Westerns I Really Need to Read

[@DanielsBibliophagy]

I read the restored version of Riders on the Purple Sage last year. I desperately want to find a copy for myself. During the end of the last June on the Range I acquired all of the Sackett novels but haven't had a chance to read them. I broke my 100 book challenge but in that rule-breaking I did acquire The Ox-Bow Incident.

[@thewestisthebest]

Super choices, and thanks for the mention. Great hat and shirt, too! Roger needs a Stetson!!

[@nedmerrill5705]

Roger needs a cowboy hat and a sarape. Or maybe a sombrero. And a bandolier. He don't need no stinkin' badges.

[@tonette6592]

Excellent!

[@BrianRidgway-u5g]

How about just a bolo tie and a huge handlebar mustache?

[@BrianRidgway-u5g]

Since you snuck comics in near the end, l highly recommend the Dyamite comic Chuck Dixon's Lone Ranger - Snake of Iron. A very gritty, terrific take on the Ranger that is available in a nicely-priced collection. It may not be available in the Omnibus, but is certainly worth individual mention!

[@glockensig]

I read To The Far Blue Mountains....almost 50 years ago😮....I remember liking it a lot but....needs a reread. On the way back from SD (& Tarzana) I stopped at the Zane Grey museum in Zanesville, OH.(Talk about a two-fer.... Tarzana and Zanesville) Unfortunately, the museum is only open from April thru October. I will get back some day and get you something. Zanesville was founded on land granted by Ebenezer Zane..... Zane Grey's Great Grandfather.....

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

You are too kind!

[@michaeloneill6693]

Love the video as always! Lots I fancy reading from that lot! Felt sure there would be a Robert E Howard western in there somewhere though!

[@lock67ca]

May I also suggest Butcher's Crossing by John Edward Williams.

[@justdon6288]

Excellent albeit brutal!

[@ABFrank.]

June on the Range has come around quickly!!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Great video, Michael. That’s so interesting about Zane Grey’s works being changed. I just posted a video today about how the same thing happened to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451-without him knowing about it. Apparently, the version I read in high school in the 70’s was a sanitized version. Bradbury didn’t realize what had been done to his novel until 1979. Crazy! Anyway, terrific video. I still need to read Lonesome Dove…

[@StephanieJCohen]

Epitaph is the Mary Doria Russell novel about the OK Corral. It was FANTASTIC!!!!! I read it for first June on the Range. I haven’t read DOC, though I plan to this June. I think it’s supposed to be good, but Epitaph is the exceptional one. If DOC is half as good as that, it will be enjoyable. And you don’t have to read them in order.

[@BrianRidgway-u5g]

Streets of Laredo is a fantastic book on its own. If memory serves, there are crossover characters, but it is a smaller story, just as well told. Definitely worth your time, and in many ways, just as fine as Lonesome Dove.

[@sams5963]

Michael you need to drop everything and read doc it is that good you will not be disappointed. The follow-up is called Epitaph

[@danbro1378]

Holy crap! It’s Not-so-Butch Cassidy and the Sarcophagus Kid!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

😂

[@CWilliam21]

Reading all the Joe Picket books because I liked the show and now I’m hooked.

[@Johanna_reads]

I'm reading Lonesome Dove this Summer, so I might be participating in June on the Range! Great TBR!

[@GrammaticusBooks]

A genre I really need to explore better. Cmon June on the range! Good Western TBR Michael!

[@farhad_s]

I read the first two Sackett books last year for June on the Range (had read Bengali translations in the early '80s!). This June, I plan to read Lonesome Dove, The Warrior's Path, Sudden:Sudden, and The Quick and the Dead

[@lock67ca]

Elmore Leonard's Westerns are can't miss too.

[@w.adammandelbaum1805]

You should read Yiddish westerns, like For A Few Dollars Off, The Good the Bad and the Kosher, and The Streets of Miami. It'll be a mitzvah, Mr. Vaughan.

[@SpecialAgentBillMaxwell]

Lonesome Dove is like a grand slam home run knocked over the stands, past the parking lot, and across the adjoining interstate. I'd put it in my top 10 list of the greatest books ever written. It made me wonder if I've been reading the wrong genre. I appreciate your recommendations!

[@MasterMalrubius]

Howdy, partners. Howdy!

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

Read Doc last year for June on the range and absolutely loved it. I’m going to read Epitaph (the follow up) next June. I can highly recommend Doc.

[@lukethomas216]

I finished Lonesome Dove yesterday and agree with all the praise. It was probably the best 10/10 most enjoyable reading experience I’ve had for a while. New genre for me having only read one other western before, some years ago.

