Bannon

by Louis L'Amour

Rock Bannon, wounded in an Indian attack, is rescued by a wagon train heading to Oregon. He has fully recovered when the train pulls into a fort to stock up on supplies. It is there that the leaders of the train meet Morton Harper, a smooth-talking man who persuades them to take an easier trail that will allow them to escape an attack by Indians. Bannon knows that there will be no escape from attack on that route and that it will lead the train directly onto Hardy Bishop's vast ranching domain. Either way, and probably both, it will mean war -- a war the pioneers will undoubtedly lose.

BANNON first appeared in Giant Western (Winter 1948) under the title Showdown Trail . Louis L'Amour subsequently reworked and expanded this story into The Tall Stranger , published as an original paperback in 1957. The expanded story was filmed as The Tall Stranger (Allied Artists, 1957) directed by Thomas Carr and starring Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure, Novels

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2019

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squatter/settlers get mixed up with land-grabbing ranchers and a fight ensues. Bouncing between the two camps is Bannon, a prototypical western loner. Barely civilized, but brave and true, Bannon is the man for the hour, even if everyone else can't see it.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Louis L'Amour book and it did not disappoint! One down 99 to go! :)

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, this is my favorite L’Amour book. There are many characters, multiple villains to hate, multiple protagonists to love, a subtle romantic element throughout, great gun fights, great fist fights, strategy, schemes and, as always, beautiful descriptions of the nature where the story takes place. This was a fantastic western!!

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than average, but pretty standard L'Amour.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard, you made a good point, so I increased it to a full 3 stars. My apologies go to Mr. L’Amour for disrespecting his work. It won’t happen again.

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell me a cowboy story! I just love this author, when you want to read a typical cowboy story, where the lead character hero must fight the evil ones and on top, wins the girl at the end, this is where you must go. I love the detail that the author entailed on his stories, the fights, the scenery, you can almost feel the fists flying over your head and taste the dust that rises after a horse chase.

Rock Banon, is rescued by a migrating caravan on their way to Oregon; Banon was wounded on an attack of some sort, was picked up and cared for by the traveling parties on their search for a better life; Banon keeps most to himself, helping out the good people that aided him in every way he can; hunting for food, maintaining a vigil, and hanging around the beautiful girl that attended to his wounds, then, things take a turn, for the worst, a stranger rides by and charms his way into the good people’s graces, suggests them to take a path where they will find water and greener scenery, Banon warns them about it but they don’t listen and take the snake charmer’s suggestion, he accompanies them anyway, his main concern on the girl of course, and on their way find themselves being attacked by the natives, Banon helps them to get out of the predicament, which won’t be the last nor the worse.

Is a fast pace and easy to follow story, full of action, courage, honor, and why not, some romance as well

[Lisbeth Zabihi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oplæser: Traber Burns. Lige til en start var jeg lidt skeptisk, men blev hurtigt overvundet. Han læser denne type bøger med den helt rigtige stemme.....

Sommerferietid og så skal der være plads til ren hyggelæsning. Og Louis L'Amour er netop hyggelæsning i min optik. Jeg har læste massevis af hans cowboyromaner og er ret vilde med dem og nyder at kaste mig ud i revolverdueller, guldgraverier, kvægavl og store stærke tavse mænd der liiiigggee når at redde den uheldige dame. Kan kun give 5 stjerner, for jeg fik lige det jeg ville have: en stor, tavs cowboy, fjendlighed, en ranch under beskydning og en dame der skulle reddes. Skønt.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was looking for something quick to hold me over on my commute the last few days before vacation. Picked this audiobook up on Hoopla as it had been awhile since I listened to a Western. I feel like I never like them as much as I want. This one seems good and the authors voice added a lot of excitement but it just didn’t grab me and I drifted in and out a bunch so I didn’t get parts of the story. Oh well.

[Mike Bawden · Rating 5 out of 5]

One more outstanding L'Amour novel.

A wild and determined bunch of men in a continuous fight for the minds and hearts of others. Marvelous romance under the surface of the action. To me, above the average of this gifted author. Read and enjoy a tremendous piece of fiction with real-time western experience. I loved it!!

[Sandy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was desperate for a book to listen to on my long drive home and just happened to grab a Lamour book. What a great story teller. Bannon kept my attention and a few parts I was anticipating the next part - I know good wins over evil in his books but I liked the characters and the story was easy to follow.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read a Louis L’Amour before and this was a fun interaction. Gruff good guys, evil villains, steady steeds, determined damsels and some great battles. There’s a line before a big fistfight when the terse Bannon says “stack your duds and grease your skids, coyote,” and I loved it. WTF does that even mean?!?

