Friday 23 October 2009

SO WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT THESE BLACK HORSE WESTERNS?

ROBERT HALE LTD, the publishers behind the Black Horse imprint have been champions of the western genre for longer than most people care to remember. They were founded in 1936 and although the Black Horse imprint didn't come about until much later, they have always published western fiction.

Indeed when the genre vanished from British bookshops during the mid-Eighties, Robert Hale continued to publish classic westerns as well as publishing scores of newcomers. Some of these new voices have gone on and become masters of the genre. Indeed it was during the Eighties, a decade when the western truly seemed dead, that the Black Horse imprint was launched.

Black Horse Western are no nonsense, all action western novels - usually around 40,000 - 45,000 words but the writers don't skimp on that all important characterisation and indeed the best Black Horse titles can stand up alongside the best the genre has to offer.

AMERICA IS SECOND TO LONDON'S ROBERT HALE LTD, WHICH LEADS THE GLOBAL RACE IN PUBLISHING NEW WESTERN FICTION - TRUE WEST MAGAZINE AUGUST 2009

Without the Black Horse imprint we would have no Lance Howard, Chap O'Keefe, Jack Giles, Ben Bridges or Ross Morton- all legendary names with western fans.


You won't find many Black Horse titles in the shops because the primary market has always been the libraries. However with the Internet and on-line book selling, the imprint is enjoying a new level of success and today the books are much more visible than they have ever been. Many of the titles ride high in online retailers books charts.

So what can new readers expect from a Black Horse title?

Well take a look at the covers on this page -none of them would be out of place as a poster for any 1950's western but don't let that lead you into the impression that the books are old fashioned. Whilst it is true that the books firmly model themselves on the Golden Age of the genre (and is there a better period to draw from??) the themes and issues woven into the plots are as up to date as, tomorrow's newspaper.


Find links to several interviews with some of the bigger Black Horse Western authors Here


There are no pretensions with a Black Horse western. You know what you are going to get and the book's deliver with each and every title - James Thain.


O
lder titles are always turning up on Ebay and sites such as Amazon and the Book Depository regularly offer good deals on current and forthcoming titles. Black Horse are quite unique in that the name of the publishing house is every bit as important to that of the author. Readers know that any book with the Black Horse logo is going to provide a good, fast paced and thoughtful read.Black Horse westerns are fun to read and surely reading should first and foremost be fun.

I myself am proud to be a small part of the Black Horse range - as a lifelong western fan it's amazing to see my own books and my pseudonym, Jack Martin on the shelves alongside some of my favourite western writers.

So go on treat yourself to a Black Horse western this Wild West Monday - you won't be disappointed.

NOTABLE WEBSITES:
BLACK HORSE EXPRESS
BLACK HORSE EXTRA
BLACK HORSE COMMUNITY

7 comments:

Patrick Shawn Bagley said...

I've been meaning to order THE TARNISHED STAR for a while now, Gary. Might as well do it today.

By the way, that picture of your bookshelves in the banner makes me jealous. What a great set-up.

Charles Gramlich said...

A great set of cool covers.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Patrick - thank you and I hope you enjoy The Tarnished Star.

Unknown said...

Very nice post, Gary! I hope more people discover these great books.

Laurie Powers said...

This is a great essay on BHWs. I might have to find a way to steal this from you for a guest appearance on my blog.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Laurie - feel free

Nik Morton said...

Great post, as ever, Gary. Whenever I advertise BHWs, I mention that they build up into a colourful and attractive library on any set of shelves. Your selection of covers proves that, indeed.Thanks again.

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