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Desert Crossing
Book by Short, Luke
- GenresWesterns
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
About the author
Luke Short
128 books36 followersLuke 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2015
Every now and then I like to take a break from my current readings (military history) and go in a very different direction. An unexpected change of direction can be fun and help recharge the batteries. The western novel is one of those directions that I like to go on now and again. Bubblegum for the brain and what's wrong with that?
Another reviewer here on Goodreads has described the Western as the male equivalent to the romance novel. Both genres have a set number of stereotypical characters, five or six (eight?) recycled plot-lines and a nice comfortable sameness to them. Change the names and maybe a few details (the male hero is forty instead of thirty, blonde instead of brunette and so on) and you have a Western. That's an excellent comparison - very astute.
Published in 1961 ,at the height of the Western's popularity in the United States, "Desert Crossing" is nothing new. Our resourceful and laconic hero has to get several wagons of Army rifles ,and other supplies, through Indian held territory in the Arizona territory in the early 1880's. At first he wants nothing to do with the job. He's a civilian in charge of the freight itself. There are Army troops along for security, but in a just a few pages it's obvious that the people in charge are either incompetent or get themselves killed (that's not totally true. There is an Army Lieutenant who does a good job) leaving our hero no choice but to step up. Of course he does so and quickly proves himself to be brave and very capable. Naturally this he-man of the Southwest wins over the heart of our beautiful lass from the civilized and soft East (guess the 700,000 folks who recently died in the Civil War ,fought mostly in the "soft" Eastern part of the U.S., were just a bunch of wimps) and she falls in love with him in about three or four hours. It's hardly a spoiler to tell you that there is a happy ending. This is not a genre that is part of the Post-modern school of writing. It's old-school pulp-fiction (though in 1960 it would just been a cheap paperback novel) and sometimes I just want something chewy.
Frederick Dilley Glidden (aka Luke short) was a pulp-fiction writer. He started writing in the 1930's and continued to write right up until his death in 1975. If he ever had any regrets that he never wrote the Great American Novel or was unable to contribute to Humanity's understanding of the Human Condition it was never recorded. Say what you will about his choice of genre the man was one of those professional writers who was very good at what he did (see Dean Koontz) and gave his fans what they wanted.
Desert Crossing is entertaining. There is no irony or cynicism or Post-Modern Existentialist Dread running through the story. It's an action novel set in the late 1800's in the Arizona Territory. The physical details are competently described and you feel the heat and dirt. Glidden does a good job of transporting you to this setting and keeps you turning the pages until the story is done. At 155 pages it's a very fast read and I literally ripped through it in a few hours. There are a few cliches, but not as nearly as you might expect. Glidden might have read his share of Zane Grey, but he came of age in the mid-Twentieth Century and his writing style is not like Grey's late Victorian/Edwardian scribblings. The writing is more relaxed and stays away from the sexual and racial cliches that can be found in Grey's novels.
Alright so my batteries are now recharged. I've had my break. Time to charge back into 1944 and the chaos and destruction of World War II. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll look for a detective novel next.
Another reviewer here on Goodreads has described the Western as the male equivalent to the romance novel. Both genres have a set number of stereotypical characters, five or six (eight?) recycled plot-lines and a nice comfortable sameness to them. Change the names and maybe a few details (the male hero is forty instead of thirty, blonde instead of brunette and so on) and you have a Western. That's an excellent comparison - very astute.
Published in 1961 ,at the height of the Western's popularity in the United States, "Desert Crossing" is nothing new. Our resourceful and laconic hero has to get several wagons of Army rifles ,and other supplies, through Indian held territory in the Arizona territory in the early 1880's. At first he wants nothing to do with the job. He's a civilian in charge of the freight itself. There are Army troops along for security, but in a just a few pages it's obvious that the people in charge are either incompetent or get themselves killed (that's not totally true. There is an Army Lieutenant who does a good job) leaving our hero no choice but to step up. Of course he does so and quickly proves himself to be brave and very capable. Naturally this he-man of the Southwest wins over the heart of our beautiful lass from the civilized and soft East (guess the 700,000 folks who recently died in the Civil War ,fought mostly in the "soft" Eastern part of the U.S., were just a bunch of wimps) and she falls in love with him in about three or four hours. It's hardly a spoiler to tell you that there is a happy ending. This is not a genre that is part of the Post-modern school of writing. It's old-school pulp-fiction (though in 1960 it would just been a cheap paperback novel) and sometimes I just want something chewy.
