West of the Tularosa

by Louis L'Amour

A collection of eight Western stories includes the title story, in which Ward McQueen faces accusations of murdering a neighboring rancher.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Short Story Collection, Adventure

260 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early L'amour stories

This is a collection of eight stories published in the late 1940's and early 1950's. When L'amour sold these stories under both his own name and the name Jim Mayo, the stories were copyrighted by the magazines which bought them. Subsequently those copyrights were not renewed hence this collection, which was originally published by Dorchester Publishing, is available through Kindle Unlimited.

These may be early Louis L'amour stories but they are also fine, entertaining stories. Some are excellent. In several of these, L'amour arms his characters with obscure weapons such as the Watch Navy .36 caliber 12 shot revolver. In others the weapons such as the Smith and Wesson .44 Russian, are not obscure but one could read a lot of 1940's - 50's westerns and watch a lot of movies from the same period without coming across them. L'amour strove for authenticity in his work and was well aware that everyone in the west didn't carry Colts and Winchesters.

I have always enjoyed L'amour's short stories and was pleasantly surprised to find that all of these except one were new to me. Enjoy.

[Henry Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This incredibly prolific author is to westerns what Stephen King is to horror and Agatha Christie is to mysteries. Modern critics who insist all heroes be flawed despise writers like the old merchant marine (that's right--he spent more time asea than he ever did on horseback--as you'll learn in the interesting introduction/L'Amour biography). And yes, his books do tend to be formulaic. But hey--he developed his own formula. He didn't copy Zane Gray, Max Brand or anyone else.

In West of the Tularosa, a compilation of some shorter fiction from his early career (most of it written for western pulps), the legendary author is a bit more versatile than most of us have gotten used to. Oh, sure: The hero of each story is pretty much the same guy with a different name and a different gun (once in a while a different occupation--like an hombre who traps mountain lions for circuses). OK. And the leading ladies are all the same fetching western lass, as well. Granted. And big surprise: aforementioned hero always beats the bad guys and wins the heart of aforementioned fetching western lass. But don't assume L'Amour was just conforming to the times he grew up in. Watch a boxing movie from the time period in these tales were written (late '40s-early '50s), or some film noir, or read some of the crime fiction of the period. Pop culture had its share of squeaky-clean, handsome, G-rated good guys up to this point, to be certain; but to stick with that ran against the artistic zeitgeist.

L'Amour's protagonists weren't just handsome good guys--they were good good guys. Clean, honorable and honest. This reflected the sentimentality he and his readers felt about the frontier stage of American history. As Gene Autry sang in "Back in the Saddle Again":

...Out where a friend is a friend
Where you sleep out every night
And the only law is right

The "wild west" is frequently characterized as lawless. Well, they certainly didn't have all the police and jack-booted federal agents harassing the citizenry that we do now. Or lawyers, either. Yet society as a whole functioned much better then, despite the respective technology (women and children were safer, statistically, in the very worst frontier towns than they are today in our cities, for instance). Why? Most of the citizens didn't know much about the law, but they sure knew right from wrong.

Can't really say that today, can we?

We could sure use the kind of men L'Amour wrote about in our country now. It would be nice if everyone could brag that their "friends" were truly friends, too.

There were some good yarns in this anthology. Some felt cut a little short, probably due to their original pulp-bound purpose. A few could (should?) have been expanded to novel-length. It's easy to see why so many readers relate to this author's protagonists--they're young, strong, brave, good-looking and honest to a fault. Oh yeah, and almost always a phenomenal gunfighter, even if they punch cattle for a living. As Jeff Cooper might say, "They ride (hard), shoot straight, and speak the truth."

My favorite yarn in the batch was the last, the longest, and the one from which the title of this anthology was taken: West of the Tularosa. It's on the complex side for a L'Amour tale, some whodunnit mystery mixed in with the familiar range conflict.

R.I.P. Louis, we miss you. And your heroes.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good collection of western short stories. As with most L'Amour work, the stories come across as very authentic. There's plenty of action, but there's enough "real world" western life injected so the stories come across as more than just shoot-em-up's.

I think my favorite was the title story, even though it had a twist I wouldn't have expected from L'Amour. The other stories were good as well, with great characters and some cool twists.

If you don't like westerns, there's probably nothing here to change your mind. But if you like westerns with some action, adventure, and pretty believable characters, try this one out.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of eight short western stories by L'Amour including the slightly longer title story. Well written and of wholesome character just like the rest of the work of L'Amour.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've included the Chirp Blurb to help remember the short story title names and story details that were read for this collection of stories. The stories were narrated by Mark Bramhall and Tom Weiner.

