Great Stories of the American West - Softcover

Martin H. Greenbergwas honored in 1995 by the Mystery Writers of America with the Ellery Queen Award for lifetime achievement in mystery editing. He is also the recipient of two Anthony awards. Mystery Scene magazine called him "the best mystery anthologist since Ellery Queen." He has compiled more than 1,000 anthologies andis the president of TEKNO books.He lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This excellent collection of 19 short stories is a suitable introduction to western fiction or a marvelous way to rekindle one's enthusiasm for the genre. Greenburg is a veteran anthologist with more than 50 volumes under his belt, and, as always, his choices are impeccable. Among the authors are many names not usually associated with western fiction, including Evan Hunter, Marica Muller, John D. MacDonald, and Bill Pronzini. And what collection of western tales would be complete without entries from Louis L'Amour, John Jakes, and Elmore Leonard? Highlights include Pronzini's "Markers," a tale of justice with a Twilight Zone conclusion; Loren Estleman's "The Bandit," in which an old bank robber gets a brief taste of freedom outside the penitentiary walls; and Hunter's "Snowblind," in which a father sees his son as a man for the first time. Greenburg includes notes on the authors and a list of publications in which the stories first appeared. This won't appear on any best-seller lists, but expect the demand to be steady and long-term. Wes Lukowsky