[@StevenEverett7]

Great video Michael! Did you ever wonder what happened to the people trapped in the valley? What happened to the other characters? Well, you do have the answer in one of those Zane Grey collections. In The Rainbow Trail you get all the answers. The story is told from the point of view of a new character who has come from the east and is determined to find some answers. I began reading westerns in my early youth and ZG was how I discovered them. I think that I've read every western that he ever wrote. He certainly isn't for everyone, but some people may still appreciate him.

[@readersretreat7845]

Great westerns Love the Sacketts

[@LiterateTexan]

I'm thinking about just rereading Lonesome Dove for June on the Range. Like you, I was skeptical. I was so happy that it turned out to be as good as everyone said.

[@DebMcDonald]

I’m saving The Rainbow Trail for June. It’s the sequel to Riders of the P. S. which certainly ended on a cliffhanger. I’m also interested in a new release called The Bullet Swallower.

[@davidsigler9690]

I've read the Zane Grey "The Westerns",,,,it's fairly good.....I would recommend, "Breakheart Pass." By. Alistair Maclean....yes, same as the Charles Bronson film.

[@stephennootens916]

Western genre is one of those genres I long been neglecting. At the end of last year I stuck a small toe into it with a Western romance and I picked up the first in the Line Star series on my kindle and bought a used copy of Zane Gray's classic Riders of the purple sage. I have a hand me sown copy of Lonesome Dove but I don't think I am ready for that bad boy just yet. I need to read a little more lighter shorter stuff before I can take it on.

[@still-reading]

I grew up on a farm in Northeastern Colorado, so westerns remind me of home - cows, hills, cactus, snakes, etc. Plus when I was a girl a family friend loaned me a box of all the Zane Gray books and I read them one summer. Some of them were good, but I prefer L'Amour. My library has a bunch and I'm reading them all. I'm rereading Sackett right now. I really like the later Sackett books and Hondo was great! I also like The Virginian, Shane, and True Grit. I'll be looking for some you mentioned here. I'd love to read a Lone Ranger book, we loved him when we were kids. Thanks for sharing your finds with us.

[@rickcantrell5302]

I've been afraid to read Streets of Laredo, because then I will have read them all. But I did read and love Dead Man's Walk and Comanche Moon. They may not be quite as good as Lonesome Dove (although they may be), but they were still amazing stories. Looking forward to reading Riders of the Purple Sage and The Rainbow Trail! Come on, June!

[@JonStallings]

Started and DNF Riders on the Purple Sage twice. It just did not click. Hope to read Lonsome Dove at some point. I read mostly nonfiction so I have read one western themed nonfiction the past two years and hope to get to one this year. As you know, too many books but too little time

[@vilstef6988]

I keep hearing great things about Elmer Kelton! I have an ebook copy of The Time It Never Rained.

[@ellesse3862]

I fancy reading Last of the Duanes, still want to know what happened in the uncut version of the story, also the pulp stories of Senorita Scorpion.

[@scottjones8100]

I've read a lot of The Sacketts novels. You're going to love Jubal Sackett.

[@tonette6592]

What a look! I can see Roger in a Lee van Cleef outfit, ("The Ugly")

[@nunyabidness4220]

I strongly recommend anything by Lewis B. Patten. I've gotten obsessed with his work... as soon as I finish one I want to start another because he never lets me down. I also really love Elmer Kelton, Wayne D. Overholser, Giles Lutz, Clair Huffaker, Ray Hogan, H. A. DeRosso, Louis L'amour, Max Brand, and Luke Short. You won't go wrong with any of those guys. And, yes, Lonesome Dove is *awesome.* Edge is fun, but it is trash. I also like the Renegade books by Ramsey Thorne. They're smut, but there are usually good plots mixed in around the sex scenes. They're kind of a rip-off of John Benteen's amazing Fargo books. I LOVE those Avenel books. I went nuts collecting those. Zane Grey is a great writer, but I kinda consider Zane Grey almost more a romance writer than a Western writer. You keep waiting for some action to happen and it never does, but people sure do angst about who's going to say "I love you" first. Here's a list of some of the greatest westerns ever: Lewis B. Patten -- A Killing In Kiowa, Red Sabbath (about Custer and how screwed up he was), Death Stalks Yellowhorse (this is almost a slasher novel set in the west, it's intense). Tincup in the Storm Country (later retitled to Rifles of Revenge, so be careful and don't get stuck buying it twice). Elmer Kelton - The Time It Never Rained (this is almost as great as Lonesome Dove to me -- not a shoot-'em-up, but a really smart, important book), The Day The Cowboys Quit, Wagontongue Clair Huffaker - Cowboy and the Cossack (this book is legendary, people are really obsessed with it, for good reason), Posse From Hell Alan LeMay -- The Searchers (even better than the movie) Wayne D. Overholser -- The Violent Land H. A. DeRosso -- .44 (this is western noir and the ending is as bleak as anything you'll ever read)

[@arekkrolak6320]

I didnt read 'Streets of Laredo' neither, but earlier this month I have read 'The Last Picture Show' by Larry McMurtry and it was quite good too, completely different than 'Lonesome Dove' but good, it remined me a bit 'Winter of our Discontent' by John Steinbeck

[@missstarbuck]

I haven't read a western yet at all!. The only options i have at the moment are, Bonanza and Eagleseye... and i don't even know they are really considered western haha. I do want to read my first western this year... so June on the range might be a great occassion for it :D

[@runningsuperska]

That Dust Devil cover is cool.

