In a separate communique, it has been argued that Louis L'Amour is not the greatest writer in the western genre:
Hello to all who receive this message--I was reading the Church blog and came across an inaccuracy so astounding that I simply could not let it pass unchallenged...Louis L'Amour is NOT the greatest writer of Westerns ever known. Elmer Kelton is without doubt the finest practitioner of the greatest form of literature known to modern man. A close second would be Elmore Leonard. Please also note Larry McMurtry who penned the greatest Western novel ever written. Lamour is a witless hack who couldn't carry Elmer's sweaty horse blanket to the barn. As a plus, almost all of Elmer Kelton's books feature the great state of Texas as a backdrop. Stories of men and boys overcoming evil and the elements, while always doing the right thing; being true to the code and protecting the womenfolk and little kids.
Huh.I personally find Elmer Kelton to be boring. It is the truth though, that Texas is a fine place.
Larry McMurtry gets (deserved) accolades for the Lonseome Dove book ONLY, if for no other reason than the moccasin ball in the river. OK, maybe it's sequel too, but none more for anything else ever.
Elmore Leonard is perhaps the True Master.
But, hackneyed and formulaic as he can be, I very much like L'Amour's bareknuckle fisticuffs, his knowledgeable use of the 4 Corners region, and all the injuns in say, Last Stand at Papago Wells, for example or, perhaps...Hondo!?!
Also, let's not forget Frank O'Rourke, who wrote The Professionals(!) and , my favorite, Range War... "Bryan could smell violence in the air when he rode in. The whole town was packing iron. The high country was about to explode in a bloody struggle for land..."
That's what I'm talking about!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must add that I am currently reading Six Fingered Stud, by Lance Horner, who also penned such classics as Mandingo, and The Mustee. So there's my bona fides. Take it as you will.
