave, Coal. He's seen how incredibly fast with a gun the young Coal is and he's known that Coal would probably be the death of him, still, he's tried to show the young man some kindness, thinking he's been kind, anyway, when he gives Coal a gun and promises that he'll be a free man upon his own death. But Coal has never forgotten any of the injustices that he's been subject to.
Once freed, Coal journeys through the American Southwest and into Mexico, meting out his own brand of justice and experiencing love. When Coal stops a ruthless beating of an individual by a group of young men - killing most and severely wounding one as a warning - he meets a Mexican family who welcomes him, not a bit concerned about the color of his skin. They welcome him as a son when he marries the rancher's daughter.
The rival ranching family has never forgiven Coal for killing their sons (the ones doing the beating) and take their time but ultimately get back at Coal and his new family with a raid that kills the women and children while the men are away. But Coal never forgets and dedicates his life to hunting them down and handing out his revenge.
I am always on the lookout for western fiction that isn't by one of the big names and the blurb in this book ("The greatest Black American Western ever written") really caught my attention.
This book was fantastic. Coal is such a great character. I feel like author Jason Grant really captured the strength and determination of a former slave who's watched some terrible things in his life. This has desensitized him which is why he's so able to commit such atrocious killings himself. But the balance with the love shown by the Munsens lends to Coal's being able to trust and see the goodness in people. It's quite a well-thought-out character development.
Somewhere around half way to 2/3 way through the book I had the sense that this was a bit of an odyssey or even a Don Quixote-like adventure with Coal going from one adventure to another. But just as I began to have that thought, the book settled in to Coal living with the ranch family. However, it remains just as violent.
Oh, and that violence .... This is what I was not expecting. This is one of THE most graphic, violent, books I've read in a long time. When Coal is out to get revenge he wants to make it hurt and he wants to make it last as long as possible, and therefore we get a lot of very disturbing vengeance. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart.
There's a fair bit of sex here as well. somewhat graphic, but nearly as much so as the violence.
Still, nothing really felt gratuitous, which makes reading it enjoyable. We truly understand his rage through his actions and we follow his coming of age as he's introduced first to sex and then to love.
All in all this was really a fantastic read. I was eager to pick this up each morning when I sat down to read, and I was eager to see what would happen next. I don't consider myself squeamish, but this did push my limits more than once, so reader beware.
Looking for a good book? Coal, by Jason Grant was first published in the late 1970's but is being reissued and it is definitely a book worth reading (if you can handle descriptive violence and sex).
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2025
I received this as an ARC read from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing! Now with that being said, this book right here gave me the holy sh** factor! I thought I was going to just read a cookie cutter gunslinging black cowboy book…absolutely not! Not only is Coal one bad MF, he gives zero cares about anyone who messes with him and his family. This book takes Coal from being a slave captive boy in Texas to a gunslinging adult. The pain, grief and misery that he endures and inflicts is something that no one should ever have to deal with. I loved that the author stayed committed and true to Coal’s strong character!
Ugh unfortunately the super fast romance between Coal and Alita was disappointing, I would’ve enjoyed it if their relationship was a tad bit more drawn out more. Next the amount of gore kind of put me in shock factor because I wasn’t expecting it, but it fits the story and the timeline well. Overall this was a wonderful, gripping and gut busting work of historical western fiction.
Content warning!!! I don’t recommend this for those who have triggers with slavery, savage rape, bloody gore revenge killings, and racist remarks to Blacks and Mexicans.
Ugh unfortunately the super fast romance between Coal and Alita was disappointing, I would’ve enjoyed it if their relationship was a tad bit more drawn out more. Next the amount of gore kind of put me in shock factor because I wasn’t expecting it, but it fits the story and the timeline well. Overall this was a wonderful, gripping and gut busting work of historical western fiction.
Content warning!!! I don’t recommend this for those who have triggers with slavery, savage rape, bloody gore revenge killings, and racist remarks to Blacks and Mexicans.
September 6, 2020
My father was avid reader of novels when I was younger and I happened to pick up this book one day just to see what kept him intrigued by this book (it seems as if he could not put the book down). This was over 35-40 years ago and I still could not get this book out of my head. I've been looking for the book to read again and share with others for at least 25 years now. A great story line and a look at the old west and slavery. Very good read!
October 24, 2019
An original African American western story, full of the antics of the west but with a black man as the archetype. Definitely non forgetful, I read this book over 20 years ago can remember it clear as day.
October 3, 2021
This book is the empitmy Resilience, of the of the Struggle of slavery trade. And the well of a born killer. Coal is a true man among men. Color is all most see. But Coal is a true hero. In more ways then one can imagine. My favorite book.
Want to read
April 4, 2020I've read this book several times and I've been looking for it again. I'm happy to have found it again.
July 17, 2025
A great read. Sad but fitting end to the story, with a touch of hopefulness for Coal and his family
September 6, 2025
Could not put I down. Felt like a history lesson on how Mexican, Native and African Americans were connected. Made me excited about black westerns and eager to look into this history more
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews