Brothers
of the Gun is an entertaining traditional western written by B.
S. Dunn and published by Robert Hale’s Black
Horse Western line. B. S. Dunn is a pseudonym for the prolific and very
talented Australian scribe Brent Towns.
A war is brewing in the Cottonwood Creek range between
the largest cattle outfit, B-L connected ranch, and the incoming homesteaders.
The B-L is owned by Buford Lance who first settled the area “at the foot of the
Sangre de Cristo range,” decades earlier with nothing more than a dream and the
determination to build an empire. He fought outlaws, Indians and anyone else
who came wanting what he righteously believed to be his.
Now, the homesteaders are coming in waves, fencing and
planting the grasslands. To stop the interloping farmers, Buford hires two gunmen.
The estranged brothers known as The Gun King, Lucas Kane, and The Prince,
Jordan Kane. Lucas has the biggest reputation in the territory, and his younger
brother, Jordan, has plans to unseat The King. When the brothers arrive, Lucas
turns down Buford’s offer and rides away, but Jordan happily takes Lance’s money.
A simple job, it seems, to run off a few dirt farmers, but when Lucas joins the
homesteaders it becomes both more difficult and the opportunity Jordan has been
waiting for.
Brothers of the Gun is as fast as it is
entertaining. The action is brisk, and believable. A traditional range war
western with a cast of both good and bad. Buford Lance is the angry, unscrupulous
rancher with more money and power than sense. Jordan is a badman with seething rage
and something more, while Lucas is a nice take on the moral gunfighter. It
reads similar to many of the books packaged as Ace Doubles back in the day—a good
thing—and it is both appealing and entertaining.
1 comment:
Ben, I have read a couple of hardback Black Horse Westerns that were entertaining, as you say, and had plenty of action. I like the large font and typeface in these books.
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