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The Shot Rang Out: 52 Western Short Stories
52 Western writers. 52 Western short stories. All starting with the same 18 The shot rang out. I heard her scream at the same time the bottle crashed to the floor. These micro-shorts (they’re each 500 words long) scatter off into 52 fascinating, action-filled directions, no two alike. Bourbon bottles and gunfights? How about medicine bottles and horrible news? Or maybe bottles filled with printing ink and a town bully who doesn’t like the local newspaper? You got 'em – and more! You can race through these great stories or savor them, but either way, you’ll love seeing how different and creative 52 writers can be.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2018
64 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Scott Harris
132 books22 followersAward-winning and best-selling Western author Scott Harris is a lifelong Western enthusiast who traces his love of Western fiction back to his childhood days of reading Louis L’Amour novels.
Harris has published ten novels in the past year, along with two collections of short stories and a variety of other fiction and nonfiction Westerns.
The Brock Clemons Western Series follows the tale of Brock Clemons and his journey into the West accompanied by his horse, “Horse,” and wolf, “Wolf.” The Brock Clemons story — especially when he is joined by his new wife, Sophie and his adopted son, Huck — is one of bravery, adventure and romance, transporting readers back to a time when chivalry, courage and gunfights ruled the day in the West.
Harris’ second series, Caz: Vigilante Hunter, is a different take on the Western genre. With gun in hand, Caz blasts his way through the bad guys to bring peace and justice to the Old West!
Caz is looking for two things: the perfect breakfast and men who think they’re above the law. He hasn’t yet found a breakfast to match what his mom used to make, but there’s a trail of dead men behind him that shows he’s having no trouble finding bad men.
Harris also authors the well regarded 52 Weeks Series, the Western Adventure Series and the 500 Word Micro Short Series. Additionally, he is about to release A Novel Journey, a non-fiction book about writing your own Western novel and recently released Six Gun Pardners, a book a he co-authored with his son, Justin. He is also soon releasing the first novel in his newest series, Stagecoach Willy.
Harris, who loves nothing more (except for his family!) than settling into his hammock with a glass of bourbon, a cigar and a great Western, has created a Western world filled with fascinating and exciting characters and he hopes you enjoy reading about them as much as he does writing about them.
Enjoy!
Harris has published ten novels in the past year, along with two collections of short stories and a variety of other fiction and nonfiction Westerns.
The Brock Clemons Western Series follows the tale of Brock Clemons and his journey into the West accompanied by his horse, “Horse,” and wolf, “Wolf.” The Brock Clemons story — especially when he is joined by his new wife, Sophie and his adopted son, Huck — is one of bravery, adventure and romance, transporting readers back to a time when chivalry, courage and gunfights ruled the day in the West.
Harris’ second series, Caz: Vigilante Hunter, is a different take on the Western genre. With gun in hand, Caz blasts his way through the bad guys to bring peace and justice to the Old West!
Caz is looking for two things: the perfect breakfast and men who think they’re above the law. He hasn’t yet found a breakfast to match what his mom used to make, but there’s a trail of dead men behind him that shows he’s having no trouble finding bad men.
Harris also authors the well regarded 52 Weeks Series, the Western Adventure Series and the 500 Word Micro Short Series. Additionally, he is about to release A Novel Journey, a non-fiction book about writing your own Western novel and recently released Six Gun Pardners, a book a he co-authored with his son, Justin. He is also soon releasing the first novel in his newest series, Stagecoach Willy.
Harris, who loves nothing more (except for his family!) than settling into his hammock with a glass of bourbon, a cigar and a great Western, has created a Western world filled with fascinating and exciting characters and he hopes you enjoy reading about them as much as he does writing about them.
Enjoy!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 10, 2018
I'll say right up front that I have a story in this anthology. I'm not reviewing my story, though, but the other 51 stories in the anthology. These are all exactly 500 words, and written around the same prompt. There are some well known authors here as well as newcomers, but I enjoyed all the tales and didn't find a clunker in the bunch. You'll find a full range of stories, from the humorous to the supernatural. Although I liked all the tales, I always have my favorites in any anthology I read. Here are some of mine from "The Shot Rang out," though not in any particular rank order.
West of the West, by Paul Bishop -- A story involving a writer of Penny Dreadfuls, and someone who better learn how to write them. Very inventive.
One Last Job, by Richard Prosch -- a personification of the phrase, "luck of the draw." A surprising tale.
Spectres at the Feast, by Andrew McBride -- a tale that happens in one final moment of a life. Very fine ending.
This is a a fun collection and a quick read. Even though I only mentioned three specific tales above, there are many more memorable pieces in the book. Enjoy!
West of the West, by Paul Bishop -- A story involving a writer of Penny Dreadfuls, and someone who better learn how to write them. Very inventive.
One Last Job, by Richard Prosch -- a personification of the phrase, "luck of the draw." A surprising tale.
Spectres at the Feast, by Andrew McBride -- a tale that happens in one final moment of a life. Very fine ending.
This is a a fun collection and a quick read. Even though I only mentioned three specific tales above, there are many more memorable pieces in the book. Enjoy!
May 14, 2018
Playful, original and surprising.