Traber Burns does a great job narrating for Audible. Bravo.

[Jo Eubanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic L’Amour. Superb writing, descriptive to the point of smelling the dust, or feeling the downpour. I never read a Louis L’Amour book without learning something I had never known. I highly recommend this book!

[Tim Genry · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it wasn’t for Louis L’Amour I’m not sure what I’d have read as a teenager. I decided to pick up this book to see if his boss still appeal to me. I guess they always will. As a boy I watched westerns on TV with my dad. Today these book take me back to those times!

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock Bannon, traveling with a group of settlers run's into suspicion when he disagrees with a slick talking man who talks the settlers into a alternate route to their new homes out west. This is another good book by a great author who has traveled the land he wrote about.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of L’Amour’s books. This one just felt rushed to me. Reading it on Audible while traveling probably didn’t help though. But it just felt like it could have been a bit longer to give the story more time to grow.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to broaden my reading horizens....this was pretty entertaining.

[Keith B · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least my second time reading. This early L'Amour novel displays his burgeoning story telling skills. Abrupt beginning but good none the less. Sets up his formula for many future novels

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible Audiobook

[Sawanna Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only real women are white women according to this book. Brought the mood down.

[david crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way he saw the world is outdated, I think. Still, there is something about the way he crafted a story. Bannon is typical of his work. I found it an enjoyable little western.

[Seth Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The standard "settlers being harassed by evil land-grabbers until a lone gunman saves them" plot. Fine for what it is but nothing genre-breaking.

[Monte Hickingbottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun read that is so characteristic of Louis L'Amour books! I can still remember asking Bro. Ewing how I could prepare to be a preacher. He replied, "Read Louis L'Amour!"

[Jane Bonanni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoyingly written.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your classic western gunslinger story. Nothing philosophical or deep. Just pure entertainment.

[Charles (the booktrovert) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Louis L'amour book. Almost more of a short story. It doesn't really build much on the characters depth or backstory.

No language or sex, some violence.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Autobook. pretty lightweight

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock Bannon is a gunfighter, a hard man who takes no guff from others and usually tends to mind his own business. He was riding along with a wagon train heading west towards California. Three strangers joined the wagon train; Morton Harper a smooth-talking well-groomed man, Zapata a well-known killer, and one other hand. Over the next couple of days, Harper had talked the pioneers into settling in a nearby valley instead of continuing to California. Bannon was very familiar with that valley that had been settled by Hardy Bishop ten years ago, ran two thousand head of cattle on the lush grassland, and would not stand settlers moving in. Bannon warned the pioneers but Harper convinced them there would be no trouble. The story continues, relating the troubles between Harper, the settlers, Bishop, and Bannon. There’s a romance of course between Sharon Crockett, daughter of one of the settlers, and Bannon. It’s a good story. The difference between the writing of L’Amour, Zane Grey, and Max Brand is noticeable. I love L’Amour’s writing. It is more descriptive and colorful than other western writers. He can capture your imagination and bring you right into the tale like no other. Enjoy!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the L'Amour books in which the hero doesn't necessarily start out thinking to be a hero, but then grows into the role because of his strong sense of honor and right.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bannon" is a great short western. Most of L'Amour's classic characteristics are featured here but rarely in such great concert: a young male protagonist trying to find his way in the world, a young female love interest who is similarly trying to live right and honestly but stuck in a situation that doesn't present all the facts or opportunities, a classic antagonist who we know is trouble from the start but whom the other characters in the tale have varying opinions towards, an aging pioneer who is stubborn but just, and a remote western wilderness that is at times awe-inspiring and at others terrifying.

Rock Bannon starts this tale having joined up with a wagon train headed west. The folks on this wagon train are all stricken with varying degrees of intelligence, skills, and naivete, among whom is the beautiful Sharon Crockett, who he instantly takes a liking to. As events unfold, this group of tired settlers descend on a valley owned by an old pioneer with a large cattle operation named Hardy Bishop and the two groups come into conflict.

Verdict: A perfect short read. L'Amour never stays in one narrative zone for too long and he moves this tale from event to event with perfect reflection and due pacing and hits all the right notes for an entertaining, thrilling read. Good as it gets.

Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG