First Campaign

by Luke Short

Honest hard-working rancher, Hal Halsey had been the territorial governor. Now, as the first elected governor of the new state, he is campaigning for re-election. His opponent, Asa Forbes is a ruthless man who was bought and paid for by the rich and power-hungry mining companies. In order to lower Governor Halsey's popularity, the miners take advantage of a juicy tid-bit of information that old Abe Brandell has for sale: Halsey's ranch hand, Varney Wynn, is really his illegitimate son! Undaunted, Hal continues his campaign - until Abe Brandell is found dead, and Varney is framed for the murder. Then young Cole Halsey straps on a gun to defend his father and half-brother.

341 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

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

[Christine Jeffords · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Master Storyteller of the West," claims the cover copy, and he is. Born Frederick Glidden, this former pulp writer hit his stride when he started turning out full-length novels, and his books are intricately plotted and full of well-drawn, well-rounded characters who behave plausibly and often change and grow in the course of the tale. This "political Western," set in a thinly disguised Colorado Territory c. 1880, features an unforgettable cast that includes Hal Halsey, lawyer turned cattleman and politician, now facing a tough re-election fight; Cole, his older son, solid, competent, and bound to do his duty even if it doesn't suit him; Varney, his illegitimate half-brother, bitter and resentful, who redeems himself in a surprise climax that will leave you breathless; Letitia "Tish" Hammond, who isn't sure whether she wants to be Cole's wife or a society figure; Asa Forbes, Halsey's rival, "a good man" who doesn't seem to understand what his supporters may be willing to do to get him elected; Red Macandy, a venal newspaper editor; Bowie Sanson, a lawyer with an agenda of his own. Even the minor figures--Homer Kelly, bartender and loyal Halsey supporter; Marty, the prostitute who clears Varney of a murder charge, and her "schoolteacherish" madam, Mrs. Gustafson; Sheriff Morehead; Louise Selby, who manages her father's hotel; Rose Hardy, who convinces her husband to talk to Cole--are sharply drawn. It's a pity it was never filmed, but if you want to start Short and don't know where, this would be a great place for it.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

"First Campaign" is barely a Western. It's really about politics and fake news -- yes, even then.
It could be set anywhere and probably anywhen. But it all fits.
Mr. Glidden, the author's real name, did a pretty good job illustrating his story and characters, and showing what an unscrupulous editor -- the type that seems even now to dominate the industry -- can do do a person's reputation, and to the actual facts of a situation, especially a political situation.
Editors, by the way, don't lie just for a political or other belief system. Sometimes they lie because there is a financial profit -- not just bribery but to acquire or help an advertiser or to hurt or pressure a non-advertiser. (Read about the history of "news" papers in Pittsburgh. Its biggest daily now, the Post-Garbage, has an interesting background.)
Author Glidden, "Luke Short," was himself a journalist -- as was I.
"First Campaign" presents, and presents well, the necessary conflict, actually conflicts, that make a book, a story, real drama.
The conflicts are between families and dynasties, and between some generally honest and honorable people and their own principles, and between them and some who are even more generally honest and honorable.
This story is nicely complicated and complex, and I recommend it, especially to Western fans, but others should like it too.

[Kellyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly intriguing story. However, the ending was too pat. Almost like the author was either tired of the story or had a deadline.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book I thought I wouldn't like it but I was wrong. It's one of the late author's beeter books. With action and suspence it's for sure a page turner.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of First Campaign. The characters were interesting, even if not fully developed. The murder that takes place was not the typical murder you would find in a western novel, and even the way the frame was built was interesting. The conflict between the governor's two sons, one legitimate, the other born "on the wrong side of the blanket" was at times very interesting, and the detective work done by one son in order to help clear the other of the murder frame was fairly well-developed, even if it seemed amazingly simple.

Still, I enjoyed it-- up until the last page when the story abruptly ends in a very anticlimactic fashion that left me wondering what happened. Did the author just suddenly hit a deadline and need to finish it? The conclusion was bitterly disappointing and happened so fast (yes, literally one page) as to make me feel cheated for reading up to that point.

By the way, in time past I've stated boldly that Luke Short was a pen name for a number of western authors. Apparently there was only one author using the pen name (which if you know your western history, was the name of a saloon owner and sometimes gunman!) My apologies if I misled you.

[Thomas Burchfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luke Short was about the best western writer of his day and a precursor to Louis L'Amour. In fact, I've always enjoyed Short's novels more. This one, however, kind of clip clops along in its story of political intrigue in the Old West. The story-telling, though stringently realistic, is clumsy. The 1965 publication date (late in Short's career)indicates to me he may have had in mind a western version of other novels of that time such as "Advise and Consent" by Allen Drury or "The Best Man" by Gore Vidal. It lacks the urgency, vividness and vigor of his earlier such as "Ride the Man Down" and "Ramrod," among others.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Luke Short western about s man who has served as governor and is running for re-election against the mining corporations who want access to lower wages for their men and who work in mines. A rumor begins about one of the ranch hands as being the governor's son. The rumor is true and the mining people set up an ambush which puts the young man in jail. Then the young man's half brother makes his presence known and he is glad he put on his guns. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good Luke Short tail of dirty politics in unnamed western state. Plenty of intrigue and action, but the ending is very abrupt. Recommended to fans of westerns.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a alright book