Desperadoes

by Ed Gorman (Editor / Contributor), Louis L'Amour (Contributor), Trey R. Barker (Contributor)

Contents
Introduction · Martin H. Greenberg
The Town No Guns Could Tame · Louis L'Amour
A Simple Trail to Silver · Trey R. Barker
The Way to Cheyenne · James Reasoner
Posse · C. Hall Thompson
Gambler's Luck · Bill Gulick
The Old Ways · Ed Gorman
A Friend in Deed · Morris Hershman
Assassin · Frank Gruber
The Stories of Darlin' Lily · Al Sarrantonio
Enemies · Daniel Ransom
Double-Cross · Elizabeth Fackler
The Making of Jared Dodds · Michael Stotter
The Day Lamarr Had a Tall Drink with His Short Daddy · Tom Piccirilli
Hero · Bill Pronzini, 1988
A Stitch in Time · Riley Froh
The Angel of Santa Sofia · Loren D. Estleman

Genres: Westerns

279 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”

Reviews

[Gregory Weisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of western short stories, with a couple of surprises. Enjoyable read!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of western stories. I'd give it between 3 and a half and four stars. There are some really good pieces here, and some I didn't care as much for. The very best story in the collection, and one of my favorite western shorts ever, was by James Reasoner and was called "The Way to Cheyenne." It was both dramatic and hilarious. There are also really good stories by Loren D. Estleman, Ed Gorman himself, Tom Piccirilli, and Frank Gruber, as well as a story by Louis L'Amour that I'd read previously.