ONE AGAINST A GUN HORDE: New Western Stories by Richard Prosch

A pattern has emerged in the western fiction of Mr. Richard Prosch.

1. His characters are not fictional constructs, but real people leading real lives. They have genuine human emotions and converse in real genuine dialogue.

- and -

2. No matter where you think his stories are going, they take you somewhere else. And they're always worth the ride.

Those are two excellent reasons to check out his latest collection of western tales, One Against a Gun Horde.

If the title has a dime novel ring to it, that’s no accident. The book’s title story is an ingenious mash-up of Old West reality and dime novel imagination. It’s a fine lead-in to the collection, and the other five stories keep pace, delivering generous portions of wit, humor and down-home Nebraska authenticity. The writing is rich, smooth, and goes down easy, making it all the more satisfying as each tale follows its own crooked trail to a surprising conclusion.

That’s it. I ain’t telling you any more. You’ll just have to read this for yourself. Get it here:

One Against a Gun Horde

Richard Prosch creeped me out . . .

. . . in a good way, with his new story "Stringtown Road" over at BEAT to a PULP. This one involves a girl with Farrah Fawcett hair, a guy with Burt Reynolds shades and chains, and a dark highway duel between a Ford Pinto and a Ford Galaxy. 

I suggest you bop over there (meaning HERE) and let him creep you out, too. 

Mr. Prosch, whose Internet home is HERE, is the author of several fine eBooks and a good number of stories, most set in his own bailiwick, the wild western plains of Missouri. Some of that stuff, like Devils Nest, Branham's Due, Holt County Law and Buffalo Wolves, is set in the Old West, while Meadows Ford Blues is not. Do not fail to check 'em out, HERE!

BUFFALO WOLVES: More Holt County Adventures from Richard Prosch

The Old West of Holt County, Nebraska, is flowing strong through the veins of Mr. Richard Prosch, and he’s pouring it out onto the (virtual) page.

The title tale of the new two-story collection Buffalo Wolves introduces two young ladies who find themselves parent-free on the ragged edge of civilization. It ain’t long before human predators start circling, and the girls face a hard choice: flee, lay down and die, or find the grit to fight back.

There’s some fine writing here, as these unlikely heroines suck it up and make their stand. There’s even a guest appearance by Holt County Deputy Whit Branham, star of Branham’s Due and Holt County Law.

Next up is something completely different. “A Gift at Bitter Creek” is a tall tale/ghost story told by Pap McGee, proprietor of the general store. Pap (being a figment of Mr. Prosch’s fertile imagination) is a gifted storyteller, and like “Buffalo Wolves,” this one comes to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

What’s next from Holt County? Don’t have a clue, but I look forward to reading it.

HOLT COUNTY LAW: More Blistering Western Action from Richard Prosch

In the story "Branham’s Due" (reviewed HERE), Richard Prosch introduced us to Deputy Sheriff Whit Branham and several other citizens, good and bad, of Holt County, Nebraska. Well, the plot thickens and the characterizations deepen in his new novella, Holt County Law.

The trouble begins when Whit's friend the sheriff is gunned down in a saloon by a young psychopath named Billy Slade. Whit tracks Slade down, and resists killing him only at the insistence of other close friends.

A year later, Whit has cause to regret that resistance, when Slade returns to Holt Country - and to his murderous ways. And Slade’s not the only bad man on the scene. With the new sheriff mysteriously absent, Whit finds himself up against a well-organized gang of horse thieves.

This time we meet a much wider cast of characters, all of them nicely drawn, but it’s wise to get to attached to them. There’s just no telling who’s going to make it out of the story alive. And as you can expect in a Richard Prosch tale, the prose is tough and laconic.  Here are a couple of passages I especially liked:

This dialogue is between Whit Branham and his friends Ezrie and Indian chief Yellow Horse.

     “Leave it to Indians to kill each other over a woman,” said Whit.
     “White men don’t kill each other for women?” said the chief.
     “Heck, no, Chief. We don’t need reasons to kill each other,” said Whit.
     “Not that I can’t think up a few,” said Ezrie.
     “Me, too,” said Whit.

And this, after Whit and Ezrie have nailed a couple of Slade’s accomplices:

     “Do you figure Slade for the ringleader?” said Ezrie.
     Whit shook his head. “Not really. He doesn’t seem the type.”
     “Yeah, from what I seen of him, admitted that’s precious little, he doesn’t seem much brighter than these other two ass biscuits,” Ezrie said. 

