Barren Land Showdown

by Luke Short

Frank Nearing is trying to keep secret a gold mine discovery in Northwest Canada, but gets involved with a group of thugs who are illegally strychnine-poisoning animals to get their furs. Because they learn about his mine, he keeps their illegal trapping a secret so they won't reveal his secret. But after an accidental murder by the trappers, Frank has to evade the Mounties who are hot on the trail.

Genres: Westerns

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1940

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

[Jason Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've finished a book in 2 days. While I enjoy tomes, there's nothing quite like reading these old 200 or less page paperbacks.

This is the first Luke Short non-Western I've read, though he is one of my favorite Western authors. This is a Jack London-ish northern adventure mystery that's got a lot of moving parts. It's a fun chess game with lots of striking characters, motivations, subterfuge, and action. It's actually rather dark, there's a mean streak running through much of it. There's also a lot of 1940's U.S./Canadian border vernacular and turns of phrases that are rather clever and mostly phased out of use. This is a muckers book, with fisticuffs galore. Short did sneak in a bit of romance at the very tail though. Not a must-read, but a rather strong and exciting men's adventure.

[Thomas Burchfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke Short was one of best genre novelists of his time, a Dashiell Hammett on horseback. He wrote many fine exciting novels but this one is in the middle of the pack for me. Set in 1940s Alaska, it tells a Londonesque yarn of miners, murderers and with even a little espionage. The cover of this Gold Signet edition is misleading, leading the reader to expect some sort of serial killer story, which it's not.

[Murrel Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Headline (required)

Once again, a book written by author Luke Short. A little disappointed in this one. Just not the same as his westerns. But that’s okay. I start something, I finish it. Let’s just see what is next from this author.

[Mike Debaptiste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for books about the Northwest, as in northwestern Canada in the fur-trapping days. This one was originally a serial in an adventure pulp magazine in the late thirties and later put in book form in the fifties. It's written by Luke Short, whose western novels sold over 30 million copies last century. Frank Nearing is trying to keep secret a gold mine discovery but gets involved with a group of thugs who are strychnine-poisoning animals to get their furs, which is illegal. Because they learn about his mine, he keeps their illegal trapping a secret so they won't tell on him. But then complications arise when one of the group puts strychnine in food meant for one guy, but the wrong guy gets it. Enter the Mounties to solve the murder and it's an all-out northwestern thriller. Adventure stories about northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan were very popular in the first half of the twentieth century, almost always featuring the Northwest Mounted Police.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Luke Short Modern Western/Canada/An Old Mine/Saboteurs

LS has penned a modern western, Korean War era, about a man who found knew more in an old mine. He has to wait two years to reclaim the site. During that time he hides people for short times for money. The Mounties are watching him and when anything goes wrong they look for him. There are many problems for this man to solve before he can get to his mine. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DzeHS

[Jay Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book made from a series in a magazine. It takes place in the Korean War in the Northwest territories. It is action packed, but there is little development of the characters. As I said it is short (176 pages). If you like Jack London, this is similar.

[Franklin D.]

I like westerns and Luke Short westerns are among the best. Barren Land. Showdown is not a western per se. It is a northern, but has all the elements of a western as well as mystery, intrigue, and adventure. It is a terrific book. The protagonist in this story is not a hero. He has his own addenda protecting a secret that he must keep until he an file legally on land worth a fortune. He must deal with a man of mystery, conniving women, schemers and the Canadian Mounties. All of theses elements weave a compelling story that is different from the usual western fare. Also this story is set in the 1950s when the Cold War and fear of communism was at its height. Once again Frederick Glidden alias Luke Short brings it home.