Desert Stake-Out by Harry Whittington

 

No Sample Quote Offered.

This is my second Whittington novel, Charro being the first.

He wrote many a crime novel in the Fawcet Gold Medal vein of construction; I have read none of these—these are perhaps where he excels.

It might be luck of the draw with the two Westerns I have read.

I emphasize, they are not bad.

But…they feel so by-the-numbers constructed with screenplay stage direction scenarios and pat characters being shoved into clockwork set-ups that I never feel truly drawn in.

The formulaic feel does a disservice to the not-bad level of writing.

When one reads one of the Edge series by George Gilman there is a feeling of, “Hey, this is kinda sorta better than it has any right to be,” considering its assembly line origins.

With Whittington, I get the feeling that the level of plotting and writing is more along the lines of assembly line without the commitment to the grand guignol excesses of Gilman.

He hints at toughness without actually getting there.

He describes the land in detail, but it is a postcard description, not a bone-dry feeling, or cold ache in your bones as one gets with Haycox or MacLean.

Whittington is a puzzle to me.

There is something there, but I have not found it yet.

Others who have, might better direct me.

Murphy’s Herd by Gary Paulsen

 

If Murphy had held any worry about being able to follow the riders or losing their tracks, during the next six days he needn't have been concerned. It was like following a bad wind, a plague over the land.

The fourth in Paulsen’s “Murphy” series—the first is reviewed on this blog.

Before we delve further, I need to say that this volume should be read last—had I known what I know now, I would have acquired the middle two of the series first.

With that being said—this is a brief exemplary work.

The first half plays as a love story, a tale of two no-longer young people making a second stab at life in one another’s company.

This section has charm to spare.

The second half goes to dark, desperate territory.

It does not do so with excess—Paulsen’s darkness is lean, his spare prose gets the job done.

Even when the story seems to veer towards formulaic tropes, the author has a twist in the tale to remind us he is in command the entire journey.

As series well worth greater attention.

The BFI Companion to the Western

 

This volume, edited by Edward Buscombe, is an interesting addition to any Western aficionado’s reference library.

It contains encyclopedic entries for historical personages, Western films and Western television series.

While not comprehensive in any aspect it tackles, what I do find of value is the British perspective on certain films; the BFI stands for British Film Institute.

Where there is some overlap between what the US considers canonical films, there are a few that do not move the BFI, but what is more valuable, to my mind, are films that in the States may have fallen through the cracks and some attention is devoted to making a case for seeking these out.

I have found more than a few of these Piccadilly taste pointers most enjoyable.

Overall, a fine addition to a Western film reference library.

Cimarron City “I, the People”

 

The first episode of this 1958-60 Western plays like a mini-feature film.

We enter Cimarron City, Oklahoma and view it thru the eyes of cattleman, Matthew Rockford played by George Montgomery.

The bulk of this inaugural episode belongs to guest star Fred MacMurray who plays a visitor to the town.

The story arc asks the question is the new citizen good for Cimarron City or not quite a good fit.

MacMurray is able is this role and there is a packed script here, if anything it feels too packed, as if any entire B-feature film was shoehorned into the 60-minute time-slot.

My first exposure to the series leaves me intrigued and will likely dip in for more.

I will add, opening scenes of Montgomery doing cowhand work show an actor who is not merely playing a part—he has an able get in there and get your hands dirty feel to him. Admirable.