Showing results by author "Max Brand" in All Categories

"The whip had cut him like a knife in a dozen places...." But the friar still won't talk about church gold. Is there any chance of mercy from the horrifying leader of the tomb robbers?

When Ronicky Doone arrives in Twin Springs, he finds himself in the midst of a deadly feud between two rival families. The stakes are high - honor, revenge, and rich ranch land. Though the townsmen favor the Jenkinses, Ronicky is drawn to the Bennetts - and especially the beautiful Elsie Bennett. As the struggle builds up in violence and shifting alliances, only Ronicky has the power to restore the peace.

Harry Camden came out of the wilderness unwillingly. It was a girl who attracted him. But Sparrow Roberts, a fight manager, used this romantic lure only to attract Harry into his own sphere, because he knew that Camden had a truly devastating punch.

In Pete's Bar in the Bowery in New York, Pete tells some newspaper friends the story of Morgan the Fearless, a notorious desperado in the West. After terrorizing the Bridgewater region, the mayor hires Buck Christie to confront and defeat Morgan. Christie makes sure his challenge is heard. One night, Morgan enters the bar in Bridgewater with both guns trained on Buck Christie. The bar patrons freeze, and the atmosphere turns deathly quiet. Which one will walk out alive?

The knife missed him by a fraction of an inch! Then he reached under his pillow, grabbed his gun and fired into the darkness. If Alvarez survives, he'll look for one man, an unbeatable bodyguard or the assassin who wants him dead. Either will do.

Speedy probably had a last name, but no one knows it--a young man, a loafer, a drifter, a tramp. He does not usually use a gun, although in "Nighthawk Trail" he does, but it is only an elaborate illusion. Speedy is regarded as one of the most dangerous men in the West. The object of his quest is to find the great horse Nighthawk, bought for $7,000 by old Joshua Crane.

"Steady, Borgen," said a terrible and familiar murmur behind him. "Steady, man. If you turn, I shoot."

There was a tidal wave of crime, of murder, of robbery. Here and there, separated at distances of 500 or even 1000 miles, crimes were committed which were carefully prepared with a painful and laborious hand; and then they were executed in an instant by one or two bold spirits directed by one man - one quiet-voiced, uncannily brilliant outlaw who seemed to know everything.

As an intern in the accident room of the local hospital, Jimmy Kildare cannot accept any money for his work. Circumstances force him to perform emergency operations while he is in town on and for local toughs. They try to pay him, but he always refuses. Then he learns that his mentor, Dr. Fearson, is being threatened for not paying his gambling debts. Kildare is called to perform another secret and dangerous operation. Will he finally accept payment and save his mentor?

True love can endure anything—can’t it? When four renowned authors gathered for lunch with an editor, a provocative question emerged What emotional and mental journey would a man and a woman experience while linked together by a ten-foot chain for three days and nights? Each author brought their unique perspective to the table, resulting in captivating and varied stories. Will the challenge of constant closeness strengthen their bond, or will it become a corrosive force that erodes their love? What do you think might unfold if you were to pen such a narrative? Dive in to discover the ...

Jargan is a summer gambler wintering in the western town of Big Horn when he saves the life of Don José Cordoba and unwittingly acquires a new job. Soon he finds himself on a boat to Buenos Aires, having gained passage as the horse handler of two extraordinary horses: one called El Pantera, and a killer named Asesinato. He must use his innate wisdom and survival skills to protect himself and his charge against malignant men with a brutal love of cruelty.

Dick Rutherford, known simply as the Colonel, had set out into the West to find his fortune, accompanied only by his young companion, Christy Deever. But it looked like the frontier would provide more danger than money...until the Colonel and Christy met Stone-That-Shines, a Mandan warrior who possessed a medicine stone that gave him his name. As soon as the Colonel got a close look at the medicine stone, he knew immediately what made it shine — a rich vein of quartz gold.

A nasty little cardsharp shoots a New York detective and bolts for the Wild West. Through dumb luck be becomes a heroic gunfighter - then he cleans out the town that admires him. He's going too far, getting too cocky. He'll pay the price.

His name is Dan Barry, and they call him "the Manslayer." His best friend is a savage wolf dog no other man can touch. They say his gun is faster than summer lightning and has never missed its mark. They say no bullet yet cast can kill him. His lifeblood is danger, and it flows with the cool recklessness of a surging mountain stream.

When he first arrived in the town of Lister, no one knew anything about him except that he didn't speak... that he was probably a deaf mute. No one knew what to call him, so they called him Shannon. He bought supplies and ventured into a secluded valley and made enough money to take care of himself by selling pelts in town.Then one day Shannon came upon a horse that had been abused and was near death....

In Garden of Eden, we follow Ben Connor, a seasoned gambler seeking to escape his tumultuous life in New York. His journey takes him out west, where he stumbles upon a breathtaking breed of grey horses unlike any he’s ever encountered. These majestic creatures are shrouded in mystery, bred in a hidden valley known as the Garden of Eden, a place where outsiders are strictly forbidden. Connor sees a golden opportunity to strike it rich on the racetracks, but the question looms how can he obtain one of these extraordinary horses? This gripping tale, filled with the thrill and tension ...

Joseph Larrimee finally makes the gold strike that would prove his worth to everyone, but is he willing to give it up to save a mysterious woman from a gang of hard-bitten desperadoes?

Includes three Max Brand Westerns: The Gift, Jerico's Garrison Finish, and Sunset Wins.

Recently, a number of Western stories have been discovered among Max Brand’s unpublished works and the first story in this book, "The White Streak", is one of them. Its protagonist is 21-year-old Jimmy Babcock, a former football star, but now a worker at the local bank run by William Parker in the town of Dresser, which has changed from cattle country to one made up of oil and alfalfa fields. When Parker fires Jimmy, all Jimmy can think is how he will hurt Muriel Aiken, his fiancée, who wants to marry.

In a gripping tale of survival and intrigue, Jack Bristol shoots the sheriff and steals his horse, fleeing not into the sunset but deep into the unforgiving mountains. Captured by a mysterious mountain man, Jack spends months in captivity—only to be released under enigmatic circumstances. What secrets lie behind his face that caused a girl to scream in terror? Dive into this captivating 1922 pulp Western, penned by the talented Frederick Schiller Faust, better known as Max Brand, whose literary Westerns continue to resonate with readers today. - Summary by David Wales

Max Brand, the renowned pseudonym of Frederick Schiller Faust (1892-1944), is celebrated for his captivating western fiction. Faust began his literary journey in the early 20th century, selling tales to pulp magazines and crafting stories across various genres under a multitude of pseudonyms. He is perhaps most famous for creating the iconic character Destry, whose adventures in Destry Rides Again have been immortalized on film, notably in the classic 1939 version featuring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. Additionally, his character Dr. Kildare gained immense popularity in both film and ...