Frederick Dilley Glidden (aka Luke short) was a pulp-fiction writer. He started writing in the 1930's and continued to write right up until his death in 1975. If he ever had any regrets that he never wrote the Great American Novel or was unable to contribute to Humanity's understanding of the Human Condition it was never recorded. Say what you will about his choice of genre the man was one of those professional writers who was very good at what he did (see Dean Koontz) and gave his fans what they wanted.
Desert Crossing is entertaining. There is no irony or cynicism or Post-Modern Existentialist Dread running through the story. It's an action novel set in the late 1800's in the Arizona Territory. The physical details are competently described and you feel the heat and dirt. Glidden does a good job of transporting you to this setting and keeps you turning the pages until the story is done. At 155 pages it's a very fast read and I literally ripped through it in a few hours. There are a few cliches, but not as nearly as you might expect. Glidden might have read his share of Zane Grey, but he came of age in the mid-Twentieth Century and his writing style is not like Grey's late Victorian/Edwardian scribblings. The writing is more relaxed and stays away from the sexual and racial cliches that can be found in Grey's novels.
Alright so my batteries are now recharged. I've had my break. Time to charge back into 1944 and the chaos and destruction of World War II. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll look for a detective novel next.
May 22, 2013
Book #11 from The Little Free Library: I had never read a Western and frankly, I was fairly certain I would go to my grave never reading a Western. But my neighbor generously donated 8 of his favorite Westerns to the library. It was obvious he loved these books. He talked in detail about each one and learning I had not read them, offered to loan me his second copy of each book that remained at his home. There was no way out. I had to read a Western.
It immediately became clear to me that Westerns are a male version of a romance novel. Bear with me- romance novels are written about the stereotypical ideal woman and her equally stereotypical ideal mate, from a woman's point of view. This appeared to be a stereotypical ideal male from a man's point of view. Our cowboy was 35, laconic, intelligent but not educated, tough but fair. The enemies were the "injuns" and thieves who lacked morals. Reading it brought back memories of Sunday afternoon movies aired on WGN.
Yes, it had some racism and sexism; but, surprisingly, not as much as I believed it would have. In fact, after numerous referrals to the "bloodthirsty" Apaches, the last few pages finally acquiesced that they were better than the thieves because they killed to protect their homeland.
I was also surprised how it easy it was to read and get lost in this story. Stereotypical or not, what's not to like about the laconic, moral cowboy? The action was fast-paced and not predictable page by page, leading me to actually seek out this book during down times. A love story was hastily added, giving it the feel of an editor asking for it. The story could easily have survived equally as strong without it, and I believe stronger.
It immediately became clear to me that Westerns are a male version of a romance novel. Bear with me- romance novels are written about the stereotypical ideal woman and her equally stereotypical ideal mate, from a woman's point of view. This appeared to be a stereotypical ideal male from a man's point of view. Our cowboy was 35, laconic, intelligent but not educated, tough but fair. The enemies were the "injuns" and thieves who lacked morals. Reading it brought back memories of Sunday afternoon movies aired on WGN.
Yes, it had some racism and sexism; but, surprisingly, not as much as I believed it would have. In fact, after numerous referrals to the "bloodthirsty" Apaches, the last few pages finally acquiesced that they were better than the thieves because they killed to protect their homeland.
I was also surprised how it easy it was to read and get lost in this story. Stereotypical or not, what's not to like about the laconic, moral cowboy? The action was fast-paced and not predictable page by page, leading me to actually seek out this book during down times. A love story was hastily added, giving it the feel of an editor asking for it. The story could easily have survived equally as strong without it, and I believe stronger.
May 11, 2023
I still haven't read a bad Short novel. This one has a fairly simple plot, a small squad of soldiers and teamsters are crossing a bad stretch of country, part of their haul are 150 rifles for the fort. A large band of thieves want those rifles to sell, they are led by a former sgt who is pretending to be so again as a sort of trojan horse. However what the thieves don't know is that the man who owns the freighting outfit is a former Captain in the army and is a very good man in a fight.
Highly recommended, not the best of Short's works I've read but a very good tale.
Highly recommended, not the best of Short's works I've read but a very good tale.
