Wednesday 23 July 2008

THE CHISHOLM TRAIL BY RALPH COMPTON


ST MARTINS PRESS
£3.99

Living in the UK it is always nice to stumble on western novels in the shops. I found this one in Asda of all places for £3.99.

The author died in 1999 and other authors have used his name since but this book, written in 1993 is very much by the man himself.

A complete list of Compton's books follows:

  • The Goodnight Trail (1992)
  • The Western Trail (1992)
  • The Chisholm Trail (1993)
  • The Bandera Trail (1993)
  • The Shawnee Trail (1994)
  • The Oregon Trail (1994)
  • The Virginia City Trail (1994)
  • The California Trail (1994)
  • The Dodge City Trail (1995)
  • The Dawn of Fury (1995)
  • The Autumn of the Gun (1996)
  • The Killing Season (1996)
  • North to Bitterroot (1996)
  • Across the Rio Colorado (1997)
  • The Border Empire (1997)
  • The Winchester Run (1997)
  • The Santa Fe Trail (1997)
  • The Old Spanish Trail (1998)
  • Sixguns and Double Eagles (1998)
  • Devil's Canyon (1998)
  • Train to Durango (1998)
  • Skeleton Lode (1999)
  • The Green River Trail (1999)
  • Death Rides a Chestnut Mare (1999)
  • Whisky River (1999)
  • The Deadwood Trail (1999)

THE CHISHOLM TRAIL, was only the author's third book after he burst to fame with his debut western, The Goodnight Trail. And it is a brilliant traditional all action epic western with a totally likeable character in half-breed Ten Chisholm. The author's skill with the narrative sucks the reader in from the very first page as we meet the youthful Ten Chisholm and join his rites of passage as he sets out on his very first trail drive and prove himself to his father Jessie Chisholm.

This is the literary answer to all those thrilling western movies of the fifties and sixties and you can almost imagine John Wayne as Jesse Chisholm. There is action, romance, danger and suspense particularly in the scenes in Commanche country as Ten races towards the Red River.

An excellent book that shows what the western genre is capable of - an all action, thrilling adventure that contains a touching human story.

5 comments:

Chris said...

Sounds good. I haven't read anything by Ralph Compton. I think there is also another Western author named Ralph Cotton. I tend to get them confused.

Have you ever heard of an old one called "Snaketrack" by Frank Bonham? Kind of hard to find, I think, but worth checking out. I'm looking forward to checking out some of the books listed in your post above.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

No I'll try frank bonham. Thanks for that. Had very good news today regarding a western novel, Tarnished Star that I've written. Robert Hale, Black Horse westerns is publishing it.

Chris said...

Nice! I'm going to look into your Westerns. Where could I get one, and do you recommend any in particular?

Also, my wife and mother-in-law are clamoring about the Dr. Who/Torchwood thing. Can you give us a clue?

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

I played an american prisoner of the daleks in Dr Who: Daleks of Manhatten and Evolution of the Daleks. I've done several bit parts in Torchwood.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

also I would try any or the trail series by Ralph Compton. All are brilliant.

If you like lamour you'll love Compton.

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