Gunsmoke (#6): The Day of the Gunfighter

This sixth (and apparently last: it was published in January, 2007) of West's original Gunsmoke novels turns upon a theme often found in Westerns: revenge and other old debts. Ed Flynn is a "named man," a gun-for-hire, who many years ago saved the young Matt Dillon from Apache raiders. Dillon hasn't seen or heard from him since--until one rainy day when he suddenly turns up in Dodge. Flynn is calling in old markers. He's being hunted by the brother of a man he recently killed--a notoriously vicious outlaw with a large gang--and he needs help. "I can't take on 20 men by myself," he says. "Don't ask me to beg...don't let them run me down and kill me in the street like a dog." And Matt knows he can't. He owes this man, and whether or not he likes what Flynn has become, he has no choice but to take his part. Soon a new element is thrown into the mix when a straight-shooting Englishman who calls himself Charles Granville rides into Dodge and takes it upon himself to stand as a sort of unofficial deputy to Dillon. Then a man named Uriah Scroggins--a meek, unoffensive, harmless sort--is found murdered. Is this a warning from the outlaws pursuing Flynn? Or is it a different matter altogether? Slowly Dillon begins to piece together two stories of revenge, while gradually reducing the outlaws' numbers in hopes of either discouraging the vengeful Lee Feeney or at least improving the odds against himself, Granville, and Deputy Festus Haggen. This may be the best of West's Gunsmoke series: it lacks most of his previous inconsistencies and ends with a splendidly choreographed gunfight featuring (in a foreshadowing of a certain day in Tombstone in 1881) the notorious tubercular gunfighter/gambler "Doc" Holliday. Well and tightly plotted, it's a tale that both GS fans and non-fans can enjoy equally.

This tie-in novel brings fresh enjoyment to fans of Dodge City's iconic peace officer. For more than fifty years, Gunsmoke tie-in novels have been entertaining us. I count 16 of them so far: 1.Gunsmoke:Adventures of Marshal Dillon, by Don Ward,1957. 2.Gunsmoke:Showdown on Front Street, by Paul S Newman,1969. 3.Gunsmoke, by Chris Patton,1970. 4.Gunsmoke:The Renegades,by Jackson Flynn,1974. 5.Gunsmoke:Shootout,by Jackson Flynn,1974. 6.Gunsmoke:Duel at Dodge City,by Jackson Flynn,1974. 7.Gunsmoke:Cheyenne Vengeance,by Jackson Flynn, 1975. 8.Gunsmoke:The Novel, by Gary McCarthy,1998. 9.Gunsmoke:Deadman's Witness,by Gary McCarthy,1999. 10.Gunsmoke:Marshal Festus,by Gary McCarthy,1999. 11.Gunsmoke:Blood, Bullets and Buckskin,by Joseph A. West,2005. 12.Gunsmoke:Last Dog Soldier,by Joseph A. West,2005. 13.Gunsmoke:Blizzard of Lead,by Joseph A. West,2006. 14.Gunsmoke:Reckless Gun,by Joseph A. West,2006. 15.Gunsmoke:Dodge the Devil,by Joseph A West,2006. 16.Gunsmoke:Day of the Gunfighter,by Joseph A. West,2007 Each one seemed to catch the character of Matt, Doc, Kitty, Festus, Chester, Newly and others better and better in succession. So far they haven't incorporated the interesting characters in the five made-for- TV sequel movies made in the 1980s & 1990s. I think its time fine tie-in novelists like West crafted novels to renew the enjoyment for fans of this outstanding TV series with new Western tales based on the characters of the five sequel movies, perhaps with nostalgic paintings or illustrations. After that, fans will want audiobook versions of books like this one!

I loved this book. I did notice that Mr. West has been paying attention to at least some of the things for which fans have criticized his Gunsmoke novels about--in particular, he's made Dillon a U.S. marshal, as is correct. This is the first of West's novels I've read, and I will say that his characterization of Matt Dillon is much more reminiscent to me of the TV (and even the radio) series than the Gary McCarthy book I read. I can't say there were no technical goofs, because I don't know enough of the ticky-tacky details of Gunsmoke's TV run to judge. However, I have been enjoying them on TVLand, and reading this book made me feel like I was watching a brand-new episode. The dialogue rang true, the actions felt in character, and it was just good to see Doc HOliday team up with Matt. I will say this: if you lean more toward the radio series for your own Gunsmoke "canon," you might be a smidge disappointed. In an episode of the radio show, Matt did encounter Doc HOliday, and they had a very different relationship than the one they share in this book. I didn't mind this myself, because I figure the radio show is kind of an "alternate universe," since the character of Chester is so different from that of the TV series. In short, if you like Gunsmoke, I think you'll love this book. I sure did. I look forward to reading the others in Joseph A. West's series.