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Post by ripper on Jul 7, 2019 20:34:17 GMT
Herne the Hunter 24: The Last Hurrah by John J. McLaglen (Piccadilly Publishing 2018, originally Corgi 1984)
This is the final entry in the series. In this one, Jed Herne comes upon a wagon train heading for California, and spends a pleasant night in the company of the settlers before riding into a small town. Hardly has he had time to order a drink in the saloon when a stagecoach arrives, shot up with arrows, and with all on-board dead and a payroll stolen. Herne suspects it may not be the work of Apaches. Later on, he comes across a cavalry patrol of which he is suspicious. Are they really soldiers or are they involved with the spate of attacks in the area? Also, what do they have planned for the wagon train? I've read around 20 volumes in the series, and while this is nowhere near my favourite, it wasn't a bad way for Herne to bow out. The book has some savage action and nasty descriptions of mutilation and torture, typical of the Piccadilly Cowboys. There are also some in-jokes, with the author giving characters names of other PC writers; for instance, two young women in the wagon train are Mrs Harvey and Mrs Nolan. There is a feeling of finality that the author conveys very well throughout the story, with Herne even more world-weary than usual, and it was good to see that the series got a proper final volume, instead of the series just being dropped as too often happens.
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Post by andydecker on Jul 7, 2019 21:46:56 GMT
I completed this series about ten years ago and still haven't read the last few novels.
I wonder if this really was the last of the published PC westerns. It is a nice thought. Indeed the "Last Hurrah"
In 1984 there were only 6 PC westerns published aside from Edge and Steele, all the last numbers of their series. Apache, Peacemaker, Claw and Herne. Now these were done by different publishers, with different schedules. But I guess James knew from his pals that their western days were also over. Only Terry Harknett managed to soldier on for five years. So maybe Laurence James could do a last pun.
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Post by ripper on Jul 8, 2019 17:49:42 GMT
I completed this series about ten years ago and still haven't read the last few novels. I wonder if this really was the last of the published PC westerns. It is a nice thought. Indeed the "Last Hurrah"
In 1984 there were only 6 PC westerns published aside from Edge and Steele, all the last numbers of their series. Apache, Peacemaker, Claw and Herne. Now these were done by different publishers, with different schedules. But I guess James knew from his pals that their western days were also over. Only Terry Harknett managed to soldier on for five years. So maybe Laurence James could do a last pun.
I don't have the last volumes of those PC survivors of 1984, so am not sure if they were properly concluded like Herne. Edge must have had a loyal following to have slogged on into 1989 when the others had been wound up five years before. When reading The Last hurrah, I was somewhat reminded of the 1950 film The Gunfighter with Gregory Peck. Both Ringo in Gunfighter and Herne are tired and world-weary, and realise that their way of life is unsustainable, and sooner or later they are going to be out-drawn or back-shot by someone anxious to enhance their reputation. BTW if you haven't seen The Gunfighter, it comes with my highest recommendation.
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