[@deeebeee1758]

Oh, dude, the outfit is priceless. Hope you grow into that hat someday. Have you read The Virginian by Owen Wister. Comic-wise, you can't go wrong with Blueberry or Bat Lash. Enjoy your June on the range.

[@robertlynn7746]

I think June on the range is going to have to last the whole year!

[@JohnHermann-b5t]

Streets of Laredo was the first Dove series book I read after watching the Lonesome Dove mini series. It was awesome, the whole series is fine. Working on Blood Meridian and that is intense. Written the same year as Dove 85. Some say Meridian is the best American novel, but I think it’s debatable.

[@fredflintstone1485]

Have read all the Louis L'Amour books. Owned the leatherette versions but sold it for fortune on ebay while back. Sackets were great. Liked Utah Blaine. Liked em all. Some more than others. Roger looks like he was on the losing end of a shootout :) My all time fave western novel was Shane by Jack Schaeffer. Better than the movie. An really incredible western novel is Travels of Jamie McPheeters. I swear . Try it and you won't be disappointed !

[@vilstef6988]

Mary Doria Russell's other western is Epitaph.

[@HobbiesofaMan]

I wanna join in on the event this year. I've got some Louis L'amour and Long Arm books to read, but I was wondering, do June on the Range books have to exclusively be American westerns or can they be frontier stories of other regions of the world?

[@bartsbookspace]

Couldn't agree with you more. After I read Lonesome Dove I thought 'Bart, you'll never read a better Western in your life" I guess what, I haven't!

[@charliedogg7683]

I initially thought I have no Westerns nor have I ever read any. On reflection however I realised that I have read a few REH Weird Westerns, which kind of fulfill the criteria I think.

[@michaelsamerdyke108]

"To the Last Man" was made into a good B movie early in the Thirties, directed by Henry Hathaway.

[@catherinehiley3274]

Hi Roger great vid, just wanted to say I cut my teeth on Edge in my misspent youth just what a angsty teen needed, don’t remember too much now but I recall he does reminisce about his civil war days quite a lot you may need a strong stomach then

[@BobbyHall-eu1xv]

Streets of Laredo is really great, it just isn't an 'epic journey' story like Lonesome Dove. Having enjoyed Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow I really want to read Doc - looking forward to June On The Range!

[@leoden49]

Thanks for turning me on to T. V. Olsen. I've read a dozen of his books over the last year.

[@fabioblanco8571]

This is the second time Edge has been recommended to me. I'll have to read it. My favorite adult western is The Gunsmith, by J.R. Roberts (Robert Randisi) Have you read it?

[@SidLaw500]

Ed Gorman's westerns are a must.

[@DDB168]

I read that LoA last year for JotR. It only contains 3 of the greatest westerns, Warlock is BORING !! But you'll love it 😂 I'm reading Doc this year.

[@susanneill7142]

Hi Michael! I’m new to your channel but have seen at least one other of your vids about westerns which I love. And Doc IS great!! Epitaph is the title of Russell’s sequel (haven’t read it yet). Takes place mostly in Tombstone I think. I also loved Shane tho unfortunately Schaefer had some issues with bigotry & sexism. Speaking of which: Z Grey’s Wyoming is rife with those issues. And does he always write cowboy dialog in that stupid twang?? It got on my nerves really fast. I’ll read Riders of the PS but that may be it for me & Grey. 3 other writers of westerns I want to read are Loren Estleman (Bloody Season about the Earps & Doc) & The Branch & the Scaffold; Ron Hansen (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward R Ford) & Robert B. Parker (Appaloosa). The last 2 were made into movies. Thanks!!

[@bizarrebraincomics7819]

Yeeehaaw! The Sacketts, Lone Ranger. Edge! Great Western fare pahdnah. How about REH or ERB westerns?

[@scp240]

The Ox-Bow Incident is definitely on my Top 10 list,

[@susanneill7142]

Oh I forgot!! LofA has done a book of Elmore Leonard’s westerns, including Hombre which was turned into Paul Newman’s movie, & Valdez Is Coming, Forty Lashes Less One & others. I DNF’d Wister’s The Virginian real fast. I don’t understand why it was so popular for years & years. IMO Wister couldn’t write his say out of paper bag. 😊

[@ernestschultz5065]

Telegraph Days by Larry McMurtry is a great western set at the end of the Old West.

