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A Fistful of Demons: An Anthology of the Weird West
Six-Guns and Strange Shooters Headlined by veteran storyteller David J. West, A Fistful of Demons assembles over twenty of the freshest voices in the Weird West genre into one massive anthology of short fiction that will take you on a wild ride unlike anything you've experienced before. Weird West, Western Horror, Fantasy Western—call it what you will—the stories in A Fistful of Demons deftly weave together a complex and thrilling blend of North American mythology, magic, alternate histories of American icons, steampunk, and more—all framed in the action-rich setting of the Old West. Famous novels, comics, and games in the genre include Joe R. Lansdale’s epic Deadman's Crossing , the classic RPG Deadlands , John Albano & Tony DeZuniga's award-winning Jonah Hex comic book series, Stephen King's opus The Dark Tower , and R.S. Belcher's bestseller The Six-Gun Tarot . A Fistful of Demons packs over 600 pages of Weird West stories inspired by the novel The Widow's Son between two covers. No denying it, partner, this tome is fair bursting at the seams. Stories in the anthology
It Couldn't Happen Here by David J. West
Porter Rockwell remembers a time years ago when his foster son and a friend were worried over undead near their home along the Utah lake—it turned out to be just a resting place for Indian dead until they could be buried—but years later when there really are undead troubling the area, Porter is forced to face a situation he never thought would be on his own doorstep. The Spear of Destiny by Ryan Williamson
Magdalena, a young Mayan woman belonging to an order of demon-hunting priests, nuns, and monks is sent by the Vatican on a quest to recover the lost Spear of Destiny—the very lance that pierced the side of Christ. In her quest she travels to America and is joined by an old friend, the fabled lawman Zarahemla Two Crows. To recover the spear, they must battle cultists, unholy beasts, and conquer a forgotten monastery possessed by an unimaginable evil. A Reunion on Bloody Island by J. E. Tabor
Orphaned when she was just a girl, Penny grew up among the Lakota who took her in as their own. But when the ravenous dead poured into the Great Plains to drive the foreign settlers from the land, she was forced to flee, whether her people accepted her or not. Separated from the newly wed husband who promised to bring her back home, Penny is confined to a U.S. refugee camp miles from the militarized border on the Mississippi River. With the help of a mysterious stranger serving an unsavory patron, Penny makes a deal to get across and back to her husband and the rest of her family. What Penny doesn't realize is that the deal she made just might be with the devil. Call Me Rex by Jim Carran
Young Jedediah Burroughs is the lone survivor of a brutal attack on his isolated fort. Seeking revenge and redemption, he partners with a mysterious sword-wielding stranger called Rex to track down the source of the invasion and save whoever he can. But Jed is no warrior and Rex won't always be by his side. The Devouring Eye by Bradley R. Mitzelfelt
July 13th, 1868. Evil has come to the blossoming city of Minneapolis in the form of an ancient demon. A lone demon hunter, the last descendant of the famed Halez Family, Jacob Halez, is on the hunt and has followed the demon known as Ketev Meriri across the world to the city on the edge of the doomed west. Now, he seeks to confront it and end its reign of terror among the Jewish people, but his efforts may be doomed from the start! One man against a host of demons. Can he succeed, or will he, too, be devoured by the Eye? And over a dozen more...
KEEP THE GOOD BOOK CLOSE AND YOUR SIX-GUN CLOSER.
It Couldn't Happen Here by David J. West
Porter Rockwell remembers a time years ago when his foster son and a friend were worried over undead near their home along the Utah lake—it turned out to be just a resting place for Indian dead until they could be buried—but years later when there really are undead troubling the area, Porter is forced to face a situation he never thought would be on his own doorstep. The Spear of Destiny by Ryan Williamson
Magdalena, a young Mayan woman belonging to an order of demon-hunting priests, nuns, and monks is sent by the Vatican on a quest to recover the lost Spear of Destiny—the very lance that pierced the side of Christ. In her quest she travels to America and is joined by an old friend, the fabled lawman Zarahemla Two Crows. To recover the spear, they must battle cultists, unholy beasts, and conquer a forgotten monastery possessed by an unimaginable evil. A Reunion on Bloody Island by J. E. Tabor
Orphaned when she was just a girl, Penny grew up among the Lakota who took her in as their own. But when the ravenous dead poured into the Great Plains to drive the foreign settlers from the land, she was forced to flee, whether her people accepted her or not. Separated from the newly wed husband who promised to bring her back home, Penny is confined to a U.S. refugee camp miles from the militarized border on the Mississippi River. With the help of a mysterious stranger serving an unsavory patron, Penny makes a deal to get across and back to her husband and the rest of her family. What Penny doesn't realize is that the deal she made just might be with the devil. Call Me Rex by Jim Carran
Young Jedediah Burroughs is the lone survivor of a brutal attack on his isolated fort. Seeking revenge and redemption, he partners with a mysterious sword-wielding stranger called Rex to track down the source of the invasion and save whoever he can. But Jed is no warrior and Rex won't always be by his side. The Devouring Eye by Bradley R. Mitzelfelt
July 13th, 1868. Evil has come to the blossoming city of Minneapolis in the form of an ancient demon. A lone demon hunter, the last descendant of the famed Halez Family, Jacob Halez, is on the hunt and has followed the demon known as Ketev Meriri across the world to the city on the edge of the doomed west. Now, he seeks to confront it and end its reign of terror among the Jewish people, but his efforts may be doomed from the start! One man against a host of demons. Can he succeed, or will he, too, be devoured by the Eye? And over a dozen more...
