Heading West

by Noel M. Loomis and Noel Loomis

Book Overview

The nine stories collected here demonstrate the author's versatility, his broad range of interests, his emphasis on historical accuracy and detail, and his objective realism, while differing widley in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843958979
• ISBN13: 9780843958973
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Simply the Finest Western Author I've Read in Years!

There are authors and then there are WORDSMITHS like Noel Loomis, writers with a flair for language coupled with an ability to create multi-dimensional characters in unique settings and situations. Loomis practiced his art from the 1930s till the late 1960s, the quality of his work being acknowledged with two Spur Awards. The nine stories contained in this anthology amply display Loomis' marvelous gifts for characterization, setting and action. BOY, CAN THIS GUY WRITE! The stories in HEADING WEST are all little gems. Each is set in their own unique time and place; none of your generic range war stories here! Loomis is wonderfully adept at recreating each setting's feel and tone. In terms of characters, we meet, in turn, native Americans, windmill salesmen, loggers, railroad men, carnival barkers, rodeo champions, scalphunters and so on. These are living, breathing, recognizable human beings not black hat/white hat stereotypes. The action throughout each story is realistically drawn and Loomis has no qualms in handling controversial subjects. The standout tale is "Grandfather Out of the Past," one of two native American stories in the collection. Winner of the prestigious Spur Award it is a poignant, wonderfully drawn portrait of an old Commanche warrior whose dying time is near who must fight one last battle, this time against one of the members of his own tribe. If you are looking for quality fiction, look no further. Noel Loomis may not be as well-known as other Western authors but, in my book, he is one of the finest writers of fiction ever! Buy this book and enjoy a master craftsman at work! ***** I sincerely hope that Leisure Press or some other publisher considers reprinting all of Loomis' work. A new generation of readers deserves the opportunity to rediscover his unique talents.