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Guns of the Waste Land: Volumes 1-2
**2019 Georgia Independent Author of the Year Award – Historical Fiction, Honourable Mention** Updated Edition. Now featuring Volume Two, Diversion Guns of the Waste Land is an epic retelling of Arthurian Legend in an American Western setting. In late 1800s just outside the Texas town of Bretton, four men wander the American desert. Percy Murratt seeks Sheriff Ardiss Drake to learn the fate of his late father. Meanwhile, Ardiss’ deputies, Gary Wayne Orkney and Boris Bennick, are in the pursuit of the outlaw Lancaster O'Loch flees, who has seduced and stolen Ardiss’ wife, Guernica. Featuring a host of familiar characters reminiscent of Gawain, the Green Knight, Lancelot, Merlin and, of course, King Arthur, Guns of the Waste Land is a timeless adventure of chivalry, revenge and honour. Now, in Book Diversion, follow Percy and co. on their epic quest as they traverse the frontier of the American Waste Land, in pursuit of their own Holy Grail… Guns of the Waste Land “impressed the hell out of me with its inventiveness and wonderfully colorful dialogue, […] you may have a genuine classic on your hands.” – T.E.D. Klein, author of Dark Gods & The Ceremonies “Leverett Butts is a real talent. His Guns of the Waste Land is an original way to use a genre. I like a guy who has a mad literary streak and walks the wobbly so far he's gotten across. This is the first installment in a longer narrative, and I can't wait to read the next if it's as good as the first or even close.”— Richard Monaco, author of the Parsival series “Guns of the Waste Land brings us back to a genre that has mostly been out of fashion for a time, but I believe this work has the power to bring us back to why we loved westerns. The western story is the story of America. In the western, the lines between good and evil are often vague, just as they are in real humanity. The western shows us the difficulty to survive and how it changes people for better or worse. Butts has explored these ideas and many more in a book that is unique and as well written as anything you'll read this year.” – Scott Thompson, author of Young Men Shall See & Eight Days Leverett Butts teaches composition and literature at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Eclectic and The Georgia State University Review. He is the recipient of several fiction prizes offered by the University of West Georgia and TAG Publishing. His first collection of short fiction, Emily's The Confessions of Thomas Calloway and Other Stories, has been nominated for the 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Short Fiction. He lives in Temple, Georgia, with his wife, son, their Jack Russell terrier, and a couple of antisocial cats.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2016
87 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Leverett Butts
21 books10 followersLeverett Butts teaches composition and literature at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Eclectic and The Georgia State University Review. He is the recipient of several fiction prizes offered by the University of West Georgia and TAG Publishing. He lives in Temple, Georgia, with his wife, son, their Jack Russell terrier, and a couple of antisocial cats. He is also fluent in Pig Latin.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
dnf-set-aside-for-later
August 18, 2016A mash up between the Wild West and King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot? Sign me up! I was eager to pick this one up and enjoy something creative and fun as it crosses gritty western with familiar and loved classic tale characters. But sadly, I wasn't able to finish.
I read through six chapters and the whole time I spent detached from the story or confused. If I were to guess as to what was putting me off it was an issue of too much going on and going in different directions, but also the writing style. Now, it's possible that later all plot paths will come together and make sense and I have been known to get accustomed to a style after a period of time. However, between the two issues and a few other things, I kept setting the book down and not feeling the urge to pick it up.
I won't discourage others from satisfying their curiosity about the mash-up because tastes are different and this might be right up your alley.
My thanks to Pioneer Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read through six chapters and the whole time I spent detached from the story or confused. If I were to guess as to what was putting me off it was an issue of too much going on and going in different directions, but also the writing style. Now, it's possible that later all plot paths will come together and make sense and I have been known to get accustomed to a style after a period of time. However, between the two issues and a few other things, I kept setting the book down and not feeling the urge to pick it up.
I won't discourage others from satisfying their curiosity about the mash-up because tastes are different and this might be right up your alley.
My thanks to Pioneer Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2019
Guns of the Waste Land sets out to be a retelling of the Arthurian legends, reframed as a tale of the American West, which...um...is a tall order. The stories are just so deeply familiar. The characters, equally so. Getting there without it seeming forced or trite or obvious? Man, that was gonna take some doing.