KEEP THE GOOD BOOK CLOSE AND YOUR SIX-GUN CLOSER.
- GenresAnthologiesWeird West
686 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
R.A. Williamson
10 books15 followersRyan “R.A.” Williamson is the author of the Doomsday Recon trilogy, a #1 bestseller in military fantasy and war fiction praised for its immersive world-building, military authenticity, and unflinching portrayal of combat. Other titles include the Zarahemla Two Crows weird west series, and forthcoming novel Doors to the Stars (September 2026).
Born in Canada, Ryan moved to the Seattle area in his teens, served in the U.S. Army as a cavalry scout, sojourned for a time in Navajo country, and ultimately returned to the Pacific Northwest where he lives with his wife in a half-empty nest with arguably too many dogs and one tarantula (which his wife insists is also arguably too many).
Born in Canada, Ryan moved to the Seattle area in his teens, served in the U.S. Army as a cavalry scout, sojourned for a time in Navajo country, and ultimately returned to the Pacific Northwest where he lives with his wife in a half-empty nest with arguably too many dogs and one tarantula (which his wife insists is also arguably too many).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 28, 2022
This is a hefty tome, and it helps to know that it's set in the same alternate history/steampunk world of "The Widow's Son", but that's not a requirement. "Weird West" is a genre that's still fairly new to me, and I found this selection very entertaining. The stories are inventive and well-written, and chock-full of zombies, vampires and malevolent spirits. Some stories are played with utmost seriousness, others are tongue-in-cheek. The concluding novella, "The Spear of Destiny" was a welcome follow-up to the characters introduced in "The Widow's Son", and provided a very rousing wrap-up to the entire collection. Overall, the anthology is very fun to dip into while sitting by the fire and sipping a hot drink as a winter storm rages outside.
November 8, 2022
Hit and Miss
Bit of a rollercoaster this one.
I like to pick stories at random in anthologies, great way to find new writers and new voices to enjoy. By the time I was half way through I found that I was forcing myself to carry on, having read three in a row that I just didn't click with.
There are easily enough stories here to make up two volumes which I think added to it feeling like a chore to finish it. Smaller would have been preferable without a doubt.
Still, I've found a few authors that I'll add to my 'look out for' list. Sadly there's a few on its evil twin, my 'never read again' list.
Dean
Bit of a rollercoaster this one.
I like to pick stories at random in anthologies, great way to find new writers and new voices to enjoy. By the time I was half way through I found that I was forcing myself to carry on, having read three in a row that I just didn't click with.
There are easily enough stories here to make up two volumes which I think added to it feeling like a chore to finish it. Smaller would have been preferable without a doubt.
Still, I've found a few authors that I'll add to my 'look out for' list. Sadly there's a few on its evil twin, my 'never read again' list.
Dean
November 12, 2022
You have to read this!
Vampires, demons, steam punk, it’s all here!! I throughly enjoyed every single story in this anthology and will be reading more books from all of these authors.
Vampires, demons, steam punk, it’s all here!! I throughly enjoyed every single story in this anthology and will be reading more books from all of these authors.
August 14, 2023
Weird west
Ok,I loved these stories,always loved western movies add in zombies and the supernatural and it's a winner.
One question though, throughout these stories are mentions of a war and the other side of the river, maybe someone could write the story of thwar,I take it the civil war and the coming of the undead.
Anyway great stories great read I highly recommend it
Ok,I loved these stories,always loved western movies add in zombies and the supernatural and it's a winner.
One question though, throughout these stories are mentions of a war and the other side of the river, maybe someone could write the story of thwar,I take it the civil war and the coming of the undead.
Anyway great stories great read I highly recommend it
January 13, 2025
A Thrilling Weird West Anthology
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Fistful of Demons is a gripping collection of Weird West tales blending mythology, magic, and the grit of the Old West. With standout stories like It Couldn't Happen Here and The Spear of Destiny, this anthology delivers non-stop action, supernatural intrigue, and unforgettable characters. Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower or Deadlands, it’s a must-read for anyone craving a wild, genre-bending adventure.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Fistful of Demons is a gripping collection of Weird West tales blending mythology, magic, and the grit of the Old West. With standout stories like It Couldn't Happen Here and The Spear of Destiny, this anthology delivers non-stop action, supernatural intrigue, and unforgettable characters. Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower or Deadlands, it’s a must-read for anyone craving a wild, genre-bending adventure.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews