Rangers of the Lone Star
by Zane Grey
western
copyright 1915 ?
read in December 2014
rated 7/10: well worth reading
There seems to be some mystery about this book... There's very little about it on the web. The only clear reference that I found says that it was stitched together -- by the publishers, in 1915 -- from parts of other Zane Grey works...
The same source says that this is the only Grey book written in the first person. Even with my own limited Grey reading, I had thought that the first person narration was unusual.
So is it a good book ? Yes :-)
Though it is really way, way over the top. Put the hero's underpants on the outside and he's the Phantom. Add a cape and he's Batman. This is not just a Texas Ranger... This is a story of the epitome of all heroic Texas Rangers !
And it's still a good book... A classic Western. With some unusual features...
You know the scene, at the end of the movie, where it's the hero and his loyal sidekick against the entire gang of baddies ? Where they are outnumbered and absolutely nothing can save them ? Until all the solid citizens pop out of the side streets to support the hero with their own guns...
Well...
That scene is in Rangers. Except that it's no last minute surprise. Because the hero has already put on a lot of work to make sure that the solid citizens will support him at the appropriate time.
Which makes for less suspense but a whole lot more sense.
So, once again, Grey has surprised me with a clever -- and sensible -- plot. His characters have depth and interest. The wrapup at the end requires more than just a big gun battle.
There's no doubt that good will triumph over evil. The surprise is that the triumph requires more than just a fast gun and two powerful fists.
Another very enjoyable Zane Grey western.
Just so, so... over the top... in the attitude to the hero.
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Problems ? Solved
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