THE BLACK SIGNAL

by Max Brand ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1986

The Shakespeare of the Western hacks (real name Frederick Faust) returns for a deadly gallop along the Mexican Trail. Brand always loved to base his pulp Westerns on classic themes and myths probably quite unfamiliar to most dime-novel readers. This reprint from the 30's finds him in top form, borrowing Achilles from Homer and strapping a Colt to his gunleg. Lew Melody grows up in Barneytown, a crime sump on the Mexican Trail. Barneytown lies in a valley full of many bones and chockablock with American fugitives and wandering Mexican killers. At 14 years old, Lew Melody, ""with his soul of fire,"" felt himself enough of a man to clean up the valley and rid the place of gunfighters and Mexican knife experts. The townsfolk think him ""a sort of Achilles, fated to a short but a glorious life. But there was something a little unnatural in the daring of Melody. There was something frightful in that hunger for danger which led him into perils which thrilled other men in the mere telling. . .by his terrible right hand in action. . ."" Lew Melody, of course, is unkillable (being watched over by Athena) until he falls like an anvil for Sandy Furnival--at first sight. The town is chilled that this violent, frightful youth should set his heart upon ""the prize of the mountains, whose gentleness and sweetness has won all hearts."" What happens is that Sandy falls for him, like a ton of sweetmeats, but makes him swear off fighting for a month before she'll marry him. Lew tries his best but, after killing a bushwhacker out to kill him, finds himself riding the Mexican Trail, himself a outlaw. Marvelously tongue in cheek. Younger readers will swallow it whole.

Pub Date: April 1, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION