The Mountain Valley War: A Novel (Kilkenny)

This is a Kilkenny story, and a rather confusing one, or so it seemed to me. That often happens when books are not published in sequence, or an author tries to write what is in essence a pre-quel, or tells some other tale about the same character. This book was originally published in West magazine in 1947 under the title, A Man Called Trent, by Jim Mayo, a L'Amour byline, then was reworked to form this book, as he could not keep up with the demand for his novels. A third Kilkenny novel titled, The Rider of Lost Creek, also by Jim Mayo, published in 1947 was reworked and published under that title in 1976. The novel, Kilkenny, published originally by Ace in 1954 is by far superior to either of these other two. The complications arise as one tries to figure out the sequence of events in Kilkenny's life, especially after having read the novel Kilkenny. If they were to put these three together in correct order with an outline of the happenings in sequencial order it might make them easier and more pleasantly read. If you can read them as independent stories and forget about the others then maybe that would make it easier. Still, being L'Amour it is worthy of purchase and reading.

I am reading L'amour for the first time and all in a mix depending on which books I get hold of first. I was a bit disappointed with this one. I like the funny wry novels better than the serious/gunfighter ones - and this falls into the serious gunfighter genre, it seems. IN this second book Kilkenny has drifted to Idaho into the mountains and properly filed for some land himself. Unfortunately he and his fellow 'nesters' have aroused the ire of the local land baron, 'King' Hale. Hale hadn't been interested in the land until the nesters came along, now he is ruthlessly driving them out aided by his violent son 'cub' and the tacit help of some of the locals including a shop owner who refuses to sell them any goods. Kilkenny now calls himself Trent and doesn't want to be drawn into anything he doesn't have to, but unfortunately it is brought to his door, his neighbour is ruthlessly murdered and his children hunted. They escape to Trent's cabin and then Trent himself is threatened. He refuses to budge but joins up with the other nesters and fights for what is his. What I liked about this book and other L'amours is that people are generally not simply black and white. Some of Hale's men are actually good men and they recognise in Trent a similar spirit which makes the action more complicated and richer for it. Also within the nesters there is Cain Brockman, whose brother Abel was killed by Kilkenny/Trent and has sworn revenge. Cain is a good man who fell in with a bad lot now trent has to use his persuasive powers to convince Cain of this. Like I said this is a rich and complex novel, a good easy read to take up an afternoon.

Trent thought he could settle down quietly and avoid his old reputation as a gun fighter, but deep down he knew it was only a matter of time before trouble came to him. Sure enough, he found himself in a Mountain Valley War on the side of the minority. The minority is a majority when they find out who Trent really is! He is non other than Kilkenny, the fastest gun around and the greatest fighter too. Before it is over, he'll have to prove it. Check this book out. L'Amour is especially good at describing the fight scene and he does it expertly in this saga of old west fiction.

The Mountain Valley War was first published (paper) back in 5/78. I bought my copy published 2/79. As always I read the book with-in the next day or so. so it's been about 23 yrs. gone by. I always write a short note in the book describing my opinions. It seems as if I was overjoyed with the book as I wrote "what a fabulous story", or was it, I'd been dreaming and placing myself in the lead character's shoes, something I do often. Louis's books are fabulous. If you don't find that to be so you might not like any westerns.

The second of the three novels about Lance Kilkenny, a man with an unwanted reputation as a gunfighter, now he's got himself a small piece of land, a few head of cattle and has hung up his guns. A good novel, though personally I favour the other two Kilkenny novels ("The Rider of Lost Creek" and "Kilkenny") but this one is not far behind. It's obvious that L'Amour knows his characters well, like all good writers for any medium should. Here Kilkenny finds he has to defend his land, and organise his neighbours, in a small war against a power mad cattle baron.

I have read over 80 of L'Amour's books, and this one was terrific! If you've read (and liked) Kilkenny, then you'll love this one, too. Kilkenny is a fascinating character in this book, and L'Amour has given him quite the brain to defeat the Hale gang. A must read!!!