Howdy, Cromrades! Where do we turn after our jaunt off-world to Arrakis? How about the Wild West? Saddle up and join us on our trip through the plains for stagecoach robberies, gunfights at high noon, and adventure!
Season 11: The Western Road
1. “Law-Shooters
of Cowtown”- Robert E. Howard (Cross Plains 1974): An intro episode where
we talk about our experiences with westerns and how REH started writing them as
well. We’ll begin with a grim western that features Grizzly Elkins and a fist
fight with a mob that is supposed to be quite memorable. (From End of the Trail (Bison Books)
2. “Stage
to Lordsburg”- Ernest Haycox (Saturday Evening Post 1937): Called by some
“the greatest stagecoach story ever written” this short story also served as
the inspiration for John Ford’s “Stagecoach”. Haycox was a pulp writer who
published two dozen novels and about 300 short stories and was an early pioneer
of the western. University
of Arizona PDF
3. “Old
Garfield’s Heart”- Robert E. Howard (Weird Tales 1933): A focus on REH and
his hand in creating the weird western. What has this genre offered us in pop
culture. This story specifically focuses on an old Texas Pioneer gains
immortality by replacing his heart with something from another world. Was
adapted into a Conan story “Old Garrod’s Heart” in SSoC #203.
The
Horror Stories of REH (Del Rey)
Black
Stranger and Other American Tales (Bison Books)
4.
“A Man Called Horse”- Dorothy Johnson
(Collier’s 1950): A rich Bostonian is enslaved by Crow Indians. While enslaved
he eventually gains the respect of the tribe through cunning and bravery in
battle. Eventually he takes the name “Horse” and falls in love with an Indian
woman. PDF
Link
5. “Trap
of Gold”- Louis L’Amour (Argosy 1951): The master of the western, L’Amour
was prolific in his production. How has the genre solidified 20-30 years after
Howard was tinkering with it? This short story focuses on a prospector,
Weatherton. Weatherton finds the dream of a lifetime, a vein richer in gold than
he ever cared to imagine. He knew he had more than he needed, but he almost
lost his senses - and his life - as the fever began to take control of him. PDF Link
6. Western
Film Fest: The Cromcast talks western movies with a classic “The Wild
Bunch” by Sam Peckinpah and a modern western “The Proposition” by John
Hillcoat.
7. “Mountain
Man”- Robert E. Howard (Action Stories 1934): Breckenridge Elkins is a
lesser known but extremely important Howard creation. With 26 published
stories, he was actually Howard’s most commercially viable and longest
published character. His stories are called “funny westerns” and feature tall
tale structure with printed Texan vernacular. We will be reading and analyzing
his first appearance.
Wikisource link
The Complete Action Stories
(Wildside Press)
Riot at Bucksnort (Bison books)
8.
“Vultures
of Whapeton”- Robert E. Howard (Smashing Novels Magazine 1936): A
conclusion to The Western Road, where we wrap up by talking about what is considered to be
REH’s finest western story. Steve Corcoran, a Texas pistoleer, finds a
job as deputy of the boom town of Wahpeton. At first, he doesn’t know that his
boss is the secret head of the outlaw gang of “Vultures” who are preying on the
town.
Best of
REH Vol 2: Grim Lands (Del Rey)
End of
the Trail (Bison Books)
