King of the Gunmen

by L. Ron Hubbard

Overview

They call him Suicide, Smoke or simply Sudden Death. His name is Kit Gordon, and from the banks of the Mississippi to the shores of the Pacific, he is King of the Gunmen. As tall and lean and tough as a young John Wayne, Kit’s about to discover that sometimes it takes more than a quick draw and a sure aim to stand up like a man.

Falsely accused of murder and one step ahead of a lynch mob, Kit escapes to the next county over—and a whole new identity. He changes his name and his whole outlook, teaming up with a lawman out to bring the rule of law to this untamed corner of Arizona.

But the two men are soon drawn into the middle of a bloody feud between cattle ranchers and sheepherders. Before it’s over, the battle will lead Kit to a moment of truth … or a lifetime of lies. He’ll have to take a stand and reveal that he’s a wanted man—or turn tail and run for his life, never looking back.

Born and raised in the twilight of the Old West—from Nebraska plain to the mountains of Montana—L. Ron Hubbard grew up in the company of real cowboys and rugged frontiersmen, even becoming a blood brother to a Blackfoot medicine man. His firsthand knowledge allowed him to instill a grit and authenticity into his stories that made him one of the leading writers of Westerns, publishing a total of 34 of them by the 1950s.

Also includes the western adventure “The No-Gun Gunhawk,” the story of a legendary gunslinger’s son who swears never to take up a gun—until he is forced to break his vow when it becomes a matter of life and death.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592124022
Publisher:	Galaxy Press, LLC
Publication date:	10/21/2013
Series:	Western Short Stories Collection
Edition description:	Special ed.
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	900L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 230 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most acclaimed and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.

Editorial Reviews

"L. Ron Hubbard could handle the Western with the flair of a Louis L’Amour or Zane Grey.”—True West

"Whether your taste runs to riding tall in the saddle, high-flying adventure, or crime-busting on the mean streets, Hubbard delivers the goods.”—Library Journal

"Any reader of  Western Yarns, Western Aces, Western Action and The Rio Kid Western, knew of a Hubbard who pounded his Remington typewriter, throwing a wide loop over the land of his beginnings.”—True West

“L. Ron Hubbard was born in 1911 and raised in Montana. His youth was filled with an extraordinary amount of adventurous travel which served him well when he began publishing.

"Legendary output of stories in every major (and minor) genre. He wrote Westerns, swashbucklers, air adventure, mysteries, espionage thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, tales of the Orient, sea tales, and even Yukon tales in the tradition of Jack London." —Antique Trader Magazine

"Delightfully over-the-top audio theater performances."—AudioFile Magazine

"Each of these of these outstanding audio books are two hour productions characterized by talented multi-cast performances, which are enhanced
with impressive special effects and thematic music. Flawless technical recordings, each and every one of these very special audio books provides the listener with a true 'theatre of the mind' experience." —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Fans of gunslinging Westerns are sure to enjoy this well-produced audio program. Two short stories are made even more exciting with fitting music and realistic sound effects. The perfectly cast character voices make the heroes, villains, cowhands, rowdy townsfolk, and sassy women come to life. These stories, published in the 1930s, sound more like timeless classics than some of Hubbard’s other Golden-Age offerings. “King of the Gunmen” finds ace gunslinger Kit Gordon on the right side of the law, helping to bring peace to a town in conflict. “The No-Gun Gunhawk” features the son of a legendary gunman who refuses to carry firearms. The fast-paced stories and high-quality production make this a captivating audio experience. M.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

JULY 2014 - AudioFile