Bloody Season

by Loren D. Estleman

Book Overview

Presents an epic account of the brutal and legendary O.K. Corral shootout between Ike Clanton's cowboys and the Earp brothers. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515125318
• ISBN13: 9780515125313
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Jove Books
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

the bloody season by loren d. estleman

I have seen via film the ok corral story and have seen it slanted in goodguy badguy format. The film that came closer to the truth was the one called tombstone starring curt russel,val kilmer. By watching western history on the history channel i learned that there were no goodguys or badguys but a struglle for power. Wyatt earp wanted marshall Behan's job and made a quiet deal with the clanton's and mclourie's to help him catch johnnie ringo and curly bill brosus who had with the clantons/mclourie been robbing stage coaches and rustling cattle and horses,the deal fell through. The Clantonmclourie gang for fear of curly bill and johnnie ringo's gangs coming back on them decided to cover their tracks by picking a fight with the earps. They were over their heads against the earps who were true gunfighters. Despite the fact that the story is fiction,it transcends ficion. There are no cardboard characters in this story they are all flesh and blood characters Big Nose Kate Elder ,Johnny Behan, and the most inigmatic is Wyatt Earp. If the scheme had have been sucessful, Wyatt Earp might have been able to unseat Marshall Behan. This story is spellbinding. Loren D estleman is a magician.

Clear distinctions

Of the hundreds of books written about Tombstone and the Arizona Territory during the times of the Clanton and Earps I'd give this one the highest marks. Although it's a fictionalized history, Estleman manages to capture several traits concerning the period I've never seen in non-fiction.No US Territory during the 19th Century was exactly the shiny ideal we're tempted to assign to America. While the Tombstone marshals Earp faction were battling the Presidential appointed Territorial Governor appointed Sheriff Behan/Clanton faction in Territorial Arizona over who could seize power, steal the most cattle, rob the most stage-coaches loaded with silver from the nearby mines, similar events were happening in New Mexico and other Territories. Estleman re-creates the nature of this politically motivated war for raw power descended directly from Washington DC as few writers have managed to do. The author is also careful to explain to his readers where he's deviated from documented fact, such as in the details of conversations between the parties.Estleman also avoids the pitfalls of so many writers by seeing a clear distinction between courage and heroism. Men willing to enthusiastically face other armed men in gun battles from a distance of a few feet are certainly in possession of fearlessness, or courage. In Tombstone, Arizona, such fearlessness was rife on both sides of the local war. The author succeeds in communicating the fact that such profound courage doesn't necessarily accompany virtue of any other sort. Tombstone was a war between brave men of ambition. The ground they fought for was profit and naked power. Nothing more, nothing less.I'm giving this book five stars because of the eggs it breaks.

Replaces fiction with fascinating reality

The first sentence of Bloody Season grabs you and the book won't let you go: He was dying faster than usual that morning . . . Estleman introduces Doc Holiday with those painful words. Then with careful detail, he dismantles the fiction of the OK Corral, replacing it with fascinating reality. I used to sip well whisky in saloons in Tombstone back in the early 70s. How I wish I had Estleman's vision when I was there.

Good, Solid, Fast, and Informative Read

I have been privileged to read many books on the Troubles in Tombstone from S. Lake's larger than life treatment to A. Barra's recent offering. I found Estleman's treatment, the novelization, to be refreshing while very informative. He gives a certain life to the principals of the ever popular 1881 incident rather than the stiff renditions of the facts.

For all lovers of Western History!

Dietz is a veteran of over 75 audio book productions per the back cover, and he reads this action-packed, myth-busting Western with dramatic flair. Dietz sounds like an Old West cowboy character with a gravelly, terse voice. He makes the scene come alive and so real I could smell the blood and sweat. It's 1881, Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and the gunfight at OK Corral has occurred and the Earps and Doc Holliday have been arrested. From negotiations with the sheriff and Virg and Morgan Earp's injuries to Doc's frustrated beating of Big Nose Kate plus Wyatt's assignation with a prostitute, nothing is left out. Dietz struggles with the female voices, but that's not too distracting. Even though you think you know the story, this performance and account of the ultimate Western adventure are a terrific combination and will be enjoyed by all.