On Dangerous Ground: Stories of Western Noir

A wild posse of outlaws populates this dark, moody collection of 21 character-driven tales derived from the psychological westerns popular in the 1950s. Though set primarily in the old American Southwest, these dusty noirs flare with life, death, animosity, danger, duplicity, and realistic characterization. Highlights include Terry Tanner's electric "All Good Men," in which a jailbird takes revenge on the men who testified against him; Jon L. Breen's affecting "The Cartoonist"; Gary Lovisi's "Lead Poisoning," which sees an Indian and a bank robber team up to settle the score with a sheriff; and James Reasoner's "The Conversion of Carne Muerto," which explores the turbulent genesis of a Comanche war chief. Some dastardly womenfolk kick up trouble in Ken Bruen's "Colt," while Dave Zeltserman and Harry Shannon conjure some ruthless heroines of their own in "Emma Sue" and "Lucky." From Santa Fe and San Francisco to the Oregon Trail, the action and adventure consistently thrill and mystify in this unique anthology of the rugged west. (Mar.)