Fortunately, that doing gets done. The narrative weaves in and out of the lives and perspectives of a dozen characters, shifting tonalities and language appropriately between them. The stories around the life of Ardiss Drake, Sheriff of Breton? They plays out with a remarkable integrity of their own. Oh, sure, the ancient legend guides it, but this retelling draws you right back in. All of the primary characters feel fully realized in their own right, not just cribbed from an old tale. Their relationships resonate, and their voices feel real and alive. They work, and work well, enough that by the beginning of Volume 2, I was drawn along with their particular story. The world, too, grows richer and deeper with the telling, and the sense of place really works.
A pair of quibbles...there's a bunch going on, and the narrative often leaps about in time as we shift perspectives and shift between interwoven storylines. Every once in a while, I'd have to say, wait, where are we again? I adapted to that as the story continued, but I can see how it'd fuddle some folks.
Quibble two...these two volumes and the third which follows are part of a larger tale, one that ain't quite done yet. When you get into it, which I did, you're going to run right up against that reality at the end of volume 3. Dagflabbit, man, I want to read this through to however Avalon manifests. I mean, I know how the legend ends. But I want to know how *this* story ends. As the Man in Black said to Inigo Montoya, get used to disappointment...at least until the series finally gets done.
A richly crafted tale, one that...while grounded in legend...holds water as Western storytelling in its own right. I enjoyed it considerably more than I'd expected. I'm hoping there's more.
Disclosure - I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fortunately, that doing gets done. The narrative weaves in and out of the lives and perspectives of a dozen characters, shifting tonalities and language appropriately between them. The stories around the life of Ardiss Drake, Sheriff of Breton? They plays out with a remarkable integrity of their own. Oh, sure, the ancient legend guides it, but this retelling draws you right back in. All of the primary characters feel fully realized in their own right, not just cribbed from an old tale. Their relationships resonate, and their voices feel real and alive. They work, and work well, enough that by the beginning of Volume 2, I was drawn along with their particular story. The world, too, grows richer and deeper with the telling, and the sense of place really works.
A pair of quibbles...there's a bunch going on, and the narrative often leaps about in time as we shift perspectives and shift between interwoven storylines. Every once in a while, I'd have to say, wait, where are we again? I adapted to that as the story continued, but I can see how it'd fuddle some folks.
Quibble two...these two volumes and the third which follows are part of a larger tale, one that ain't quite done yet. When you get into it, which I did, you're going to run right up against that reality at the end of volume 3. Dagflabbit, man, I want to read this through to however Avalon manifests. I mean, I know how the legend ends. But I want to know how *this* story ends. As the Man in Black said to Inigo Montoya, get used to disappointment...at least until the series finally gets done.
A richly crafted tale, one that...while grounded in legend...holds water as Western storytelling in its own right. I enjoyed it considerably more than I'd expected. I'm hoping there's more.
Disclosure - I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2017
I had the opportunity to grab these two volumes in paperback recently at Anachrocon. I was a little skeptical at first - I'm picky about my Arthurian retellings, and I'm not typically into Westerns - but after hearing the author doing a reading from one of his other works, I knew I'd enjoy them. The way the story is told, starting sort of at the end with Gawain/Gary Wayne and one of the other cowboy/knights chasing after Lancelot/Lancaster and Guinevere/Guernica, and then the past details being filled in with memories and flashbacks, takes some getting used to. The plot weaves between past and present, and it's fun to figure out who and what in this version corresponds with the original. It's also interesting to see how the author handles the setting and its particular demands. Now I'm hoping the author gets back on his writing horse and finishes out his planned third and fourth volumes so I can see how he wraps up all the story threads. That's how I know a retelling is a good one - I'm familiar with the original, but I still want to see how this version ends.
June 14, 2017
About Time
I read western novels with a vengeance. I feel these times were the best of America and we shall never see them again. Men were truly men and women were greater and stronger than they have ever been or ever will be. Guns of the Waste Land has several main characters and each has a story to tell. If you just let yourself go you will find you are back in time thinking how you would react to all the adventures and plots that are detailed in each story. This is an extremely enjoyable read that has kept me awake at night. M I am sure it will also have the same effect on you. Read and enjoy!!
I read western novels with a vengeance. I feel these times were the best of America and we shall never see them again. Men were truly men and women were greater and stronger than they have ever been or ever will be. Guns of the Waste Land has several main characters and each has a story to tell. If you just let yourself go you will find you are back in time thinking how you would react to all the adventures and plots that are detailed in each story. This is an extremely enjoyable read that has kept me awake at night. M I am sure it will also have the same effect on you. Read and enjoy!!