Acclaimed novelist SCOTT HARRIS set himself and 51 other authors the challenge of coming up with a 500 word short story with the same 18 word prompt. I’m one of these authors but I’m not reviewing my contribution. One thing this anthology illustrates is the variety within the Western genre, something that has kept it alive for decades. And how many of these authors skilfully sidestep or eschew clichés to produce original and surprising work. Certainly there’s a lot of saloons and gambling, including a lady gambler who bets a bottle of Napoleon brandy. But there’s myth-makers too – Wild West shows, travelling players, dime novel writers alongside real western characters like Mark Twain, Calamity Jane and Doc Holliday. We go from the humorous to the charming to the dark. From the action-packed – ‘Easy Work’ by RICK BREEDEN – to JOHN WHALEN’s ‘The Mescalero Incident’ with its sci-fi and horror elements. We have Mormons, lady outlaws and mail-order brides. Stories seen from the viewpoint of women, children and – in the case of LINDA HERMES’ ‘Hoot’n’Holler’ - two mules. VIC ANDERSON writes of the modern west. We get great opening lines – STEPHEN BURCKHARDT’s ‘The heat was weighing on me like death on a corpse’ - and mean punchlines. But CHERYL PIERSON bravely dispenses with a punch line and shows a short story can still hit the mark without one. ERIC HARPER definitely has the best title. PATRICK MULDOON gives us a poem. Whilst some tales are ‘miniatures’ intensely focussed on one small incident, others like MICHAEL RITT’s ‘The Siren Song of Texas’ effectively pack a novel’s worth into 500 words. If I was to list all the stories I liked this would be the world’s longest review. It’s difficult to pick favourites from among so many goodies, but three have particularly registered so far:
‘The Long Ride’ by TYLER BOONE flirts with the otherworldly. An outlaw on the run finds himself drinking – literally – in the ‘last chance saloon.’
‘One Last Job’ by RICHARD PROSCH. A lawman burying the pain of loss in alcohol decides to resolve the issue one way, but events steer him to another.
And ‘What Beats Three of a Kind’ by PAUL THOMAS which makes absolutely every word count.
Overall a collection of diverse thinkers having fun, and deceptively quick tales that reveal new layers each time you visit. Recommended.
Acclaimed novelist SCOTT HARRIS set himself and 51 other authors the challenge of coming up with a 500 word short story with the same 18 word prompt. I’m one of these authors but I’m not reviewing my contribution. One thing this anthology illustrates is the variety within the Western genre, something that has kept it alive for decades. And how many of these authors skilfully sidestep or eschew clichés to produce original and surprising work. Certainly there’s a lot of saloons and gambling, including a lady gambler who bets a bottle of Napoleon brandy. But there’s myth-makers too – Wild West shows, travelling players, dime novel writers alongside real western characters like Mark Twain, Calamity Jane and Doc Holliday. We go from the humorous to the charming to the dark. From the action-packed – ‘Easy Work’ by RICK BREEDEN – to JOHN WHALEN’s ‘The Mescalero Incident’ with its sci-fi and horror elements. We have Mormons, lady outlaws and mail-order brides. Stories seen from the viewpoint of women, children and – in the case of LINDA HERMES’ ‘Hoot’n’Holler’ - two mules. VIC ANDERSON writes of the modern west. We get great opening lines – STEPHEN BURCKHARDT’s ‘The heat was weighing on me like death on a corpse’ - and mean punchlines. But CHERYL PIERSON bravely dispenses with a punch line and shows a short story can still hit the mark without one. ERIC HARPER definitely has the best title. PATRICK MULDOON gives us a poem. Whilst some tales are ‘miniatures’ intensely focussed on one small incident, others like MICHAEL RITT’s ‘The Siren Song of Texas’ effectively pack a novel’s worth into 500 words. If I was to list all the stories I liked this would be the world’s longest review. It’s difficult to pick favourites from among so many goodies, but three have particularly registered so far:
‘The Long Ride’ by TYLER BOONE flirts with the otherworldly. An outlaw on the run finds himself drinking – literally – in the ‘last chance saloon.’
‘One Last Job’ by RICHARD PROSCH. A lawman burying the pain of loss in alcohol decides to resolve the issue one way, but events steer him to another.
And ‘What Beats Three of a Kind’ by PAUL THOMAS which makes absolutely every word count.
Overall a collection of diverse thinkers having fun, and deceptively quick tales that reveal new layers each time you visit. Recommended.
May 15, 2018
Enjoyed all of these short storied, as the was certainly enough variation to appease anyone's desire. Some I would have liked to be a full novel, and others, though short, certainly kept my immediate attention.
Very worthy of five stars, as all of the author's did an excellent job with each and every individual escapade. All the storylines, as well as the selected characters, well represented the full intent of each individual author.
Most of the authors were unfamiliar to me, but that had no I'll effect on my enjoying the individual stories.
I have no problem recommending this interesting set of stories to all of you who enjoy a variety of old western entertainment, as I am sure you will be well entertained.
Very worthy of five stars, as all of the author's did an excellent job with each and every individual escapade. All the storylines, as well as the selected characters, well represented the full intent of each individual author.
Most of the authors were unfamiliar to me, but that had no I'll effect on my enjoying the individual stories.
I have no problem recommending this interesting set of stories to all of you who enjoy a variety of old western entertainment, as I am sure you will be well entertained.
July 7, 2018
A fun and remarkable collection of 52 flash/micro fiction short stories, most of them very good, each one different and revealing the unique voice of each writer. I love the concept for this collection and am thankful to Scott Harris for putting this together. I would like to see more of this type of work. Short stories, and especially Western short stories, have been lacking a visible stage for a long time.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews