Showing results by author "Max Brand" in All Categories

This was the first effort by Frederick Faust aimed at writing a Western, and he used the pen name of Max Brand to produce it. There was a different style of literary focus, a variance that brought forth feelings of melodrama. However, as the story developed, that impression was changed drastically with startling examples of action, conflict, and revenge that set it apart. It was regarded as one of his most successful efforts in a career that produced perhaps as many as 25 to 30 million words, resulting in well more than 500 novels and short stories.

A dying man, Hank Peyton, tells his son Jerry Peyton that, after a lifetime of evil deeds, his only gift to his son will be his extremely valuable gun called The Voice of La Paloma. When Jerry is wrongfully accused of horse thievery, a cunning sheriff blackmails Jerry into stealing the gun from his father in exchange for a clean slate, even though the sheriff has already found the real horse thief.

Peter Quince was a fighter born and bred. Orphaned at a young age, he remembered an old woman saying that he was a bad one and would cause a lot of trouble in the world. Others claimed he had bad blood, and it would show up sooner or later. But Bill Andrews felt a connection with the boy, took him home, and raised him as one of his own despite his wife's misgivings. Peter soon learned he could manipulate people by withholding his true feelings. He had learned that battles should be won by cunning and strength, with cunning being far more important.

Winsor Glanvil pays court to Louise Carney, heiress to a fortune, and she agrees to marry him. The marriage is opposed by big Jack Rutledge, a jealous rival and formidable foe, so Glanvil and Louise plan to be married in a sequestered valley by a local clergyman. Rutledge and his supporters, learning of the plan, arrive in the valley ahead of the two and seize Glanvil. Glanvil is beaten mercilessly and Rutledge disfigures him, destroying one side of his face with the cutting edge of a spur. Rutledge then rejoins his gang in the clergyman’s house.

The son of a notorious outlaw is adopted into a wealthy, law-abiding family as an infant after his father is killed in an attempted robbery. Will he follow in the footsteps of his outlaw father, or will his life be guided by the respectable woman who nurtured him to manhood?

Black Jack by Max Brand is a gripping Western novel centered around the infamous outlaw, Black Jack, a man of complex morals and a mysterious past. Set against the rugged backdrop of the American West, the story follows Black Jack's attempts to escape his past while facing relentless lawmen and rival criminals. With his keen wit and unmatched gunfighting skills, he navigates a world filled with danger, betrayal, and redemption. The novel delves into themes of justice, honor, and the struggle between a man’s destiny and his desire for freedom, making it a thrilling and action-packed read. ...

"The Seventh Man" (1921) is a unique western novel with well-sketched characters by Max Brand. Excerpt: "A man under thirty needs neighbors; and to stop up the current of his life with a long silence is like obstructing a river - eventually the water either sweeps away the dam or rises over it, and the stronger the dam the more destructive is that final rush to freedom. Vic Gregg was on the danger side of thirty and he lived alone in the mountains all that winter.

In this extraordinary novel by Max Brand, one of the masters of the Western, the incident that turns Andrew Lanning into a fugitive also marks the start of his rites of passage from youth to adult. Pursued by the formidable Hal Dozier, Andrew grows with every adventure of the fast moving plot which brings the Old West to life in cinematic detail. This is storytelling at its peak, encompassing suspense, wit, and romance in a flowing narrative with a delightful conclusion.

While Bill Gregg stole Ronicky Doone's bay mare, Doone thanked him with a bullet in the leg. When he discovered that Bill was desperately searching for a girl whose name he didn't know, Ronicky's interest was captured. Helping him track the girl down was no real challenge for Ronicky, but rescuing her from the evil New Yorker who held her prisoner might be another matter. But Ronicky Doone never backed down from a challenge!

The wounded outlaw blurted out the warning to range boss Jim Seton, and Seton knew that if he wasn't careful, the man's words would prove true; Doug Walters' men were out for his blood. After five years in prison, Seton dared to return to the hostile town he called home - and within shooting range of the one man who would pay a fortune to see him dead.

