THE WEST: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (A Collection) consists of nineteen enticing short stories written by best-selling author Johnny Gunn. Each tale is introduced with an inviting illustration by esteemed artist Barabash Sviatoslav. In this anthology, we learn of all types of Westerners and ranchers attempting to make a living in the rugged landscape. The reader will discover cowboys and cattle drives, miners, bartenders, lawmen, both crooked and good, and a youngster wanting to become a bad man and make a name for himself. We follow a talkative and captivating army corporal who has spent his career in constant combat as those around wonder if his stories are exaggerated. We learn about a past prisoner trying to start a new life by training horses and about a tracker and bounty hunter who encounters the most “alien” situation. There are good men fighting bad men and westerners of all ages and trades attempting to do their best under challenging circumstances. There is a reason Johnny Gunn is a renowned author.
"Terrific stories of action and Western adventure.”
—Peter Brandvold, Author of the Bloody Joe Mannion Western series
“Fantastic collection of Western stories by one of the best storytellers of our time!”
—Lane R Warenski, author of the Grizzly Killer series
“Johnny Gunn brought forth his heart and soul in this very exciting short story collection.”
— Kurt James, author of the Rocky Mountain series
The varied stories will make you laugh, cry, and sit on the edge of your seat with excitement. This is an anthology not to be missed.
—James J. Griffin, author of Texas Ranger and Western stories for all ages
Johnny Gunn’s words paint pictures, and his unique storytelling abilities continue to entertain readers worldwide. This collection is guaranteed to entertain.
—Charlie Steel, author of Tom Sharp: The Man and the Legend
A fun and interesting read. Those who like Western short stories are sure to find a lot to appreciate in this book.
—Kevin R. Tipple, Kevin’s Corner
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-D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review:
The West: Land of Opportunity is a collection of Western stories filled with a storyteller’s penchant for high drama and strong characterization.
Any advanced elementary to middle grader readers who have thought of Western history as dry and one-dimensional would do well to read the vivid stories, here. Johnny Gunn’s tall tales outline not just events, but concepts about the West and its characters. Gunn doesn’t just cover positive people seeking opportunity in the wild West: the stories include characters with more nefarious attitudes and motivations.
Each story is designed to feature different characters that represent disparate facets of Western experience, from lawmen and strangers to individuals concerned with either upholding or thwarting the forces of frontier justice.
Through these tales, readers will gain a renewed appreciation for the opportunities, obstacles, encounters, and characters attracted to the American West.
Gunn is especially adept at creating compelling scenarios which embrace problem-solving, social and political situations (as they pertain to frontier living, of course), and encounters that test not only the mettle of each character, but their perception of and place in the West.
All these features are why The West: Land of Opportunity is highly recommended for libraries seeking lively discourses that will attract not just young history buffs, but leisure readers who will find its “you are here” atmosphere compelling, realistic, and thoroughly engrossing.
