{"id":41796,"date":"2026-07-06T07:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T11:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=41796"},"modified":"2026-07-06T10:19:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:19:12","slug":"the-gun-man-jackson-swagger-by-stephen-hunter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=41796","title":{"rendered":"THE GUN MAN JACKSON SWAGGER: A WESTERN by Stephen Hunter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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THE GUN MAN JACKSON SWAGGER: A WESTERN<\/a> by Stephen Hunter<\/p>\n

First sentences…<\/p>\n

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The sun was a blowtorch, scorching the Arizona Territory crisp.\u00a0 Sagebrush, some living, some dead, bounced indifferently about the raw landscape.\u00a0 While most of America prospered in the wonderful year of 1897, here vegetation turned brittle while the once abundant and variegated cacti had retreated within themselves, their spindly arms forming structures more appropriate to crucifixion than blossom.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Overview:\u00a0 Beware of Spoilers\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

1897.\u00a0 The Arizona Territory.\u00a0 Due to a prolonged draught survival is tough.\u00a0 Homes and even towns are left abandoned when residents left for a better climate.\u00a0 Only rare rough railroad construction towns called railheads and Colonel Callahan’s massive ranch thrive.<\/p>\n

Railheads are not towns really.\u00a0 More like flophouses, whorehouses and taverns clustered together.\u00a0 They’re inhabited by the lawless, rough railroad construction workers who come in to spend their week’s pay.<\/p>\n

Colonel Callahan’s ranch prospers.\u00a0 It’s the largest spread in the Arizona territory.\u00a0 Callahan makes a good living raising and marketing his cattle. But cattle isn’t all Callahan deals in.\u00a0 He’s also has secret (and illegal) dealings across the border in Mexico.\u00a0 Callahan employs ranch hands, cowboys, but most importantly gunmen.\u00a0 The only job these gunfighters have is to protect all that Callahan owns.\u00a0 Callahan’s top man and best with a gun is Tom Voth.<\/p>\n

When a cowboy rides in looking for work, Voth is ready to send him on his way.\u00a0 The stranger says his name is Jack.\u00a0 Jack looks like a drifter.\u00a0 Hardened, yes.\u00a0 Tough looking yes.\u00a0 But old.\u00a0 Jack must be pushing sixty.\u00a0 Voth says, unless Jack is good with a gun, they can’t use him.\u00a0 \u00a0 Jack says he’s good with a gun and calm when bullets fly.\u00a0 Voth is doubtful.\u00a0 Jack doesn’t wear a gun.\u00a0 Turns out Jack pawned his guns to survive.<\/p>\n

Voth calls for a rife.\u00a0 Jack takes the carbine and proceeds to amaze Voth with his shooting accuracy.\u00a0 Voth takes Jack to Mr. Callahan for a final interview.\u00a0 Callahan is impressed and hires Jack.<\/p>\n

What they don’t know is the drifter Jack is actually Jack Swagger a feared gunfighter and he’s come to Callahan’s ranch on a personal mission.<\/p>\n

Saddle up!<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

I’m a fan of Stephen Hunter’s Swagger novels.\u00a0 It is such a cool idea to follow the Swagger family tree.\u00a0 It allows Hunter to write novels in different eras that are anchored by the Swagger family.<\/p>\n

So far we have…<\/p>\n