Dive into the thrilling world of Ronicky Doone, where Frederick Schiller Faust—better known by his pen name, Max Brand—delivers a captivating tale of adventure and friendship. Born in Seattle and raised in Californias San Joaquin Valley, Faust became a prolific writer of westerns, crafting over 300 novels and stories. His characters, including the legendary Destry and the iconic Dr. Kildare, have left an indelible mark on both literature and film. In this gripping narrative, Ronicky Doone emerges as a celebrated hero of the West, admired by law-abiding citizens yet despised by nefarious ...

After hitting a rich vein of gold on the back of Champion Mountain, Blondy Kitchin heads to the big city to have a good time, but there his luck runs out and he ends up spending two years in prison. The prison's chaplain helps educate him, smooth out his rough edges, and convinces him that the range is the place for Kitchin to make use of his brute strength and free spirit.

Terry Shawn was a kind-hearted outlaw. He took from the rich and gave to the poor and while doing so, stole the heart of a beautiful young woman. Infuriated lawmen could never catch up with him. But deep in one secluded valley lived an older man with such a haunted past, he chose the solitude of a wild mountain range to find peace for his troubled soul. From this man named Shannon, Terry came to know the real meaning of honesty and friendship.

Meet Whistlin Dan Barry, a captivating figure in Western fiction with extraordinary abilities. He commands a wild stallion named Satan and a fierce wolf dog called Black Bart. While he appears easygoing, Dan becomes mercilessly vengeful when a notorious outlaw, Jim Silent, physically assaults him. Emotionless yet relentless, he embarks on a fierce quest to track down Silent and his gang. Untamed is the thrilling first installment in the Whistlin Dan series. (Introduction by rkilmer) Explore the adventures of Dan Barry in the series The Untamed, The Night Horseman, The Seventh Man, and Dan ...

He went by the name of Speedy. Some called him a tramp - and others called him worse. Speedy was a young con man who knew the fastest way to a rich man's wallet and a pretty girl's heart.

To Speedy, Durfee didn't look any different from a hundred other towns he'd seen before. There were fat bankers waiting for his smooth talk, and lovely young ladies ready to swoon over his smile and his guitar playing. But this time the charming trickster was about to meet his match - in a girl out to steal his heart!

He was still a young man, but he'd used that handful of years effectively, building a bad reputation that spanned the West, his villainy taking different forms everywhere it took roost. Denver knew him as the Doctor; Texans called him Montana; and folks in Idaho called him Texas. On account of his youth, most everywhere else called him the Lonesome Kid.

Jimmy's an ace with a gun in either hand - but he's got to wake up now or he's dead. There's one killer in his room, another in the hall and an axe-wielding lunatic is hiding downstairs. Will he live long enough to fight the giant who leads the gang?

"Alcatraz" by Max Brand is a Western novel that follows the tale of youthful farmer Hal Dozier, who sets out on a tenacious mission to find a famous fugitive named Alcatraz. Known for his shrewdness and heartless nature, Alcatraz isn't just a dreaded crook yet in addition a wild steed that has been difficult to catch or tame. Hal faces various difficulties as he leaves on this pursuit, testing his abilities, tolerance, and strength. The clever weaves subjects of opportunity, vengeance, and the ferocity of both man and nature. Brand's story consolidates serious activity with rich portrayals of ...

Black Jack Hollis was a daring outlaw before he was shot down. In the wake of his death, it's discovered that Hollis left behind an infant son. Elizabeth Cornish, coowner of the Cornish Ranch alongside her brother, Vance, takes it upon herself to raise the child as her own. Elizabeth names the boy Terry Colby and gives Terry a fictitious aristocratic background, believing the way the boy is raised will determine the man he will become. But Vance is convinced that Terry is destined to become an outlaw himself.

Notorious outlaw Lawrence Grey has been captured near El Paso. Marshal Neilan has a proposal for him. Neilan will set Grey free if he tries to locate John Ray, a man who was last known to be living in San Vicente, Mexico. The men Neilan sent previously have disappeared or quit the job....