July 6, 2019
An LB. Western Action Adventure Novel (GOTWL - Vol 1 & 2)
LB has penned the two western adventure novels of the Guns of the Waste Land, whih begins with a young boy deciding his father was not his father, but someone else. He packs up and begins his trek through barren countryside on his mule. He thinks he is heading in the right direction to begin his journey. The young boy encounters the ghost of his grandfather and the ghost of an old Indian who teaches him everything he needs to know. These are two excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
LB has penned the two western adventure novels of the Guns of the Waste Land, whih begins with a young boy deciding his father was not his father, but someone else. He packs up and begins his trek through barren countryside on his mule. He thinks he is heading in the right direction to begin his journey. The young boy encounters the ghost of his grandfather and the ghost of an old Indian who teaches him everything he needs to know. These are two excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
November 24, 2024
Guns of the Wasteland
Westerns have always been a favortie read of mine. This one was different then most I read. Percy sets out to find out about his father that he's never met. On the way to the last town, his father was known at, he meets lots of people who knew his father and is told stories about his father. Lots of stories, lots of back stories all make up this book.
While it doesn't necessarily end on a cliff hanger, it does end all the stories with more to be told, but at a stopping point
Westerns have always been a favortie read of mine. This one was different then most I read. Percy sets out to find out about his father that he's never met. On the way to the last town, his father was known at, he meets lots of people who knew his father and is told stories about his father. Lots of stories, lots of back stories all make up this book.
While it doesn't necessarily end on a cliff hanger, it does end all the stories with more to be told, but at a stopping point
June 16, 2018
Decent
Decent short read. The Western genre has never been my favorite, but there was a decent amount of action and adventure in these books to keep them decently interesting. I did notice that it could do with some editing, as there were quite a few punctuation errors, such as an opening or closing quotation mark missing, and words missing or typed twice. Other than that, they were decently entertaining and short.
Decent short read. The Western genre has never been my favorite, but there was a decent amount of action and adventure in these books to keep them decently interesting. I did notice that it could do with some editing, as there were quite a few punctuation errors, such as an opening or closing quotation mark missing, and words missing or typed twice. Other than that, they were decently entertaining and short.
April 14, 2019
I absolutely loved this retelling of King Arthur stories in the American West. Leverett Butts does a wonderful job of making these classic tales his own slowly revealing each character telling stories within stories.
February 26, 2023
Very confusing book, totally lacking in structure and ranging from episode to episode in sort of flashbacks as if there are a number of different stories happening at different times, which are then all supposed to link together.
November 16, 2017
Interesting western with an Arthurian flair.
October 30, 2018
Ok
It was just okay. A little heavy handed with the Arthur allusions. Would have preferred a more subtle link. Story had promise but didn’t really live up to it
It was just okay. A little heavy handed with the Arthur allusions. Would have preferred a more subtle link. Story had promise but didn’t really live up to it
March 6, 2019
Great read
This is not a genre I would normally read but I’m happy I did. I look forward to volumes 3 and 4.
This is not a genre I would normally read but I’m happy I did. I look forward to volumes 3 and 4.
December 23, 2020
Review
I thought it was ok but it jump back and forth and I had to go back and look at the script to make sure I understood the plot of the book.
I thought it was ok but it jump back and forth and I had to go back and look at the script to make sure I understood the plot of the book.
June 12, 2016
Book 1: Guns Of The Wasteland – Departure
This was such an enjoyable read, and so well written. The story is so full of Adventure, and interesting characters. Percy Murratt never knew his father, so he decided to set out with his mule Lippy, and track down some of his father’s friends to learn more about him. He really had no understanding on how to get to the town of Bretton through the desert. Percy thought he would follow the sun, and he didn’t understand that the sun moved, so he became hopelessly lost. Luckily for him Garry Wayne and Boris came across him while they were out looking for Lancaster, who had run off with the Sheriffs wife. Boris and Garry Wayne started out as stable hands, moving onto Kitchen hands, before the Sheriff made them both deputies. Boris gives Percy a map and points him in the right direction, while him and Garry Wayne continue their pursuit of Lancaster. Percy’s dead Gramps feeds him breakfast one morning, and he comes across an old Indian that also feeds him some fish, and tells him stories on the creation of the lands. Percy doesn’t quite understand how his Gramps who has been dead for years, can suddenly appear. I love a story that keeps me guessing, and Leverette Butt’s has certainly caught my attention with this truly wonderful book.