Chirp Blurb:
Louis L’Amour said that the West was no place for the frightened or the mean. It was a “big country needing big men and women to live in it.” This volume presents eight of L’Amour’s ever-popular short stories—history that lives forever.

“Mistakes Can Kill You”
Johnny O’Day, once rescued by the Redlin family, may be the only one who can save Sam Redlin from gambler and saloon owner Loss Degner in a fight over a woman.

“The Man from Battle Flat”
A potential range war between nesters and ranchers has divided the townspeople, and now Bush Leason, the big nester, has shot Shorty Grimes in the back.

“The Lion Hunter and the Lady”
Cat Morgan is in the process of bagging a big mountain lion alive, with the help of Long John Williams, a wizard with a rope, when a lynch posse arrives and accuses Cat and Long John of horse stealing—and they intend to hang them right there.

“The One for the Mohave Kid”
The Mohave Kid is deadly with a gun and a vicious character, but he is part of a large clan that protects him because he is family. When Marshal Ab Kale orders the Kid to stay away from his town, the Kid sees it as a tempting challenge.

“West Is Where the Heart Is”
Home is still more than two hundred miles away when Jim London comes across the burned-out wagon train with only one survivor, a five-year-old girl. He’ll have to take her with him.

“Home in the Valley”
If Steve Mehan can make it to Portland, Oregon, from Sacramento on horseback and beat the steamer carrying some bad news, he can still recoup the money to save five ranches back home.

“Fork Your Own Broncs”
Mac Marcy is a small-time rancher whose cattle access a water hole on Bob Kenyon’s land, until Kenyon fences it off during a heat wave. But Kenyon’s daughter knows of a secret water source.

“West of the Tularosa”
Ward McQueen, foreman for the Tumbling K, is accused of killing a nearby rancher and he’s going to need some help to prove his innocence.

The stories were of varying lengths, but all painted a colorful picture of the west and delivered a solid story and good characterizations. A few could have been fleshed out with a bit more page time, but they were still pretty good. Both narrators were engaging and I liked having them take turns to lend some variety to the string of stories for voices and style. The west really comes alive in a L'amour story.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Louis L'Amour books, the full length novels are more appealing to me though. Some of the stories where so short I had no time to figure out who the characters where because they where so crammed in (ie. The Man from Battle Flat). Of these shorts my favorites where "The Lion Hunter and the Lady" and "West of the Tularosas".

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. L'Amour's writing is workmanlike and he creates some fairly interesting characters, but I can't help noticing now has basically every single story depends heavily on the quick-draw gunfight. As a teenager I would have eaten these stories up without thinking about that, but after spending more than a decade studying the West it starts to stick out.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed these short stories. I'm definitely going to read more. I like the writing, the characters, the storylines.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never read any of Louis L'Amour's work before despite the fact that I have been a resident of the West for the last half a century. I rather liked the short stories in West of the Tularosa. One complaint, though: His heroes are a little too mythical, too straight-jawed, too competent. There never seems to be a moment of doubt or uncertainty as the hero takes apart the bad guys.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"West of the Tularosa" by Louis L'Amour is a captivating collection of Western short stories that transport readers to the rugged American frontier. The title story follows Ward McQueen, the foreman of the Tumbling K ranch, who is wrongfully accused of murder and must clear his name. Each tale in this anthology is packed with adventure, danger, and the timeless themes of courage and justice, showcasing L'Amour's masterful storytelling and vivid portrayal of the Old West.

[Bonnye Reed]

$1.99 Amazon buy

[Candace Simar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louis L'Amour is a master story teller. This one did not disappoint.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the last 35 years, I have read every Louis L'Amour western at least three times, and the Sackett series even more. I had previously read several of the short story compilations published since L'Amour's death and while most of them were good, they were retreads of the Hopalong Cassidy short stories or the short story that was a prelude to many of his novels.

That being said, I approached this new compilation of old L'Amour magazine short stories with a bit of caution and was pleasantly surprised as I had not read them before or, if I had, they didn't come immediately to mind as I read them. Each story appears to follow the typical L'Amour format: a young guy is trying to make his way in the world, there is a protagonist that gets in the way of not only the main character but the townspeople involved, and there is a young woman the main character is attracted to and eventually gets the girl.

In-between you have a lot of nice literature that really makes you feel part of the story - you smell the smoke, feel the tension, and you can visualize the scenes clearly in your mind along with some old-fashioned values of right and wrong. L'Amour was a heck of a writer, and after reading this compilation I'm getting the urge to pull out my paperbacks and start the process again with his novels.

