It may seem strange to you that out of all the stories I heard on the Rio Grande I should choose as first that of Buck Duane-outlaw and gunman. But, indeed, Ranger Coffee's story of the last of the Duanes has haunted me, and I have given full rein to imagination and have retold it in my own way. It deals with the old law-the old border days-therefore it is better first. Soon, perchance, I shall have the pleasure of writing of the border of to-day, which in Joe Sitter's laconic speech, "Shore is 'most as bad an' wild as ever ...
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It may seem strange to you that out of all the stories I heard on the Rio Grande I should choose as first that of Buck Duane-outlaw and gunman. But, indeed, Ranger Coffee's story of the last of the Duanes has haunted me, and I have given full rein to imagination and have retold it in my own way. It deals with the old law-the old border days-therefore it is better first. Soon, perchance, I shall have the pleasure of writing of the border of to-day, which in Joe Sitter's laconic speech, "Shore is 'most as bad an' wild as ever!" In the North and East there is a popular idea that the frontier of the West is a thing long past, and remembered now only in stories. As I think of this I remember Ranger Sitter when he made that remark, while he grimly stroked an unhealed bullet wound. And I remember the giant Vaughn, that typical son of stalwart Texas, sitting there quietly with bandaged head, his thoughtful eye boding ill to the outlaw who had ambushed him. Only a few months have passed since then-when I had my memorable sojourn with you-and yet, in that short time, Russell and Moore have crossed the Divide, like Rangers.
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What has traditionally been one of the best selling of Zane Grey's novels, and considered by some to be one of his best, I find far inferior to the two novels from which this book was created by the editors at Harper Brothers. The two novels, Last of the Duanes and Rangers of the Lone Star stand far above this book. There are too many missing events and characters in this version. The female love interest is completely missing in Part Two of the book and there are many other unanswered questions created by the melding of these two works. But, if one is to have a complete set of Zane Grey, then this book is collectable and readable; but NOT one of his best. It is however far superior to anything being published today. I'd say this book is average, or little below average.
readersreader
Jan 20, 2009
shades of the old west
Buckley (Buck) Duane has inherited his fathers skills with a gun. He is fast and accurate. He also has the hot blood of his father, and the pioneer spirit of his mother. He is called out by a half drunk loud mouth, but Buck refuses to fight. Buck doesn't want the reputation of being a gun fighter. The word is spred around that Buck is a coward. The next time he is called out he answers the challenge, and he kills the man after he lets the man draw first. In the rest of the first half of the book, Buck is on the run. He hides out with outlaws, but he never associates with them to the extent that he breaks the law. The second half of the book is about his life as a Texas Ranger. Captain MacNelly, of the Texas Rangers, has gotten a pardon for him from the governor with the proviso that Buck become a Texas Ranger and help clean up the gangs in West Texas. It's easy and exciting reading. If you like westerns, You should like this book.
