The Stingaree

by Max Brand

When Alabama Joe drifted into Fort Anxious, his one friend there was the boy, Jimmy Green . Most people thought Joe was just an easygoing tramp who would do anything to avoid a fight. Stanley Parker , however, suspected that the stranger was more dangerous than he pretended to be. Ever since Parker had won fame and fortune by gunning down the notorious Bob Dillman , he had been expecting the outlaw's partner, the deadly Stingaree to show up. And Parker knew he would have to kill Stingaree if he could! Here is a fast-moving story of a man of many names and many skills who found that his ordeal had just begun when he met his enemy. Ahead of him lay the perils of hired guns and wilderness traps and a bitter conflict with his own code of honor.

Genres: Westerns

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1930

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

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first novel in the Western genre that I have ever read, so my review may not be reflective of how good this book is as compared to others of its genre.

I think there are elements of Western novels that definitely appeal to me. I love the outdoorsy elements and the survival element. There are some elements of the traditional Western genre that do not appeal to me which are the male heaviness of the stories, the confusing idea of absolute honour, or that one thing is objectively acceptable.

For what I expected, I was happily surprised. I found the depiction of Native people to be more positive than expected generally, though not without stereotyping, and I don't trust it to be realistic, but I did really appreciate that Native people were treated with respect and admiration in the novel. I don't know if this is typical to other novels of the time or genre, but I didn't expect it.
I also wasn't mad at the way the few women in the story were treated. I didn't expect many women, but I certainly didn't expect the only women in the story to be respected for their minds even if only theoretically.
I think it is likely I will read more Western novels in the future to understand more of what the genre holds and what elements of this novel were, well, novel.

All of that being said, the novel was better than I thought, but also not super engrossing. I found I constantly was reading paragraphs and then realizing I hadn't retained any thing out of what I had just read. I found the main character to be unrealistic and not necessarily relatable, but I guess I expected that. I wonder if men would relate to the character at all. It's a tricky thing to make a statement about the relatability of a character in a book that is set in the past and written a good 50 years ago because I am not sure how much is an artifact of the time difference between our environments.
In hind sight, I find the plot to be largely static. I don't feel that much happened and that what did happen was not all that surprising or exciting.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book, but not actively (if that makes sense), and I don't feel I have much more to say on it, and I don't think anyone would care if I did. Have a nice day me.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first from Brand which amazes me since he is such a legend in the genre. At first wasnt sure about it since it seemed like it would be a coming of age tale, which it is in a way, and that type isnt my first choice usually. Though this one is more then that, filled with great charcters including the title character who is a notorious outlaw out for revenge of a fallen friend. However over course of time his finer qualties come through in this small town out in the wilds.

Highly recommended, and not just for western fans. This is more of an adventure tale and would be enjoyed by most.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrative of a young man and the notorious Stingaree(a.k.a. Alabama Joe.), involving a pursuit by the Canadian Mounties.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a somewhat above average offering form Max Brand. It is told from the perspective of an adolescent boy and concerns the arrival of a stranger, Alabama Joe, into the small western town. We soon learn that he is bent upon revenge.

What makes the book especially interesting is the young narrator and the world he lives in, an interesting portrayal of a Native American and a wonderful closing chase sequence. Yes, the ending is rather pat but there is lots of fun before we get to it.

[Barbara Lee Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

This is a strange story about a young and his wolf dog. Lots of dialogue almost to much and a bit confusing. The plot a young baby boy adopted by every ethnic group who lived in the area.
It takes a village to raise a child, concerns are second to eking out a living
You be the judge after reading this adventure.