[@Reader-Copy]

Did you ever read The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta, by John Rollin Ridge? It's not a Western genre novel, but rather a "dime novel" originally published in 1854, that's partially historical. Very brief, and a good read.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I haven’t read that one.

[@jeremyhennessee6604]

Oh yeah, can't go wrong with L'amour. I'd say my personal favorite (in regards to sackett series) was Jubal, but they're ALL great. I think Lamour was CERTAINLY amazing, but Zane Grey is atop my Greatest ever list. Riders of The Purple Sage. Finest western ever written. But definitely to each their own. That's the JOY of it. I write bad poetry, and am working on a few projects myself here lately off and on between my day job. (Landscaper/painter/roofer/farm labor/etc. You name it, I've probably done it at some point.) Alright, I'll spare you the novella, but good video. Wish there were more channels such as this on here. Love it.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@davebrzeski]

I've only read one Edge book, back in my teens. I think it was the first of the series, but I'm not sure. All I remember is that it had the highest maggot quotient of anything I'd ever read at that time.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It was memorable in that way.

[@Six-Shooter]

Great video, Michael. Like to think that I inspired it. Your viewers will have a big shock in quality if they come over to my channel Hahaha. I plan on reading The Kelly Man this year also, at least it's somewhere in my top priority list anyway. Also need to go back and read The Renegades by Ray Hogan once I'm back from holiday since I never got to finish it. If I had the time, and was a fast reader I sure would have a lot I'd love to read for June On The Range this year. Hope my channel can take part this year also. Happy reading and yeehaw

[@patricktilton5377]

Don't forget that Robert E. Howard wrote some Westerns, too . . .

[@lock67ca]

Epitaph is just as good as Doc. Maybe even better.

[@dBenson-g6v]

Roger and I have returned - from Brokeback Mountain,

[@freelivefree7221]

I think Shane and the Searchers are better known as movies than novels. Which is a shame since they were both good novels. The Jack Reacher novels of Lee Childs are basically Shane in the modern day and not nearly as well written. (Not a Reacher fan.) Yellowstone Kelly was actually a real person, but I don't know much about him

[@michaelwatson5000]

I grew up in the west and have spent most of my life out here. And I have never ever read even one western, how weird is that? I keep thinking that I really need to pick one and read it soon, just to fill in this gap. Not sure, though, what the best book for a reader new to the genre would be. People say good things about The Virginian, but also about Lonesome Dove, and also about anything by Zane Gray.

[@Six-Shooter]

I would not recommend The Virginian as your first Western. Wait until you've read a good few. I'd recommend picking up anything by Zane Grey, Louis L'amour or Max Brand if you are new or just go pick up one that takes your interest at your local library

[@michaelwatson5000]

Thanks, I appreciate your advice!

[@tyghe_bright]

I've read almost no Westerns. I definitely want to read Lonesome Dove and Blood Meridian. Doc and its sequel Epitaph definitely appeal, too... but am also looking for westerns that are written by Native Americans. I think that would be a really interesting perspective. And, for fun, maybe some gay cowboy smut.

[@wassr1956]

Posted by his friend on Facebook I have devastating news about Brian. Around 12am on the 22nd he took a ambulance trip to the hospital and has been in the ICU ever since. His condition is decreasing and is currently on a ventilator, the doctors are doing everything they can. I've been in the ICU with him since Friday and my world is shattering, and unable to stop crying. But now that his parents are here I know he would want the rest of his friends, coworkers, and fans to know. Please keep him in your thoughts, and hope he makes a full recovery. I know he appreciates everyone in his life. Much love to you all for the support.

[@justdon6288]

Are you talking about Brian Durfee? Been missing him lately.

[@wassr1956]

@@justdon6288 yes

[@davidhawley3337]

_Blood Meridian_ and _Comanche Moon_.

[@hecklongtree]

You need to read Max Brand Great stories, filled with allusions to classical mythology.

[@justdon6288]

By the way, I know this is sacrilege but I just couldn’t deal with Riders and all that freaking purple sage. Should I give ole Mr. Zane another try?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I would.

[@CWilliam21]

You left out the novelization of Back to the Future 3.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Don’t forget the curse of Capistrano 🤠

[@HideAndRead]

Maybe you would like my channel, where I review a western every week (in an ideal world) during the "Weekly Western Wrap up".

[@justdon6288]

Just curious, are Ray and Roy Hogan brothers?🤠

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I doubt it.

[@angusmckeogh659]

Did you say golden shower?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

😩