Westeryear: Stories About the West, Past and Present

by Ed Gorman (Editor)

Presents the best in Western lore--from classic tales by Mark Twain, O. Henry, and Stephen Crane to contemporary writers including Elmore Leonard, James Reasoner, and Bill Crider--spanning a wide range of genres exploring a distinctly American terrain

230 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western novels tend to have a generally standard format, with the hero engaging in gun battles with the villains. The heroes tend to be excellent shooters while the villains find it difficult to hit their targets. There is some character development, but it is easier for authors to engage in the actions with firearms.
That is not the case with these short stories. They all have a point, there are heroes and villains, but there is more moral ambiguity as to which is which. There is the common theme of how difficult it was for the people that pioneered the settlement of the west. Native Americans do appear on occasion, but in secondary roles and not as protagonists.
Plot devices range from the appearance of a werewolf to hints of the occult and life prolongation. My favorite was “The Return of a Private,” by Hamlin Garland. It is the story of a group of men that volunteered to fight on the Union side in the American Civil War. The war is over, and they have been discharged and their beaten and exhausted bodies are making their way home to their farms. The narration bounces back and forth between the soldiers and their relatives that have no idea that the men are getting very close to home. While they left to cheers and excitement from crowds, their return is very personal, one reunion at a time.
If you are a fan of the super cowboy style of story, where one man fights off the local evil doers to victory, then this book is not for you. However, if you are interested in stories with some complexity to the characters and subject matter, then you will enjoy it.