Killer's Breed

Edge #4

by George G. Gilman

It wasn't the way he was born or brought up. Something happened. Something that turned him, mind and soul, into a case-hardened man. His was a life shaped by death. He was a man alone, living by his own personal code, and committed to violence as a means of survival.

In this, the fourth chapter of his story, we see how Josiah Hedges, now known as Edge, brought his vicious brand of combat into the carnage we've come to refer as our civil war, and survivors of both sides were left with the feeling that this was a man fighting a war of his own. 

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

A pseudonym used by Terry Harknett.

Edge (61 books as George G. Gilman)
Adam Steele (49 books as George G. Gilman)
Edge Meets Adam Steele (3 books as George G. Gilman)
The Undertaker (6 books as George G. Gilman)

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent battle scenes.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in the 70s - Edge has been injured and he's having flashbacks to his time during the Civil War.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

After losing a million dollars worth of bullion Edge escaped with his life. The wound he obtained now was on the verge of becoming gangrenous, his nose could detect the stink. He wanted to return once more to his home, the only driving force keeping him alive. Edge will start to have flashbacks as he is being cared for of his septic abomination in his neck, as the blade went into his neck, yellow and green pus spurted out with a poisonous/nauseating stench and the bullet was removed. Edge dreams about becoming a lieutenant only because he was a good shot and he could read and write. His first battle he was truly scared, as he rode into the battle the troop behind him was shot, blood poured into the man behind him who vomited and was then shot in his open mouth with the bullet exiting his cheek. Edge was able to get a victory but was profoundly changed. More harden. One officer who was disliked by his troops had his ankle hacked off and the severed part kicked into the woods flying through the air. Edge will make captain and through his war years will become an indestructible killing machine, a loner.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done story, though I think it my least liked one in the series so far. Basically the whole book is a flashback to his Civil War days. He was carrying a nasty wound to his neck when we left him in the third book and in his delirious stupor he headed home but wasn't his home anymore. The women there took care of him and healed him but while in his delirious state he thought of his time in the war. We see how he got his killer instinct (and his hidden razor) which was good, just liked the character as is and didn't really need a origin story more then what we had in the first book.

Recommended, I mean I still really enjoyed it, just like the other three so far better.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best of the Edge books that I've read so far. It takes us in flashbacks back to Edge's fighting in the Civil War and we see some of the experiences that turn him vicious. We also see that at an earlier time he was a much kinder and more considerate fellow.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part one with book 6 as part 2. Takes us back to Joe's army days as a new soldier fresh from the farm. Love these two as they show us how he began the journey which would make him "Edge". I think these two books are pretty darned special.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a mother and daughter drain some pus from the back of Edge's head, he recalls his early days. His first encounters with the civil war. His first kill. Sexual encounter. Love? Pretty much how Josiah Hedges became Edge. Violent and bloody.

[Ronald]

read some time in 1980

[Hugo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly flashbacks in this instalment, to the Civil War, starting Josiah Hedges on the road to the man we know as Edge. There's some tension in the contemporary story, as an injured and unconscious Edge is tended, and his identity risks becoming known, and the war sequences are action-packed and bloody. The Schwarzenegger-style puns still stand out uncomfortably, especially in real-life battles, but I guess at this stage that's part of Gilman's style.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. I am enjoying this western series.

[Vincent Darkhelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ticks all the George G. Gilman boxes. If you don't know what those boxes are, you're either late to the party or at the wrong house.

[Peter Barrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these old weasterns , well ahead of there time

[mike Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

popcorn book

Simple writing, poor dialogue , poorly developed characters.....but fun to read.

You will not remember a single line after you are done but like eating popcorn you will reach in and get another handful...