The Ranger and Other Stories

by Zane Grey

A brave Texas Ranger risks his life against avenging outlaws to rescue the woman he secretly loves . . . a beautiful seductress comes bewteen two brothers . . . a desperate fugitive seeks sanctuary with a peace-loving people . . . and a daring young schoolteacher journeys West to meet the man who has captured her heart. Over 30 million Zane Grey paperbacks sold since 1954.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Pearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Austin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of four short stories / novellas by Zane Grey. This is my first time reading this author, and I think I should have chosen one of his novels instead.

The Ranger: 2 / 5
A Texas ranger sets off to save a young Mexican girl that's kidnapped for ransom. This story was okay, but it feels like one of the most cliche and stereotypical western stories I've read. The Texas ranger, of course, saves the day and gets the girl in the end.

Canyon Walls: 2 / 5
This story is literally about a drifter/wandering type character who finds work at a ranch and gradually falls in love with the daughter of the ranch owner. That's it. That's all that happens. I should also mention that this romance novelette doesn't even portray a deep or believable romance. It's more lust than anything, with a gradual building of sexual tension between the cowboy/rancher and the eighteen-year old temptress. Yuck. At least there wasn't any detailed scenes of intimacy.

Avalanche: 4 / 5
This is the only story in this collection I really liked. It's about two (step)brothers who grow up with the tightest of bonds - only for their friendship to split by (of course) a beautiful woman who teases both of them. Their love lust for the young girl brings them to an actual fight over her, and they intend to meet out in the wilderness for a final showdown to see who gets the girl. What ensues is a more perilous situation, and they come to the realization that they've been foolish and that their brotherly love for one another is stronger than that of which they had for the girl.
A beautiful and emotional story.

From Missouri: 2 / 5
A young lady travels out west from Missouri to work as a schoolteacher, and, (BIG SURPRISE) every rancher and cowboy from miles around falls head over heels for her, which, of course, leads to a lot of discord. Which cowboy will our young lady choose to be with? That's pretty much the suspense of this one. *Sigh*

Overall, I really only liked Avalanche. I didn't think these stories would have such a focus on romance - I really thought I would be getting more action-oriented stories, y'know, like most westerns seem to be?
Anyway, it wasn't terrible but I could have did without. Not sure if I'll read another Zane Grey book, but if I do, I'll be more careful about which one I pick up next - and you can be sure it would likely be a novel.

[Anderson Rearick III · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read/listened to this collection with my wife while we visited the Zan Gray museum in Zanesville, OH. They are all pleasant stories with actually very little violence say in contrast to what I've read in other western writers.

There are four tales: "The Ranger," "Canyon Walls," "Avalanche," and "From Missouri." All of these really deal with the sometimes untidy relationships between men and women. Some speak of how dated this text is, and they are I suppose correct. But I am also interested in the positive and negative way Gray describes women. Often they cause trouble without meaning to and then allow their own pride to make things worse.

"The Ranger" is actually about a Texas Ranger and involves some real crime while "Avalanche" is a story of desperate survival between romantic rivals. "Canyon Walls" is the story of a man trying to escape his past. However "From Missouri" which depicts a schoolmarm coming out West to find a new life among cowboys is my favorite.

None of these stories are profound, but I weary at authors trying to preach at me. Sometimes a good story is all I want.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ranger – Vaughn Medill, a long-time Texas Ranger, sat at his adobe house on the banks of the Rio Grande. Vaughn was a bit heartsick over seniority Rosetta Uvaldo, unlike the usual Ranger who avoided romances. Vaughn, known by his co-rangers as “Lone Star Ranger”, is slated to go across the Rio in pursuit of the bandit Quinella. Vaughn’s horse, Star was a big-boned chestnut. Vaughn could not have predicted that he would be going after Rosetta’s kidnappers. Kidnapping young Mexican girls was a favorite past-time of Mexican desperados. “Hands up, Gringo Ranger”. Later…for the love of a woman. It’s an interesting and enjoyable exploration of Ranger Vaughn Medill.
Canyon Walls – Monte “Smoke” Belieu, a worn-out and hungry Arizona cowboy, finds himself wandering the Great Canyon, Utah Territory. Bad company and too free use of the bottle had brought Monte to this path. Which he believed was completely undeserved. Run out of Arizona, Monte was looking for a place to lay low. Monte will soon learn more than he ever knew about Mormons. Initially described as a tramp, gentile, and cowpuncher. Then Monte laid his eyes upon young Rebecca. He would hire on as a cowboy on widow Peach’s ranch and the young boy Randy while eyeing young Rebecca. Monte thought this location would work out as long as his past did not catch up with him. The tale continues with the beguiling relationship between Monte and Rebecca.
Avalanche – The lost boy known as Verday. Young Jake Duntin and Verday grew up together as brothers; indivisible. Damon and Pythias twain. That is until Kitty Mains arrived in Tanto Flats from St. Louis. The test of a brother’s love.
From Missouri – “It was a letter from her!” The four cowboys had sworn not to write That Woman. “Who betrayed the outfit? I know you think I’m lying as well as I think you all are lying. Now she’s coming!, said Tex.” Will the real Frank Owens please stand up?

[Thibault Jacquot-Paratte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took time to read, because this is more of a "looking for something light and ready at hand" book, and not really a "I will get super into this", thought-triggering kind of book.

the first story was a dud - 1 or 2 out of 5
the second was the best, I thought - 4 out of 5
the thirst and fourth were both were very decent though had too-too predictable elements here and there - 3 out of 5

overall the writing is nice. Character psychology in most of them was surprisingly good. Beautiful descriptions, etc. All 'n all no complaints, just that there isn't necessarily much to feel beyond the stories themselves. They were fun, had beautiful moments - it's a very feel-good read. Nothing mind blowing, or particularly original though.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read (listened) to two of the stories in this audiobook. They both were stories of the old West, which I enjoyed. But they both ended in very anti-climatical ways. A good western should end with an exciting conclusion and probably a blaze of gunfire or a huge fight in which the protagonist wins against wins against all odds. These did not and thus fail to qualify as excellent westerns. They both did have a romantic theme, so that qualifies but they lacked the western action.

[Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane Grey is the best Western writer. Louis L’Amour is good, but where he stops, Grey goes on.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ranger: Felt like an episode of a TV western or even a Randolph Scott movie. I could actually see Scott in the title role here.

Canyon Walls: My favorite of the collection. The narration for “Sam Hill” wasn’t the best, but I did enjoy the back and forth of the love story and the main story arc.

Avalanche: took a surprisingly serious turn in act three but ultimately had a predictable conclusion. Better than I thought it was going to be though.

Missouri: An interesting idea for a story where a mystery writer gets a schoolteacher from the east to move out west and the search for the true author. Glad at least one of the overzealous cowboys got what he deserved though.

Several aspects of these stories are of their time of course, but if you accept that there’s always a good time to be had with Zane Grey stories.

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to try out some "Westerns" so I picked up this short story collection. Somewhat interesting, but each story very similar to the last. I won't be seeking out more "Western" books any time soon!

[Greg Hatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the lead novelette in an old issue of ZANE GREY WESTERN MAGAZINE from 1949, the only actual pulp magazine we own. The backup stories were all better.

[Jude Brigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable voyage back to childhood in the wake of visiting Zane Gray's house on the Delaware. Good yarns contributing to myths of the West.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book with multiple stories inside