The End of the Trail: Western Stories (The Works of Robert E. Howard)
"I was born in the little ex-cowtown of Peaster [Texas],? Robert E. Howard wrote to a friend, and the first story he ever published (in 1922) was a Western sketch. Although he went on to write hundreds of fantasy tales set in Conan?s Hyborian kingdoms, Kull?s ancient Atlantis, and Solomon Kane?s darkest Africa, his heart always remained in the West. In 1929 he began publishing Western tales, but they were unlike any the genre had ever seen?they didn?t have happy endings or perfect heroes. They were grimmer, more action packed, even cataclysmically violent. Howard was fascinated by outlaws and gunmen, especially those who ?crossed over? to become lawmen, and he knew and interviewed many ?old-timers?old law officers, trail drivers, cattlemen, buffalo hunters, and pioneers.? The twelve stories collected here show a West stripped down to essentials, where internalized codes of personal honor, loyalty, and courage matter more than laws, progress, or civilization. Also included are four articles, suggestive of his wide-ranging interests?from Billy the Kid to the eerie and unexplained happenings on the frontier. ?To me the annals of the land pulse with blood and life,? Howard wrote, and his Western stories are full of memorable characters, heart-pounding action, and the distinctive prose generations of fans have come to know, and expect, and appreciate.
The End of the Trail: Western Stories (The Works of Robert E. Howard) Accessories
 The Riot at Bucksnort and Other Western Tales (The Works of Robert E. Howard)
Lord of Samarcand and Other Adventure Tales of the Old Orient (The Works of Robert E. Howard)
Boxing Stories (The Works of Robert E. Howard)
The Black Stranger: And Other American Tales (The Works of Robert E. Howard Series)
The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane
Bran Mak Morn: The Last King
Kull: Exile of Atlantis
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time!
The Conquering Sword of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 3)
The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2)
The End of the Trail: Western Stories (The Works of Robert E. Howard) Reviews
So, I purchased this collection of short stories and loved them. Howard back in his childhood through the 1930s, when he was a professional author. The men are based on stories that old timers who lived through the era told Mr. The raw, rude writing style coupled with the action, gives these short stories memorable punch. I'm not a big fan of the Western genre.just not something I ever got into. however, I am a fan of the author, as he created my favorite character: Conan the Barbarian.
After reading dozens of R.Howard stories,from Kull to Breckinridge Elkins I was looking foward to this collection of dramatic westerns.For some reason they just didnt hold my interest.Unlike most of his other stories these seemed very dated.I realize they are seventy years old,but Howard's other writing seems to me to be as fresh as if it was written last week.There are a couple of good stories, "Law Shooters of Cowtown" and "Vultures of Wahpeton",but mostly its like the difference between watching a western like "Shane", and then watching "Hopalong Cassidy".I did like the three "spooky" westerns and I thought a poem "The Sandhills Crest", was excellent.If you are a Howard fan,like me, you might like this just to get a taste of his western work, but if your looking for exciting western action I would probably look elsewhere.
My sincerest hope is that some talented young director will read these stories and choose to adapt one into a worthwhile movie. Overall, this is one of the finest collections of Howard's work and is thoroughly recommended. The Vultures of Whapetonthe longest of the storiesis easily the finest, featuring intensely described gunfights, paranoia, and carefully interwoven, downbeat moral themes. As with most of Howard's prodigious body of work, the writing is grim and crisply paced, making it not only quick but enjoyable. While in the same series is another collection of humorous westerns, those are, because of their lack of Howard's usually downbeat vision, inferior to these. There are any number of other fine stories though, including crossovers such as The Man on the Ground, which effortlessly injects a sense of wonder and awe into what would otherwise be a traditional western revenge story. Also, the ending is very powerful (though a somewhat lesser happy ending is also included). In this collection, many of Robert Howard's best westerns are presented for those who enjoy this great authors work.
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