Book 2: Guns Of The Wasteland – Diversion
I loved book 1, and Leverette Butt’s has continued on with another excellent tale for book 2. Garry Wayne and Boris come across Percy’s house, and need to ask his mother Elaine about Lancaster, who came to visit her. However, they are shocked to find her dead inside the house, hanging by a rope. Percy makes it to the town of Bretton and collapses from dehydration. The Sheriff takes him in, and doesn’t know what to make of Percy’s stories of seeing his dead Gramps and the old Indian. They think he was hallucinating from lack of water. Guernica the Sheriffs wife didn’t have an easy upbringing when Delores and Desiderio turned up and took over ownership of her and her father’s property. They made Guernica be the house maid by day, and Desiderio’s play thing at night. When Guernica ends up pregnant, Delores makes the mistake of beating her because of this, and only stops when Guerinca’s father puts an axe through her head. Boris and Garry Wayne track down Lancaster at his Uncle’s fort, and instead of killing him with a gun, Garry Wayne decides they should fight it out using their fists. Garry Wayne is lucky to make it out of the fight alive, and Boris has to take him back to Bretton to recover. When Percy recovers an old timer Agathon Vann tells him stories about his father Jim, and what a great fighter he was, and how he saved his life. I’m glad the Author went back in time with the characters, to give us some insight on where they all came from. It really made this such a wonderful and Interesting story. I hope the Author continues this story and adventure on. It is certainly worth a read.
This was such an enjoyable read, and so well written. The story is so full of Adventure, and interesting characters. Percy Murratt never knew his father, so he decided to set out with his mule Lippy, and track down some of his father’s friends to learn more about him. He really had no understanding on how to get to the town of Bretton through the desert. Percy thought he would follow the sun, and he didn’t understand that the sun moved, so he became hopelessly lost. Luckily for him Garry Wayne and Boris came across him while they were out looking for Lancaster, who had run off with the Sheriffs wife. Boris and Garry Wayne started out as stable hands, moving onto Kitchen hands, before the Sheriff made them both deputies. Boris gives Percy a map and points him in the right direction, while him and Garry Wayne continue their pursuit of Lancaster. Percy’s dead Gramps feeds him breakfast one morning, and he comes across an old Indian that also feeds him some fish, and tells him stories on the creation of the lands. Percy doesn’t quite understand how his Gramps who has been dead for years, can suddenly appear. I love a story that keeps me guessing, and Leverette Butt’s has certainly caught my attention with this truly wonderful book.
Book 2: Guns Of The Wasteland – Diversion
I loved book 1, and Leverette Butt’s has continued on with another excellent tale for book 2. Garry Wayne and Boris come across Percy’s house, and need to ask his mother Elaine about Lancaster, who came to visit her. However, they are shocked to find her dead inside the house, hanging by a rope. Percy makes it to the town of Bretton and collapses from dehydration. The Sheriff takes him in, and doesn’t know what to make of Percy’s stories of seeing his dead Gramps and the old Indian. They think he was hallucinating from lack of water. Guernica the Sheriffs wife didn’t have an easy upbringing when Delores and Desiderio turned up and took over ownership of her and her father’s property. They made Guernica be the house maid by day, and Desiderio’s play thing at night. When Guernica ends up pregnant, Delores makes the mistake of beating her because of this, and only stops when Guerinca’s father puts an axe through her head. Boris and Garry Wayne track down Lancaster at his Uncle’s fort, and instead of killing him with a gun, Garry Wayne decides they should fight it out using their fists. Garry Wayne is lucky to make it out of the fight alive, and Boris has to take him back to Bretton to recover. When Percy recovers an old timer Agathon Vann tells him stories about his father Jim, and what a great fighter he was, and how he saved his life. I’m glad the Author went back in time with the characters, to give us some insight on where they all came from. It really made this such a wonderful and Interesting story. I hope the Author continues this story and adventure on. It is certainly worth a read.
Read
July 11, 2016A Flawed, But Fantastic Book
The story, the characters, and the adaptation of Arthurian legend were great. The characters were great, as well as the dialog.
I would love to have given this five stars, but could not overlook the missing words in a huge number of sentences throughout the book. I am usually a rapid reader, but that comes to an end when a sentence is missing a word. I have to stop and reread the sentence again to try to glean the author's meaning.
