Riders of the Dawn: A Western Duo

by Louis L'Amour

“Ride, You Tonto Raiders”

Matt Sabre is a young and experienced gunfighter—but not a trouble seeker. But when Billy Curtin calls him a liar and goes for his gun, Matt has no choice but to draw and fire. To his surprise, the dying man gives him $5,000 and begs him to take the money to his wife, who is alone in defending the family ranch in the Mogollons. A combination of guilt, regret, and wanting to do the right thing leads Sabre to make that ride.

“Riders of the Dawn”

A young gunslinger is changed for the better by a meeting a beautiful woman. A classic range-war Western, this novel features that powerful, romantic, strangely compelling vision of the American West for which L’Amour’s fiction is known. In the author’s words, “It was a land where nothing was small, nothing was simple. Everything, the lives of men and the stories they told, ran to extremes.”

This story is one of Louis L’Amour’s early creations that have long been a source of speculation and curiosity among his fans. Early in his career, L’Amour wrote a number of novel-length stories for the pulps. Long after they were out of print, the characters of these early stories still haunted him. It was by revising and expanding these stories that L’Amour would create his first novels.

Genres: Westerns, Audiobook, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Historical, American

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1951

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

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

My roommate back in college would knock out a L’Amour book in a day, before I was a reader, so I’ve always been curious. This is one of the author’s early works and is really two stories in one book.

We didn’t have audio books back then so, by default, I think he got it right. This would’ve been better as a physical book vs. Audible. The descriptions are fairly concise so it’s difficult to take it all in when you’re doing anything else, and the narrator in story #2 wasn’t the right choice.

Plenty of L’Amour books to chose from in the future - I’ll plan to read instead of listen. Just don’t tell my former roommate… it’ll go straight to his head.

[Chris B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the audio book version. The narrators were pretty good and made it easy to listen to. It was probably a better story than I rated it, which was only 3star because I was reminded that I don’t really like westerns, especially ones written in the 1940’s. There was just plain too much violence for me, way too many fist fights that were so enjoyed by the main character. I’m sure this was just because of the era it was written in but for me it didn’t work.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riders of the Dawn: A Western Duo presents two of Louis L'Amour's early pulp fiction stories and are narrated well by new to me Stefan Rudnicki and long time favorite, Jim Gough.

The first story, 'Ride, You Tonto Raiders!' is about a gunslinging Matt Sabre who is on a mission to give a widow and her little boy the five thousand dollars her dying husband entrusted to him. Matt is the man's killer. Billy Curtin was on the prod and drew on someone faster. Matt has a sense of honor and a stubbornness in him so he takes on the task. He plans to drop the money off and ride on, but then a few bullies warn him off and order him to leave the situation be. Of course, this makes him stay and helps the widow defend her small ranch against the vultures.

Riders of the Dawn, a precursor to the later novel that his developed from it, Silver Canyon, is about a wandering cowboy who is really good with his guns. He comes into town and heads to the bar to get a drink, but finds himself prodded to take sides in a local cattle range war. One look at one of the combatant's gorgeous daughter and Matt buys into the game. He thumbs his nose at the two big outfits trying for the small ranch's water-rich range and takes up with the long shot. Meanwhile, there is a shadowy play being made behind it all and Matt has to fight a boiling range war and figure out what the mysterious Morgan Park is up to or a lot of good people are going to end up dead, including him.

The first tale, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki has a more serious, weary tone to the main character's telling of the story. He's seen a lot of trail in his day and knows men. He is one of the few who respects the man he was forced to kill and sees Billy and the others at the ranch as good people and better than him even if he's the tough guy defending them.

In the second tale, this hero has a devil-may-care merriment to him that Jim Gough captures well, but underneath he is tough and will stick even when he has no chance, or so it seems. I got a kick out of his flirtatious manner with Olga McClaren. And, I enjoyed when he was working with his Irish sidekick and told of his travels as a soldier of fortune knocking about the world.

Two fabulous westerns that drew me in and told a good story.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riders of the Dawn and Ride, You Tonto Raiders were thought to be pulp stories originally, but L'Amour expanded them into short novels. Both are typical L'Amour, although not his best. Lots of action and gunplay, haunted, damaged characters who are redeemed by their experiences in the west; a perhaps surprisingly romantic tone; a sense of place as the West, rather than actual identified locations; heroes fighting for characters in need. Enjoyable on audio.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two short stories involving Matt Sabre. The first finds Matt taking $5000.00 to the widow of the man he gunned down in a fair fight, and helps her keep her ranch. The second tale finds Matt involved in a range war after he decides to put down stakes and start a ranch, and find himself a wife and raise a family.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it’d be nice to listen to a Western on this cold Winter day. The narrator had a perfect cowboy drawl & the story was short & fun. I enjoyed this more than I expected.

