Review of "Westeryear: Stories About the West, Past and Present," edited by Edward Gorman

 Review of

Westeryear: Stories About the West, Past and Present, edited by Edward Gorman, ISBN 087131553X

Five out of five stars

Not the usual western stories

 Western novels tend to have a generally standard format, with the hero engaging in gun battles with the villains. The heroes tend to be excellent shooters while the villains find it difficult to hit their targets. There is some character development, but it is easier for authors to engage in the actions with firearms.

 That is not the case with these short stories. They all have a point, there are heroes and villains, but there is more moral ambiguity as to which is which. There is the common theme of how difficult it was for the people that pioneered the settlement of the west. Native Americans do appear on occasion, but in secondary roles and not as protagonists.

 Plot devices range from the appearance of a werewolf to hints of the occult and life prolongation. My favorite was “The Return of a Private,” by Hamlin Garland. It is the story of a group of men that volunteered to fight on the Union side in the American Civil War. The war is over, and they have been discharged and their beaten and exhausted bodies are making their way home to their farms. The narration bounces back and forth between the soldiers and their relatives that have no idea that the men are getting very close to home. While they left to cheers and excitement from crowds, their return is very personal, one reunion at a time.

 If you are a fan of the super cowboy style of story, where one man fights off the local evil doers to victory, then this book is not for you. However, if you are interested in stories with some complexity to the characters and subject matter, then you will enjoy it.

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