There’s sure to be more great action coming from Richard Prosch and Holt County. I suggest you jump on the wagon now, so you’ll be ready for it. Right now, both Branham's Due and Holt County Law are only 99 cents. And while you're at, check out Mr. P's earlier works, Devil's Nest and Meadows Ford Blues.

A New Western Saga Begins: BRANHAM'S DUE by Richard Prosch

Richard Prosch has a new Western series going, and it looks like a winner.

"Branham's Due" takes us to wild and wooly Holt County, Nebraska, where Deputy Sheriff Whit Branham is hunting Johann Kramer, a notorious back-shooter freshly arrived from Dakota Territory. What Whit doesn’t know is that Kramer has hooked up with Whit’s old Sunday School teacher, a mountainous, pumpkin-faced woman who’s strayed from her righteous ways. Luckily, Whit flunked Sunday School and is not above a little unrighteous behavior of his own.

Richard Prosch’s writing is clever and sharp, like Whit himself, and his quirky supporting characters are finely drawn.

Also included: a preview of the soon-to-be-released novella, “Holt County Law,” in which we meet Whit’s boss, Sheriff Barney Keane, and other salty residents of O’Neill City, Nebraska. “Branham’s Due” is the beginning of what promises to be a great series, and I’m already looking forward to “Holt County Law.”

"Blood Kin" at BEAT to a PULP: Is is Prosch, or is it REH?

Okay, I know Richard Prosch actually wrote this himself. It says so here on the "cover," doesn't it? But Robert E. Howard (who wrote both westerns and horror stories) also wrote some western horror stories, and "Blood Kin" fits right into that Howard western horror groove. That's high praise, I know, but well-deserved. Check it out right HERE at BEAT to a PULP!

Richard Prosch Rides Again: A New Story at The Western Online

Yep, Owlhoot Rich Prosch has uncorked another fine Western tale this week at The Western Online. This time we meet a notorious hoss-thief called Kid Joseph, a hard-bitten unofficial lawman and a young man in search of his destiny. Mosey on over to The Western Online to see who's living on "Borrowed Time."

More by Mr. Prosch:
"Last Day at Red Horizon" - The Western Online
"Doggy Day Care" - BEAT to a PULP
"Regina's War" - The Western Online
"Pretending" - BEAT to a PULP

A Double Shot of Prosch

 

Here's great news.

Not only is Richard Prosch's blog Meridian Bridge back in business after a five-week hiatus, but he has a fine new crime tale called "Pretending" now playing over at BEAT to a PULP.

Check him out. Twice. And let's hope he's back to stay!

A New Western Story by Richard Prosch

I'm pleased to report that renowned Western blogger Richard Prosch has now had a second Western story published on The Western Online. This tale, like his first, features hardbitten John Coburn, a man with a big reputation who fears his best years are behind him.

Coburn's past exploits have earned him the nickname The Peregrine. To some that name commands respect, in others it incites challenge or prompts derision. Now Coburn just wants to get along, but trouble has a way of finding him, and backing down is not part of his make up.

For a proper introduction, I suggest you start with the first of the series, "Last Day at Red Horizon," then move right on to the new story, "Regina's War." If you're not a Richard Prosch fan already, these two tales are sure to do the trick.

Here are the direct links:
"Last Day at Red Horizon"
"Regina's War"

And just to whet your Western appetite, here are the opening paragraphs of "Regina's War":

An awkward leap brought him down on the hardpan, bones crunching, guts piling into his throat. He refused to give in, but John Coburn was wearing out fast. He hauled himself to his feet and, stifling the urge to curse, spit into the wind. "You want to try that again?" he said.  

Coburn uncoiled in the air like a whip, both hands grasping wildly for purchase. This time he caught hold, and the bull calf bellowed with rage, his back hooves kicking wildly. With both hands clamped around its tail, Coburn growled, "You ain't going nowhere now!" But another kick made him a liar, and he hit the ground.

Lightning flashed. Ignoring the taste of blood on his lips, Coburn looked at a far distant tide of green and black flowing up from the horizon toward the evening sun. Some good-sized hailstones in them clouds, he thought. As the thunder rolled over him, Coburn stood and watched the calf lope away. 

This time he cursed.

This is great stuff! Enjoy the stories at The Western Online, then be sure to pay Rich a visit over at Meridian Bridge.