The Bold Frontier

by John Jakes

From the author of such American epics as the Kent Family Chronicles and the North and South trilogy comes this special anthology of frontier fiction — featuring three brand new stories and a special introduction by the author.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Short Stories

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

John William Jakes, the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes’s commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of “the godfather of historical novelists” from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.

Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of early John Jakes western themed short stories which he sold to pulp magazines in his youth. Several of the bad reviews are written by people who did not adequately read the description and were thus shocked to discover that they had a book of short stories instead of a novel. Others complain that these stories are not up to Jakes' standard. These are early stories. Jakes grew and matured as an author in the years since these were written. That said, these are good stories though several are not strictly westerns. One of my favorites is set in pre revolutionary South Carolina. That story does have cows and Indians in it even if it doesn't take place "out west." I also enjoyed the tribute story to Karl May, the prolific and best selling German author of westerns (and other things), who wrote in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

[Joe Spoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The first few stories had a similar theme, but then they changed up a bit. Stories about the new sheriff in town, the railroad, fur trappers, German immigrants in WWI, etc.

[Clem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first must admit – I’m not a huge fan of the short story. Usually the only time I read a collection of short stories is when one of my favorite authors releases an assemblage. I’m not sure why I’m prejudiced against this particular type of format. It might be because I enjoy reading so much, that anything under 100 pages seems too brief. After completing an account that lasts only 25-30 pages, either I either wish the author would have fleshed out the story longer (if I liked it), or that the author would have just forgotten about it and tossed it in the recycle bin (if I did not like it). So when reviewing a book such as this, I need to be careful and lay these prejudices aside, but also warn other readers if they happen to have the same feelings as I do.

Those who know John Jakes know that he’s well known for his historical fiction accounts. He’s written several well-known collections of books as well as self-standing novels that tend to deal with some part of the history of the United States – usually from the 1600s to the mid-1900s. His emphasis tends to focus mainly on the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and he seems to favor tales about the American Civil War. So much so, that whenever I pick up a new book by him that focuses on the Civil War, I’m a bit disappointed. There’s only so many different tales you can tell using that calamity as a backdrop that it seems like he repeats himself too often. One area that Jakes never focused on too much when telling stories of America’s history, was the Old West.

So this book lets him explore this genre. Again, though, there’s an awful lot here. Every Old West cliché is written about. We have the cowboys, the Indians, the widowed sheriffs, the riverboat gamblers, the trappers, the prostitutes with the heart of gold etc. He leaves no stone unturned. I should also point out that, if I’m not mistaken, these are not all “new” stories, yet ones that he’s written over his lifetime. I never compared notes after each story, but some of these tales did come across as a bit pretentious. There were a few stories that lasted around 15 pages and the author seemed to try to wrap things up a bit too neatly in an attempt to leave the reader satisfied, or rather…happy.

Still, though, I enjoyed the vast majority of the pieces here. It’s probably too late for me to wish such a thing (Jakes is 82 years old as I write this), but reading these stories make me wish that Jakes would write an entire novel around the old west, or maybe even a series of books. Think of Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series, and you have an idea of what John Jakes is capable of when he tells a story.

This was an overall nice diversion from what readers have come to expect.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I read John Jakes' North and South trilogy and the entire Kent Family Chronicles series and loved both. When I saw this ebook on sale on Bookbub, I decided to give it a try since I love Westerns. I don't read a lot of short story compilations but as short stories go, most of these are decent. Jakes writes that these were early stories that he sold to pulp magazines as he was starting out, so they aren't as polished as his later works. Still, they're entertaining and they run the gamut of time periods and even geography, as one of the stories is set in South Carolina rather than the West. But it involves gunmen and Native Americans, so a Western it is in spirit. Some of the violence and language are graphic so if that bothers you, you might want to pass on this set of stories. I'm glad I took a chance on it as it kept me entertained and was something different from the usual mysteries and police procedurals that I tend to favor.

[Jack Castillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of short stories about the west during the 19th century, reaching all the way into the early 20th. Jakes is the author of the North South Trilogy and the Kent Family Chronicles; all NYT best sellers. The North South Trilogy was made into a mini TV series which met with some critical acclaim. These stories paint interesting picture of the West, different from what I was led to think from watching to many John Wayne, Alan Ladd, Roy Rodgers/Gene Autry shows on T.V. Jakes is noted for his diligent research and it shows in his writing. For example; there were a lot of black cowboys, which would make sense if you think about it but if your perception is colored by Hollywood, you grow up with a different perception. My favorite stories are: Dutchman, Manitow and Ironhand, A Duel of Magicians and Mercy at Gettysburg. Easy, fast reading.

[Elisabeth]

Did not finish, as several of the stories I attempted to read/ended up skimming featured plentiful R-rated language and some fairly explicit sexual content.

I suppose a line in the foreword where Jakes refers rather condescendingly to one of his own early works as being pretty decent "albeit without profanity or romance" is an accurate indicator of his general attitude to these matters.

[Robert Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories set in the old West. Some great characters in this excellent book. John Jakes has long been one of my favorites and this collection doesn't disappoint. Loved it.

[Donna Dalziel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite authors. This book is a collection of short stories. They are very heavy old west narratives. They are gritty, grisly and real. Such fine writing.

[Sally Esch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love John Jakes. Read all his books. This one did not measure up to his other books. It was not that good.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read of short westerns. good characters and plots

[Laine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between John Jakes and Willa Cather, i truly enjoy the grime and grit of the old west genre. Better than a John Wayne movie any day!

[Diana Mielecki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories that were far inferior to the quality one normally associates with John Jakes.

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several short stories. I wasn’t impressed, after reading his other work.

[William E. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

A fine collection of well written short stories. I can’t think of anything else to say but I needed 12 more words.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been quite some time since I devoured the Kent family chronicles or the North and South trilogy so I was delighted to find this collection of Western stories by one of the best, if not the best, writers of American historical fiction. After this, I may need to read some more Jakes.

[Bill Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. Having thoroughly enjoyed John Jakes other works I think I was expecting too much of this series of short stories. Some of the stories were really good, but most did not live up to my expectations.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't like this book at all. It was a collection of short stories, and I just couldn't get into it like the novels.

[David Vanness]

My copy Signet 2001 withsame cover and 372 pages.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short fiction and a couple of essays.

[Mark Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine collection

Various stories by a prolific and wide-ranging author. The tales here are somewhat uneven, from the merely serviceable to extremely effective. Enjoyable.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Western stories covering many aspects of the old and not so old west. always a hero and villain but with twists in each story.

[Charlie Shaw]

Westerns are not my cup of tea.