Curry: A Western Trio

by Max Brand

A trio of stories (Jim Curry's Compromise, Test, and Sacrifice) about the snakebit fate of the Currys, Jim and Jim Jr., a pair on the wrong side of good luck, and the good graces of the local sheriff.

Young Jim Curry’s father is killed unjustly by an enraged mob, and the boy barely escapes the same fate. He shoots two pursuers and assumes they are dead, and in desperation becomes a most unusual outlaw, the Red Devil. He never kills, takes only ill-gained money, secretly returns it to the rightful owners, and escapes every pursuit on his remarkable horse, Meg.

Spoiled Charlie Mark has left home to seek thrills and easy money. He vows to find the Red Devil and discover why he is so merciful and so particular about his victims. Charlie trails Meg’s hoof prints to the hideout and convinces Jim to switch roles—but the new Red Devil becomes addicted to the excitement of robbing and killing. When will retribution catch up with Charlie? Can anyone save him? And where is Jim Curry?

This trio of stories about the life and destiny of Jim Curry is vintage Max Brand! His Western stories are considered among the best in the genre and have been translated into every major language and adapted for film and television.

230 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Frederick Schiller Faust (see also Frederick Faust), aka Frank Austin, George Owen Baxter, Walter C. Butler, George Challis, Evin Evan, Evan Evans, Frederick Faust, John Frederick, Frederick Frost, David Manning, Peter Henry Morland, Lee Bolt, Peter Dawson, Martin Dexter, Dennis Lawson, M.B., Hugh Owen, Nicholas Silver

Max Brand, one of America's most popular and prolific novelists and author of such enduring works as Destry Rides Again and the Doctor Kildare stories, died on the Italian front in 1944.

Reviews

[William Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

A set of three parts of a single tale of the character Jim Curry. Not terribly complicated stories and a little fanciful and mythic but entertaining.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this was also published as a book with chapter titles called "Jim Curry's Test." The second story has a great poker game. Curry is also known as the Red Devil.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering how prolific a writer Frederick Faust was, this trilogy is quite good. It has all the elements one expects from a western. The central character is flawed, and cannot quite escape the hole he dug for himself. A good yarn.