December 7, 2021
A good western story with compelling, interesting main characters. A freight hauling company is hired by the U.S. Army to haul a shipment of new rifles from Ehrenburg to Fort Whipple in Arizona. The passage through the desert will take several days. There are a few subplots that seem unconnected that all eventually come together as the action picks up in the desert when the wagon train is attacked by a gang intending to take the guns and sell them in Mexico. The freight company owner, Dave Harmon, is a recently retired Army Captain who left the service due to a damaged eye which now needs a patch over it. Dave along with the escorting cavalry patrol officer, Lieutenant Overman, lead this freight train of wagons through the desert. Also, along for the trip is Fort Whipple’s commanding officer’s daughter, who is rejoining her family in the West now that her schooling is done in the East. Plenty of western action and suspense as the gang of outlaws tangle with the wagon train freighters and cavalry escort, with the desert environment figuring into the moves and countermoves of the two competing forces.
March 18, 2019
Still working through my late father's collection of paperbacks, I just finished one of the many Luke Short westerns that have sat for years among the police procedurals, hard-boiled detective novels, and spy thrillers that my dad bought and read by the boatload.
Desert Crossing was published in 1961, the heyday of the American western, the genre that dominated film and television when I was growing up. The short novel drops a handful of archetypal characters—a hardened hero who conducts himself with stoic dignity, a strong and competent woman comfortable in the company of men, a lowlife army deserter consumed with greed, etc.—into the brutal environment of the desert southwest and, with the good guys escorting a wagon train loaded with freight, including several cases of rifles, and the bad guys intent on stealing said rifles, an enjoyable, though predictable, story ensues. Desert Crossing is a fun and fast read.
Desert Crossing was published in 1961, the heyday of the American western, the genre that dominated film and television when I was growing up. The short novel drops a handful of archetypal characters—a hardened hero who conducts himself with stoic dignity, a strong and competent woman comfortable in the company of men, a lowlife army deserter consumed with greed, etc.—into the brutal environment of the desert southwest and, with the good guys escorting a wagon train loaded with freight, including several cases of rifles, and the bad guys intent on stealing said rifles, an enjoyable, though predictable, story ensues. Desert Crossing is a fun and fast read.
November 3, 2020
I love the classic western where the good guy has to battle not only the desert but the enemy snapping at his feet. Desert Crossing is a title that sounds like it would be that kind of story...it's more like a glass, not half full, but a quarter full of what I was looking for.
The story is about a small Army troop and a trader making a short journey to a nearby Fort. The group is being followed, and attacked, and infiltrated, by a band of bandits who want a case of rifles.
The pace of the book is fairly slow. There is a lot of sitting around discussing strategies. The motivation of some of the characters is very weak as well.
There is a bit of the 'survival in the desert' situation that I was expecting, and looking for. The heat, the lack of water, that kind of thing. And, overall the story, although short, was decent. I think the problem was there were too many characters, and none of them were fleshed out enough to really grab my attention or sentimentality.
I have read a couple of Luke Short books, and I have a couple more in my library, so I will continue reading them.
You can get a copy for like $4 - https://amzn.to/2I0lLzz
The story is about a small Army troop and a trader making a short journey to a nearby Fort. The group is being followed, and attacked, and infiltrated, by a band of bandits who want a case of rifles.
The pace of the book is fairly slow. There is a lot of sitting around discussing strategies. The motivation of some of the characters is very weak as well.
There is a bit of the 'survival in the desert' situation that I was expecting, and looking for. The heat, the lack of water, that kind of thing. And, overall the story, although short, was decent. I think the problem was there were too many characters, and none of them were fleshed out enough to really grab my attention or sentimentality.
I have read a couple of Luke Short books, and I have a couple more in my library, so I will continue reading them.
You can get a copy for like $4 - https://amzn.to/2I0lLzz
February 13, 2021
I really enjoy Louis L'Amour. Well, this is my first Luke Short and I wasn't expecting much. On Goodreads, this shows up pretty far down the list. Lets just say I purchased a half dozen more of books. If this is middle of the road for him, I'm all in. Yeah, the characters are painted with broad strokes. Yeah, its a fast read. If this is your genre, you won't be disappointed.
October 10, 2018
A Luke Short western about A semi retired Army Scout who has taken a job as a freighter because he knows the area he is going into plus there are a few Indians that like him and vice versa. He plans on no problems, but prepared for the worst. He and his men are well equipped and heavily armed. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
September 3, 2010
I liked it pretty well. Maybe 3 and a half stars. It had a good pace and good characters. I thought it ended a bit easily but that wasn't too much of a problem. I've always found Luke Short to be solid, if not absolutely outstanding.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews