Brand of Empire

by Luke Short

Cowboy Pete Yard is out for vengeance against corrupt senator and cattleman Matt Waranrode on the Ute River, who had Yard beaten nearly to death when he refused to kill the local journalists who wrote articles critical of the senator.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Luke Short (real name Frederick Dilley Glidden) was a popular Western writer.

Born in Kewanee, Illinois Glidden attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two and a half years and then transferred to the University of Missouri at Columbia to study journalism.

Following graduation in 1930 he worked for a number of newspapers before becoming a trapper in Canada then later moved to New Mexico to be an archeologist's assistant.

After reading Western pulp magazines and trying to escape unemployment he started writing Western fiction. He sold his first short story and novel in 1935 under the pen name of Luke Short (which was also the name of a famous gunslinger in the Old West, though it's unclear if he was aware of that when he assumed the pen name.)

After publishing over a dozen novels in the 1930s, he started writing for films in the 40s. In 1948 alone four Luke Short novels appeared as movies. Some of his memorable film credits includes Ramrod (1947) and Blood on the Moon (1948). He continued to write novels, despite increasing trouble with his eyes, until his death in 1975. His ashes are buried in Aspen, Colorado, his home at the time of his death.

Reviews

[Trevor Cassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good and exciting book. It starts off showing the tension increasing on the range where the Anchor range is and how Ben was causing trouble in the area. Two men, Trueblood and Pete are trying to frame the Anchor ranch, and the governor of the state for their acts against the government and people just to make themselves rich. The war launches off and some ranchers are killed but they fight back thanks to the help of Trueblood and defeat Ben and the Anchor cowhands. Pete frames the governor who kills himself so he can't be tried in court. It all ends in a love story with Pete and Christiana. It is a very exciting book with lots of action. I loved the book and read it very quickly because I couldn't stop reading it. I would highly recommend reading it.

[Murrel Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Luke Short for me, is a great writer of the old-time western genre. I’ve now read 4 or 5 of his works and have not been disappointed yet. There is always that never ending battle of god and evil. Kind of reminds me of our country today. In both we want to keep our freedoms and in both someone wants to get rid of them for their own greed. My thanks to this author and now let me see what’s next.

[LadySnowAngel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Brand of Empire, it has a good plot and interesting characters.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't really give this book a good rating because the first 32 pages were missing. maybe I can find another copy somewhere and give a better rating. please don't judge me for the rating

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Luke Short Western/An Empire Built With Greed and Death

IS has penned a western about an ordinary cow hand who seeks revenge against an Empire Builder. The builder was determined to spread his empire across the state at any cost, even death and destruction. The cow hand has observed the illegal activities and decided he is the only one who can halt the man's empire spread. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Western novel I've ever read. It wasn't horrible, but nor was it brilliant. Much like reading a mass paperback sci fi or mystery novel. Nothing new, nothing special. Still good characters, though.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better westerns I've read of late. More depth to story.