[Jan Strnad · Rating 3 out of 5]

West of the Tularosa is a collection of Louis L'Amour western short stories from the late forties to early fifties, including the titular novella.

Reading this stories is like curling up with a Gary Cooper or John Wayne western. You'll find good, straight-shooting, two-fisted heroes and dirty, dastardly villains, and a woman. You'll get gunfights and cattle rustlin' and justice at the end of a rope (at least threatened). In short, you'll get the kind of western stories your parents grew up with and loved--the kind you find on the old-movie channels--that defined "the western" in America for several decades...and for many people, still does.

I read the Kindle version and the formatting was fine.

[Karen Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

West of the Tularosas is about... well... let's see. This guy comes into town and finds some dead guys in a cabin. Then the bad guys try to frame him and they gotta figure out who done what.

This was my first attempt at reading a western. I listened to this on audiobook and thought it was entertaining, though maybe not quite my style. I'm typically not big on westerns and this just seemed to be a little too... I don't know. It's a good book to read on the beach. There. I think that says it.

[Mark Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific collection of L'Amour short stories, which ends with the novelette of the title. These stories show L'Amour at his fast-paced best. Like other authors (I'm thinking of you, Dick Francis!) L'Amour's tales have a list of commonalities you can rely on, but that does not affect the reader's enjoyment. There is always the strapping young man, lightinh-quick with fist and gun; the sneaky underhanded villain; the spirited young woman. But the story is always interesting, with each one having its own special appeal. If you like Western fiction, this is a good book to pick up.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Western by Louis L'Amour. It was both fun and easy to read. The action and flow of each story was intriguing. Being a collection of short stories that have been previously published in magazines, there were a lot of characters introduced that sometimes left me trying to figure out who was who in the end. I am looking forward to reading some of his full-length books to get more character development in the midst of all the action.

[Gerald Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose I am speaking mostly for men, but if you have never read any Louis L'amour, you are missing a treat. He wrote westerns, usually quite short, with a formula that included guns and fisticuffs, but also romance, courage, and a sense of honor.

This is a collection of some of his earliest short stories. They were fun to read. Rated PG for the occasional gunfight.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few Westerns before and enjoyed the genre. This book was a little too campy for me, though. It was composed of several short stories that the author had written for magazines. Maybe that was the problem...just when I felt the story was getting going, it would be wrapping up. I'll try a full-length novel of his and then form a more solid opinion on his writing.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic L'Amour

I love Louis L'Amour's writing, and I love short stories. Hadn't read any of these before so how could I go wrong? I didn't - thoroughly enjoyed them all! If you like western fiction, or if you'd like to get to know L'Amour without a huge time investment, why notgive this one a try?

[Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this collection of L'Amour stories. Some were a little better than others, but they all reminded me of my Dad reading on a Saturday evening. L'Amour was his favorite western author and together we shared many hours watching the movie adaptations of his stories. While this was a nice anthologies of L'Amour's work, the memories it brought back were a big bonus.

[Aravind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of western stories by the master of Westerns is a treat for all fans of the genre. The stories are crisply written, with daring, charming heroes and vicious villains and big hearted horses and plenty of action. This was the first L'amour book I've read and, for sure, would not be the last.

[Todd Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love Louis L'Amour books. This is one with a collection of short stories written by L'Amour in the 40s and 50s. The heros are tough and great shots with any gun and they can beat up anyone they need to. Not great literature but always fun.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my first taste of the western genre, I liked it. Nice quick short stories that gave a good introduction to L'Amour's work and style. This might be my first western, but I don't think it will be my last.

[Dean Deters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a Louis L'Amour book. I hadn't read this one yet, but I had read a few of the stories in it. These are stories from his days writing stories for magazines, but they are as good as the rest.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my first exposure to Louis L'Amour. I enjoyed the short story collection for a good campfire/hammock reading. I'm not sure I'll read one of his full-length novels but as far as western adventure goes this collection is most enjoyable.

[Richard Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another reshuffling of familiar stories of the Old West from the master. I believe I have read or listened to all of them previously in other collections and anthologies. Nevertheless, all are fun to encounter again. I listened to them on audio CD borrowed from an online library.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'Amour's short stories are excellent! The writing is crisp and full of realism and grit. It's a shame they are such a quick read.

[Jimmy Mcphink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 5.97 out of 10.

[Russ Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine Western

A few short stories that have character and one longer story that is a fine one by itself. If you like the genre, I'd recommend this one.