Fri 14 May 2010
A Western Review: RAY HOGAN – Guns Against the Sun.
Posted by Steve under Reviews , Western Fiction[9] Comments
RAY HOGAN – Guns Against the Sun. Avon T-453, paperback original, 1960. Macfadden, pb reprint, 1968.
Although I own (and have cataloged) somewhere over 65 paperback westerns written by Ray Hogan, this is the first one that I can remember reading, which on the basis of Guns Against the Sun is my error – certainly no one else’s.
And I suspect that the total output of westerns written by Ray Hogan would easily top the one hundred mark – he was that prolific during his peak years of the 1960s and 70s. He had one series character that I recall, Shawn Starbuck, a young cowboy whose wanderings across the Old West led him into many adventures.
Only 157 pages long, Guns Against the Sun is barely more than a long novella, and it can easily be read in a couple of hours. Plotwise it goes something like this: when a gang of bank robbers hits Marshal John Banning’s town, they not only make off with a small fortune in gold, but they also shoot and kill Banning’s teen-aged nephew, his only remaining kin.
The posse of townfolks that Banning takes with him doesn’t last long. Forced to follow the trail into the desert alone, he comes across a wagon heading west driven by a woman whose ailing husband is of no help to her, either against the heat of the sun or the outlaws Banning are chasing.
That about sums it up, a minor piece of work in many ways, but Hogan’s eye for character as well as the desert country, brutal in direct daylight but unaccountably beautiful in the night time, makes this particular western rather easy to recommend. Brief but to the point. Hogan knows his West, all right.
May 14th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
I didn’t care much for the Shawn Starbuck books, but I’ve liked all the other Ray Hogan novels I’ve read, including a shorter series about a character called The Doomsday Marshal. Short, fast, plenty of action, nice touches of authenticity. I especially like his early Ace Doubles.
May 14th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
According to 20th CENTURY WESTERN WRITERS, the actual count of Hogan’s western novels is something closer to 125.
Or in other words, I could read one of his books a week and it would still take me over two years to finish them all. Even if I skipped the Starbuck books. I think I will have to give up sleeping.
— Steve
May 14th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Was it Hogan who wrote a series of Civil War related books featuring Mosby’s Raiders? For some reason I associate those with him, though it may only be a writer with a similar name. It may be because I was living in Texas, but when I started reading westerns in the mid sixties these seemed to be everywhere.
‘s
May 14th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Yes, you’re right. It was the same Ray Hogan.
In the series were:
The Ghost Raider (Pyramid, 1960)
Raider’s Revenge (Pyramid, 1960)
Rebel Raid (Berkley, 1961)
Rebel in Yankee Blue (Avon, 1962)
Hell to Hallelujah (Macfadden, 1962)
Rebel Ghost (Macfadden, 1964)
Night Raider (Avon, 1964)
Mosby’s Last Raid (Macfadden, 1966)
My source is 20th CENTURY WESTERN WRITERS, which I’ve found not to be entirely reliable, so the list may not be complete.
Hogan’s “Starbuck” series began in 1970 and included at least 24 novels.
There were maybe seven “Doomsday” books, but whether the Doomsday Marshal was in all seven and others too, 20th CWW does not so indicate.
— Steve
May 14th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Steve
Thanks for clearing that up. Nice to know my memory hasn’t completely gone. As I remember them they were well written and entertaining, but somehow over the years my copies seem to have gotten lost in a series of moves.
August 13th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hi Steve,
I have recently discovered Ray Hogan books. I haven’t been able to find a list of his books. Any suggestions? Maybe you would consider creating something on Wikipedia with the titles you have catalogued.
Thanks
November 8th, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Got interested in Ray Hogan when I did note that there were two different books published in Sweden and both had the same original title: The Shotgunner. One of them was printed already in 1960 and this story is the same as the one recently published by Prologue as ebook. The other one is a continuation of the story of Dan Ruick after he has served a year in prison and ends with his rehabilitation in Saddlerock and a possible love affair with Marcella. I’d love to get to know the original title of the 2nd one. Besides it seems possible that The Shotgunner was published in Swedish 1960 before its first publication in the US 1962. Correct me if I’m wrong!
Best wishes
Anders Nilsson
April 6th, 2018 at 5:40 am
For Ray Hogan fans, Piccadilly Publishing are putting out double eBook versions of the Shawn Starbuck series at the low price of just $1.99
Check out the series webpage:
http://piccadillypublishing.org/Hogan/Hogan.html
Happy Reading
Mike
April 6th, 2018 at 9:20 am
That’s great news, Mike, and quite an informative biographical piece on Hogan, too. It’s good to have his work back in print again!