[John Reis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt Sabre is a former soldier looking to settle down. He enters town, turns down a few jobs and finds himself enemy to both sides of a range war. He meets Olga McLaren, the daughter of one of the ranchers. He decides that he will marry her. He tells her so. He is beaten by Morgan Park who plans to marry her himself.

He goes to work for a third rancher in the area, who leaves his ranch to Matt when he is dying from gunshot wounds.

Sabre is ambushed and shot. For weeks, he hides in the mountains recuperating. He rebuilds his strength and then confronts Park. They beat each other to a standstill.

Meanwhile, there is another wrinkle. Someone is claiming ownership of his ranch and the McLaren’s ranch.

This is a short novel. Sabre is likeable. He is bold and assertive, unlike most of L’Amour’s reticent cowboys. There are too many characters mentioned. I could not get the cowboys of each rancher straight in my head.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing too extraordinary to be found here. Basically a three way struggle to control a town and the surrounding cattle ranges. There was a bit of a murder mystery vibe to it which was pretty interesting. They way the protagonist basically tells the love interest she’ll marry him certainly wouldn’t fly today.

Narrator lost a star for pronouncing the author’s name LEWIS L’Amour and for the Irishman sounding like a Russian lol

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble loving young man finds himself right at home in the middle of a ranch war,just for fun and then for a woman and then for a man who owns the victimized third ranch. His goal is a good fight. This was a good read.

[Richard Azia]

I read this as an audiobook during my walks. I find these books fun. It takes us to a different era, before cars and fast transport, when distances were measured by horses and time spent walking. I am learning to appreciate this genre.

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Think You're the Best

In both stories we are definitely left with the knowledge that when you think more of yourself than you actually are, you will find very quickly there is somebody way better than yourself. Excellent stories that captivate the mind and spirit of the old west. Once you start you can't put it down

[Maggie Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I’ve read my first western! Part of the Libby Read Harder 2018 Reading Challenge. This book was non stop action from the first page to the last! The classic “western” lines were so much fun. A super quick read, too!

[Vijayakumar Belur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our hero is as usual intelligent, upright and a fast gun. He can take a beating and a bullet and yet survive to be fit in a few days. It has all the ingredients of a B grade holywood western and visually appealing.

[Cindy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean, has substance, well plotted, and an entertaining narration. Substance is character and morality. When the world’s crazy, I read these types of stories and the world is even-keeled again. And, if your children can read this (vocabulary) they have a good start on real education.

[Rick Farlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHIRP AUDIOBOOK

I’ve always enjoyed the western writing style of Louis L’Amour. This one I listened to as an audiobook and the narration was excellent (Jim Gough and Stephan Rudnicki). Lots of action, mystery and a storyline designed to ignite the imagination! RECOMMENDED.

[Kenneth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This duo of Western stories disappointed me.
The first story started off alright, but the it just dropped off quickly and ended abruptly and predictably.
The second story starts out loud with a bunch of cowboys trash talking each other , and it quickly lost my interest.

[Mike Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistent

I always enjoy Mr L’Amour books and this one did not disappoint. The hero is always tough and handsome and wins the battles. And there is always the lady who is won and she is beautiful! Read it and enjoy, friends!

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I liked how it ended and how he went from the beginning to the end.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps this is quintessential Western, but it comes across as soooo cliche.

[Jim Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has all the elements of a western, but just that. You can tell it's one of his earlier works, but still worth a listen.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, especially at the end. A change of life, and a new life.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite all-time author.

I recommend any book he wrote.

[Lazarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant. A lovely, brilliant, action-packed wild west gunslinging time. Mr L'Amour brings it all to life in my mind and, as of yet, think he's in a class all by himself.

[Stephen Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My cowboy itch needed scratching, and this definitely hit the spot. Not one of L'amour's best works, but a perfectly fun way to spend a couple of hours.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Todd Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good one but more raw than others by the author.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to re-read this one.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit too romantic for my taste, but a good yarn as per usual with Louis L'amour.