STEVE HOCKENSMITH has written novels that are a hybrid of
western and mystery, hybrids of horror and classic novels (‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the
Dreadfuls’) and a mix of mystery and magical. He’s also written short
stories.
Several of Steve’s short stories have
been nominated for awards in the mystery field. He won the Short Mystery
Fiction Society's Derringer Award for ERIE'S LAST DAY, published in the May
2000 issue of ‘Alfred Hitchcock Mystery
Magazine.’ Other short stories were finalists for the Shamus Awards
and the Anthony and Barry Awards.
His short story HIRED GUNS: MULE’S GOLD was, for me, one of the highlights of
the SIX GUN JUSTICE PODCAST WESTERN
STORIES anthology. From my review of this anthology: ‘HIRED GUNS: MULE’S
GOLD is a stark outdoors tale of prospectors
searching the harsh Sonora desert for an abandoned gold mine. Meanwhile,
they’re being stalked by hidden enemies. Again this features terse, cinematic
prose, with some laconic humour. It reads like the gritty first chapter of a
novel (or a series) which I would be very happy to read.’
Well, now it is one! It’s the first in a series of ‘Double-A Western Detective Agency’ novels.
Here’s my four star review of HIRED GUNS, the novel:
‘Fun’ is not a term that features too frequently in reviews of western fiction – more often books in this genre are praised for being ‘action-packed,’ ‘gritty,’ ‘exciting’ etc. But Steve Hockensmith’s ‘HIRED GUNS’ manages to tick all those traditional western boxes and still be rollicking good fun. It’s the first in a series of ‘Double-A Western Detective Agency’ novels. In 1894 Arizona a diverse group of mercenaries – an Anglo, a Mexican, a black man and an Apache – sign up to the Double-A. They’re tasked with helping a small mining company in its David-and-Goliath fight with a larger mining conglomerate. Action soon ensues. While there’s plenty of the laconic and the menacing in Hockensmith’s prose (‘Hoop and Romo watched Schuck’s men in tense, coiled silence.’) he freshens up the familiar western aspects with quirky humour where quips fly as fast as fists and bullets. So a satisfying and entertaining read for those seeking the usual western thrills, but also a lively re-invention for anyone looking for something more original. Highly recommended.’
You can find the review (and novel) online here: https://www.amazon.com/Hired-Guns-Western-Double-Detective-ebook/dp/B0CZXXGR4F/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&srIt’s difficult to find historical examples of gun men in
the Old West involved in mining disputes. In the so-called ‘Battle of Cripple
Creek’ – which also happened in 1894 – there was a dispute between the owners of the 150
mines in the area of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and the miners. The mine owners wanted
to cut costs by slashing miners’ wages and extending the working day. The
miners went on strike in response. A County Sheriff intervened on behalf of the
mine-owners, supported by six ‘deputies.’ When he sent a team of six deputies
to defend a mine, they were captured by the local marshal's ‘special police,’
who were on the side of the strikers. So were these ‘deputies’ and ‘special
police’ hired guns? In this instance the state governor intervened, sending the
state militia to calm things down, and helped negotiate a better deal.
BAT MASTERSON (1853 - 1921)
BAT MASTERSON and
other gunmen were involved in the so-called Royal Gorge Railroad War of 1879. This clash was
between the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and
the smaller Denver and Rio Grande Company.
Masterson and co. were actually on the side of the larger company, (whereas the
heroes in ‘HIRED GUNS’ are on the side of the underdog.) As a sheriff in Kansas at the time, Masterson had
no authority in Colorado, but this did not prevent him from enlisting a large
company of men, including such noted
gunmen as BEN THOMPSON, 'MYSTERIOUS DAVE' MATHER and
possibly 'DOC' HOLLIDAY. However, Masterson's involvement
came to an inglorious end on June 12, 1879, when he surrendered a roundhouse
his men were holding. The ‘war’ between
the railroads was finally settled out of court.
The most notable example on screen of a team of mercenaries hired to fight a powerful enemy is, of, course, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960.) I’m surprised I’ve not been banished from every western movie forum in existence, as I have previously expressed my opinion that this is NOT a great western film. It’s good, it has a great score and good action scenes, but it’s not a masterpiece, particularly in comparison with the film that spawned it, Akira Kurosawa’s SEVEN SAMURAI (1954) which is, IMHO, a masterpiece.
Another ‘hired guns’ movie is THE PROFESSIONALS from 1966.
A clash with a large mining company out west is depicted in BROKEN LANCE (1954.) Here they’re in dispute with a local cattle rancher.
SPENCER TRACY in ‘Broken Lance’
On TV conflicts with
mining companies are depicted in ‘The Big
Valley’ episode ‘Heritage’ and ‘The
High Chaparral’ episode ‘No Irish Need Apply.’
From the right: CAMERON MITCHELL, HENRY DARROW and JOHN
VERNON in ‘No Irish Need Apply.’
More reviews of ‘HIRED GUNS’:
“Tempered with a wry grin
and the wink of an expert Western wordslinger, Steve Hockensmith delivers the
action fast and hard as iron.”
“Steve Hockensmith has
jumped to the front of the line to establish himself as a top-shelf creator of
westerns… he’s a genre wordsmith with his own voice whose already here and
giving us fortunate readers his very best.”
“Steve Hockensmith paces
the story superbly, building to a terrific final showdown. ... The story also
contains some neat twists and turns and a touch of mystery. If you like
traditional westerns that are packed with tough, brutal action, mixed with
elements of humour and have plots that will keep you guessing until the end,
then look no further than Hired Guns.”
I’ve also blogged about Steve’s novel
HOLMES ON THE RANGE where a character seeks to be the Sherlock Holmes of the Old
West.
The blog includes a look at the Sherlock Holmes phenomenon, which has lasted 140 years. Find it here: https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2022/03/author-favourites-holmes-on-range-by.html
