Westerns

A Landscape Genre

Landscape Appeal:Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Westerns

• Settings—whether real or imagined—and background details frame these stories

• Often slower paced at first to accommodate extensive details and world building

• Stories may build on historical characters or events or retell familiar tales

• Timeless—or out-of-time quality. Don’t date as quickly; classics remain popular.

Why Read Westerns?

• Useful crossover for some historical fiction fans

• Great stories—adventure, exploration, gunslingers, pioneers

• Represent the past of both our countries so there’s a guaranteed market

Westerns in the US…

• Are set west of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers from end of Civil War (1865) until 20th century

• Offer a feel of the Old West rather than the details of Historical Fiction

• Feature cowboys, scouts, Indians, settlers, and lawmen• Explore the clash between civilization and anarchy in

mythic stories of men and the land.• Share similarities with Australia: terrain, aborigines,

settling the unsettled areas

The Appeal of Westerns

Frame/Setting

Rich in landscape descriptions with setting lyrically and evocatively described but also treacherous

Characterizations

Stories feature mythic heroes and real historical characters. Women may be secondary in traditional westerns but play a larger role in recent titles. Often stereotypical good/bad.

Story LinesStory lines often place hero in a morality play; he brings justice and restores order.Other themes include survival in a harsh environment, the redemptive power of the west, revenge, and coming of age.

Pacing

Pace depends on storyline. Adventure moves story more quickly; description slows the pace. These are stories of the westward expansion and there’s a sense of forward movement.

Style/Language

Colorful but spare language. Often rich in jargon.Reminiscences and diaries sometimes tell these stories.Even poetry.

Tone/Mood

Often a nostalgic tone, celebrating past times.Humor may also play a role.Think: cowboy songs

Classic: Elmer Kelton

• Sure Bet• Character-centered• Historically accurate• Texas settings• Characters placed in

realistic settings rather than action

Classic: Louis L’Amour• Sure Bet• Congressional Gold Medal

and Presidential Medal of Freedom

• Revived Westerns stories• Action-packed tales of

adventure and survival• Strong heroes fighting for

justice • Lives on in reprints

Classic: Ivan Doig

• Sure Bet• Homesteaders, not

cowboys• Western Montana

setting• Lyrical writing• Sense of place and love

of the land

More Classics

• Robert B. Parker• Don Coldsmith• Owen Wister• Jack Schaefer• A. B. Guthrie• Alan LeMay

Johnny D. Boggs

• Action and adventure• Vividly drawn

characters, including Native American protagonists

• Unusual settings• Spur Award winner• Also writes historical

fiction

Loren D. Estleman• Known also for Detroit

Mysteries• Single title westerns about

Western figures and Page Murdock series (Mystery blend)

• Solid research• More elegant writing• Gritty • Details of western landscape,

external and internal

Joe Lansdale

• Dark, gritty, quirky and offbeat tales

• Fast paced adventures • Well-drawn characters• Witty style• Also writes award-

winning mysteries and horror

Larry McMurtry• De-romanticized the West,

historical and contemporary• Vivid characters, including

woman• Strong sense of time and

place• Lyrical prose• Often nostalgic, melancholy

tone• Sweeping, cinematic tales• Leisurely paced• Western Nonfiction

Richard S. Wheeler

• Prolific with multiple series

• Frontiersmen and settlers

• Real historical figures• Character-centered• Richly detailed settings• Compelling stories

Genre-blending

Historical Fiction as biggest crossover genre with tales of the historical figures and the settlement of the West. The line between the two can be very faint.

More Genre Blends• Mystery

• Romance

• Inspirational

• Fantasy

• Science Fiction

• Horror

The Ultimate Blend

• Western• Historical Fiction• Crime Thriller• Literary Fiction• Black humor

Trends

Modern “Western”

Reprints and Whole Collection

“Adult” Westerns

• Explicit sex and violence• Less concern for

Western settings and themes

• Generally covers reveal whether traditional or adult

Westerns on the Web

• Western Writers of America

• Western Fictioneers

• Western Authors

U.S. Awards for Westerns

• Spur

• Western Heritage

• Peacemaker

Literary Westerns