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The Floating Outfit #14
Sidewinder
Fast and deadly as a snake which gave him his name, Sidewinder, the limping Comanche war chief, rampaged across Texas and threatened the peace between his people and the white men. Only a man with a tremendous knowledge of the Comanche could hope to prevent Sidewinder from endangering the whole Comanche nation with his policy of burning, killing and looting, which would inevitably bring retaliation from infuriated Texans and U.S. Army personnel. The Ysabel Kid was such a man He knew Sidewinder well, and it was his knife which had crippled the chief in a boyhood fight. So when the Kid took up Sidewinder’s trail, he knew it could only end when one of them lay dead.
- GenresWesterns
ebook
First published January 1, 1969
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153 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Edson
183 books79 followersJohn Thomas Edson is an English writer of Westerns.
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
He was born in 1928.He was obsessed with Westerns from an early age and often "rewrote" cowboy movies that he had seen at the cinema. One thing that always intrigued him was the minutiae—how did the baddie's gun jam? What were the mechanics of cheating at cards? How did Westerners really dress and speak?
His writing was helped to develop by a schoolteacher who encouraged him. Now lives in Leicester, Leicestershire.[citation needed]
During his 20s and 30s, Edson served in His Majesty's Armed Forces for 12 years as a Dog Trainer. Cooped up in barracks for long periods, he devoured books by the great escapist writers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert McCraig, Nelson C. Nye and Edgar Wallace). He also sat through hours of movies starring John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Errol Flynn and his all-time favourite, Audie Murphy.
His first appearance in print was "Hints On Self-Preservation when attacked by a War Dog" in the Osnabrück camp magazine Shufti in 1947. Acquiring a typewriter in the early 1950s and putting it to good use while posted to Hong Kong, by the time of his discharge he had written 10 Westerns, an early version of Bunduki and the first of the short detective-type stories starring Waco.
Upon leaving HM forces, JT won second prize (with Trail Boss) in the Western division of a Literary Competition run by Brown & Watson Ltd, which led to the publication of 46 novels with them, becoming a major earner for the company.
He had the need for supplementary income from time-to-time and also served as a postman, and the proprietor of a fish 'n' chip shop. Furthermore, he branched out as a writer and wrote five series of short stories (Dan Hollick, Dog Handler) for the Victor boys papers, and wrote the "box captions" for comic strips, which instilled discipline and the ability to convey maximum information with minimum words.
His writing career forged ahead when he joined Corgi Books in the late '60s, which gave JT exposure through a major publishing house, as well as the opportunity to branch out from the core Westerns into the Rockabye County, the science-fiction hero Bunduki and other series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 4, 2022
Whilst I have always enjoyed J T Edson's stories, this was one of his better than the rest efforts. Mainly featuring The Ysabel Kid, probably my favourite Edson character, this book was full of suspense from start to finish. Definitely worth reading.
April 30, 2020
Some of the names mentioned in these novels are real people.
That is where the similarity ends.
In many ways these are modern versions of the old dime novels. The only similarity to the truth are the fact that... The author mentions real people.
However if you just want to read an old fashion cowboy shoot em up, that's what these books are.
That is where the similarity ends.
In many ways these are modern versions of the old dime novels. The only similarity to the truth are the fact that... The author mentions real people.
However if you just want to read an old fashion cowboy shoot em up, that's what these books are.
February 9, 2024
The Ysabel Kid and the Floating Outfit must stop a renegade Comanche warrior and his witch woman mother from ruining the chances for peace between the whites and the Comanches. Lots of action, lots of colorful detail. A fun read.
July 11, 2017
A book by JT Edson I had not read before. Involves an attempt to make a lasting peace with the Commanches
September 23, 2017
Ysabel Kid
My one and only favorite Indian character. Gun ,rifle , or knife you must be better than good to stop him. He ride's for justice.
My one and only favorite Indian character. Gun ,rifle , or knife you must be better than good to stop him. He ride's for justice.
March 10, 2018
Outstanding!
A great book by a great writer. This story held me spell bound all the way through. It is well written and edited.
A great book by a great writer. This story held me spell bound all the way through. It is well written and edited.
October 23, 2022
Another great book
Another great book by a great author with really strong main and back up characters will keep reading as long as I am able.
Another great book by a great author with really strong main and back up characters will keep reading as long as I am able.
September 29, 2025
3.5 stars
October 19, 2025
Great, tight-knit story.
December 24, 2013
Much of the plot of this book relies on the Ysabel Kid's back story told in Comanche. The Kid's mother died in childbirth and he himself would not have survived long without nourishment. Knowing this his father, Sam Ysabel, went to ask for the help of a friend, War Club, who's own wife had also recently had a child. As it happened War Club was gambling with a third new father named Bitter Root who objected to the game being broken up and he made the fatal mistake of picking a fight with Ysabel. His wife, Fire Dancer who is called Death Bringer by the time of this story, vowed revenge and made several attempts at killing Ysabel before transferring her rage to his son. She sent her son, No Father who grew up to become Sidewinder, to kill the Kid but he was saved by his two childhood best friends one of whom was Loud Voice the son of War Club and the Kid's foster brother. The Kid in turn vowed revenge for their deaths but the dawn of the Civil War prevented him from going after them previously.
In this story the various tribes of the Comanche Nation have agreed to come together for a peace council. All except the Waw'ai who are lead by the war-chief Sidewinder and his mother the medicine woman Death Bringer who are determined that the council will not succeed. The Kweharehnuh or Antelope band also withdraw from the council, an event which later plays into Hell in the Palo Duro and Go Back to Hell. The Kid must find Sidewinder and defeat his band in order for the council to succeed. The Kid's maternal grandfather, Long Walker, proves to be instrumental in preventing an all out war as they sort things out.
In this story the various tribes of the Comanche Nation have agreed to come together for a peace council. All except the Waw'ai who are lead by the war-chief Sidewinder and his mother the medicine woman Death Bringer who are determined that the council will not succeed. The Kweharehnuh or Antelope band also withdraw from the council, an event which later plays into Hell in the Palo Duro and Go Back to Hell. The Kid must find Sidewinder and defeat his band in order for the council to succeed. The Kid's maternal grandfather, Long Walker, proves to be instrumental in preventing an all out war as they sort things out.
January 5, 2012
J.T. Edson is an excellent story teller. This was another well written book. Very interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews