So who is better? Zane Gray, or Louis L'Amour.

[the ringo kid]

I sadly admit that I've only read maybe 2-3 books from each author, so definitely not an expert on either. I know both were great on detail, story etc.

So who do you think is better?

I spent most of my westerns reading the works of lesser but good authors. One book n particular, I can't quit reading. Its called: Ambush At Soda Creek. I forget the authors name off-hand? I also liked the Easy Company series. My westerns all have to have these elements: Cowboys, Injuns, Outlaws, Mexicans or Mexican outlaws and Cavalry.

 

[bigchuck83]

Always liked Louis L'Amour myself, that comes from my
Great grandfather always reading his books.

 

[GB]

Both can provide a good read. I have read more of Louie's books than the Gray offerings but then Louie L. was writing when I was young and they were readily available in paper back for not very much money. Louie's books can be a little repetitious, especially at the end of his career. The early books are great. And some of the books he wrote at the end of his life were not westerns and they are good also. Favorite? Without a doubt "Hondo". Lots of folks have written good westerns. And many of them are available, for those of you who have moved into the 21 century, on Amazon for cheap and sometimes free.

 

[Inusuit]

Try Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, or No Country for Old Men also by him.

 

[Targets Guy]

I liked both of them. You could tell they wrote in different eras. If I could only read one it would be Louie. Both of them kept me company in airport lounges and flying over the seven seas.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Elmore Leonard.

 

[moralem]

Got to go with Louis

 

[the ringo kid]

Both can provide a good read. I have read more of Louie's books than the Gray offerings but then Louie L. was writing when I was young and they were readily available in paper back for not very much money. Louie's books can be a little repetitious, especially at the end of his career. The early books are great. And some of the books he wrote at the end of his life were not westerns and they are good also. Favorite? Without a doubt "Hondo". Lots of folks have written good westerns. And many of them are available, for those of you who have moved into the 21 century, on Amazon for cheap and sometimes free.

Hondo's my favorite L.L book by far, then Last of the Breed and a, The Sacketts title.

 

[Alpo]

They are both good authors, but Louie, who wrote in MY time, in MY English, is a more enjoyable read for me.

Easy Company - that that group of Mounted Infantry, where the CO carried both a SAA and a Schofield?

 

[woodsltc]

I've only read a couple of the Zane Gray books.....read quite a few of the Louie L'Amour books but being from Tennessee I especially liked the ones about the Sackett family (there were several) because they came out of the Tennessee Hills.

Don

 

[GB]

Ringo, You might also look at Gordon Young. His book "Tall in the Saddle" was also made into a John Wayne classic (and may be the closest adaption of any book I have ever read that was made into a movie.) As for modern writers, Matt Braun is a good pick. As mentioned, Elmore Leonard is good.

 

[the ringo kid]

They are both good authors, but Louie, who wrote in MY time, in MY English, is a more enjoyable read for me.

Easy Company - that that group of Mounted Infantry, where the CO carried both a SAA and a Schofield?

Its been awhile since I last read any Easy Company but, I think you're correct.

 

[walkin jack]

I'll take Lamore for 200 dollars. And Robert B Parker has a couple of really good westerns and so does Elmore Leanard

 

[the ringo kid]

Ringo, You might also look at Gordon Young. His book "Tall in the Saddle" was also made into a John Wayne classic (and may be the closest adaption of any book I have ever read that was made into a movie.) As for modern writers, Matt Braun is a good pick. As mentioned, Elmore Leonard is good.

I sure will. Always looking for more good authors.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Louis L "Amour...........Read everything he wrote.

 

[the ringo kid]

I'll take Lamore for 200 dollars. And Robert B Parker has a couple of really good westerns and so does Elmore Leanard

I've seen several mentions for this guys books, I WILL be looking for hisd. Time to visit Barnes and Ignobles.

 

[Big Cholla]

As a callow youth, I read both Grey and L'Amour. I will concede that L'Amour was the better 'writer of the written word', but as I grew older and actually cowboyed for my Uncle's spread some, participated in Team Roping and then competed in long distance trail riding on my Morgan horses, I became aware of just how badly L'Amour exaggerated the performance capabilities of horses and then men. I'm sure he knew better and was only exercising his right of 'poetic license', but it grated on me until I just couldn't enjoy reading anything else from him. Even now I go back and reread Zane Grey, but won't read anything that L'Amour's name is on.

 

[BAM-BAM]

As a callow youth, I read both Grey and L'Amour. I will concede that L'Amour was the better 'writer of the written word', but as I grew older and actually cowboyed for my Uncle's spread some, participated in Team Roping and then competed in long distance trail riding on my Morgan horses, I became aware of just how badly L'Amour exaggerated the performance capabilities of horses and then men. I'm sure he knew better and was only exercising his right of 'poetic license', but it grated on me until I just couldn't enjoy reading anything else from him. Even now I go back and reread Zane Grey, but won't read anything that L'Amour's name is on.

"exaggerated performance".....this from the man with the magic thumb!!! LOL

L'Amour for me......tried to like Grey....just couldn't get into his writing.

Have to agree on the beatings L'Amour's heroes would take and keep on ticking.....all it took was three days and some cold mountain air to get them back in the fight with their fast draw skills!!!!!

But overall fun reads.....the Sackett family saga was neat. Really liked the early ones set in the 17th/18th century ??????????

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Need to do a re-read.
Have read both, but it's been a while.
Quite honestly, from a long distance view they kind of run together!

 

[Bat Guano]

L'Amour over Zane Grey for me. I read a fair amount of Grey's stuff as a kid as a neighbor family had a lot of his books. Never cared much for his writing style, though. In my teens I got into L'Amour's stuff, and "learned" some stuff from it, some of which might have been true.

Some years back Miles Swarthout, son of Glendon Swarthout who wrote the book and script for John Wayne's "The Shootist", gave a talk over at Cody. He went into the hows and whys of the story and movie, accompanied by film takes.

But then that was a movie with a lot of meaningful content, too...