An author with this much talent should not be disrespecting his readers by failing to have the manuscript adequately proofread before publication.
I still recommend this book, but urge the author to bite the bullet and fix these errors.
The story, the characters, and the adaptation of Arthurian legend were great. The characters were great, as well as the dialog.
I would love to have given this five stars, but could not overlook the missing words in a huge number of sentences throughout the book. I am usually a rapid reader, but that comes to an end when a sentence is missing a word. I have to stop and reread the sentence again to try to glean the author's meaning.
An author with this much talent should not be disrespecting his readers by failing to have the manuscript adequately proofread before publication.
I still recommend this book, but urge the author to bite the bullet and fix these errors.
November 28, 2016
I read this sometime ago, getting it as a freebie, and enjoyed the tale immensely. When I started reading it I thought it was just a series of stories that were threaded together by coincidence telling separate tales of a boy looking for his father's friends so that he could know him and the Lawmen chasing down the man that had double crossed them. At the end of the story I wanted more and continued to read the afterwords that lead to a better understanding of what the author was trying to do by creating a story based upon the Arthurian Legends and setting it in the west. I see that Mr. Butts was able to accomplish what he set out to do and hope that he will complete the story soon.
July 5, 2016
Guns of the WAste Land
I don't normally read a western adventure, but the King Arthur concept of a western theme had me Intrigued. As an added bonus it was two books in one, and to top it all, a freebie. It was really good read, with characters you can easily associate with the Arthurian legend. The storyline kept my Interest at all times, especially the Percival aspect. I read both books in one sitting. Fab
I don't normally read a western adventure, but the King Arthur concept of a western theme had me Intrigued. As an added bonus it was two books in one, and to top it all, a freebie. It was really good read, with characters you can easily associate with the Arthurian legend. The storyline kept my Interest at all times, especially the Percival aspect. I read both books in one sitting. Fab
July 7, 2016
A Tough Rwad
Although there are several sections in this work that could have led to development of an enjoyable frontier/western, Butts' heavy-handed handling of a confusing variety of characters, locations and scenes in a disjointed manner made for a most difficult, enjoyable read--reminds me of many college text books.
Although there are several sections in this work that could have led to development of an enjoyable frontier/western, Butts' heavy-handed handling of a confusing variety of characters, locations and scenes in a disjointed manner made for a most difficult, enjoyable read--reminds me of many college text books.
July 18, 2016
A bit confusing
There is a central theme to this book but it doesn't weave together well. At least that is my view. I would still recommend it despite that shortcoming. Give it a try.
There is a central theme to this book but it doesn't weave together well. At least that is my view. I would still recommend it despite that shortcoming. Give it a try.
November 17, 2016
Good until it ended in the middle of the story.
I refuse to buy sequels to books that were never finished. A novella has a definitive end; thus does not. It is an unfinished work. This ploy for sakes has become commonplace and an irritant. Don't publish till the work is done
I refuse to buy sequels to books that were never finished. A novella has a definitive end; thus does not. It is an unfinished work. This ploy for sakes has become commonplace and an irritant. Don't publish till the work is done
July 16, 2016
Slow and jerky, like a toad trying to walk
Enjoyed the read, but was difficult to follow. I was left hanging at the end. Better luck next time. Adios
Enjoyed the read, but was difficult to follow. I was left hanging at the end. Better luck next time. Adios
July 11, 2016
Disgusting!p
I read this book less than half way then had to quit. Between the poor writing, editing, missing words and cursing i had to let it go.
I read this book less than half way then had to quit. Between the poor writing, editing, missing words and cursing i had to let it go.
August 13, 2016
Solid little read
This book has a series of interesting storylines that develop through flashbacks and the current action. The character development is a little slow.
This book has a series of interesting storylines that develop through flashbacks and the current action. The character development is a little slow.
September 12, 2016
Fun mix of Western and Arthur
I was curious by the description of the book, and it delivered. Enjoyed the characters and plot. In interested where the story goes from here.
I was curious by the description of the book, and it delivered. Enjoyed the characters and plot. In interested where the story goes from here.
November 10, 2016
This book was so bad I could not finish it.
September 10, 2016
WESTERN
Jim read this on 7-11-16 and rated it 4.3 stars.
Jim read this on 7-11-16 and rated it 4.3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews