The Shootists

By: Glendon Swarthout

Narrated by: J. P. O'Shaughnessy

The Shootist is John Bernard Books, a man of principle and the only surviving gunfighter in a vanishing American West. He rides into El Paso in the year 1901, on the day of Queen Victoria's demise, there to be told by a doctor that he must soon confront the greatest Shootist of all: Death himself.

In such a showdown against such an antagonist, J. B. Books cannot win. Most men may end their days in bed or take their own lives, but a mankiller has a third option, one which Books decides to exercise. He may choose his own executioner. As the word spreads that the famous assassin has reached the end of his rope, an assortment of vultures gathers to feast upon the corpse - among them a gambler, a rustler, a clergyman, an undertaker, an old love, a reporter, even a teenager. Books outwits them, however, by selecting the where, when, who, and why of his death and writing in fire from a pair of matched Remingtons the last courageous act of his own legend. The climatic gunfight itself is an incredible performance by an incredible man, and by his creator, Glendon Swarthout.

©2010 Glendon Fred Swarthout (P)2010 Books In Motion

A surprisingly honest portrayal of the West

Unlike romanticized western stories, this one was graphic and moral in an anti hero manner. Hard to describe what I mean in a short review. Regardless give it a try for a different take on the Wild West.

Bleak beauty

A cold and ugly novel with dashes of beauty. It is fantastically written with a fairly average performance. The narrator does well with the lead but not as well for the other characters and makes many mistakes in pronunciation.

Very different from the movie

I was surprised how different this was from the movie, but loved it! Now I've gotta watch the movie again to see if her son was as big a brat on screen as he is in print.

The Shootist

I found this audible book with excellent narration. I really enjoyed the narrator bring this book of life for me. Of course, I've seen the John Wayne movie of this book many a Time and always felt the movie was excellent. There is a surprise ending in this audible book I was unaware of and highly recommend that you listen to the audible book too.

A totally different type of Western.

Would you listen to The Shootists again? Why?

No, it is a classic, but a sad story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shootists?

The relationship between J.B. Books and his landlady going from mutual disgust to mutual respect.

What about J. P. O'Shaughnessy’s performance did you like?

He has a perfect Western character voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The end of an era.

Any additional comments?

Not for the weak hearted.