tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post6541084052131904815..comments2024-02-10T20:37:45.771-08:00Comments on GARY DOBBS AT THE TAINTED ARCHIVE: THE CUTTING EDGE -In conversation with George G. GilmanGary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-34338328466358926532009-02-20T04:20:00.000-08:002009-02-20T04:20:00.000-08:00I loved this series when it was coming out. I thin...I loved this series when it was coming out. I think I had them all but the few never published here in the states.<BR/>A few years ago I found a site that had six Edge ebooks. They featured an older Edge than in the original books.Randy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627907086811387527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-12937693709112296782008-11-30T07:04:00.000-08:002008-11-30T07:04:00.000-08:00actually a while back i did see some old westerns ...actually a while back i did see some old westerns re-published and on a shelf near the front of Lincoln Waterstone's.<BR/>Also as there are many many paperback sellers around here i might just have to watch out for some bargain Edge books.Michael Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13262567602680316293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-867264783764530212008-11-27T10:57:00.000-08:002008-11-27T10:57:00.000-08:00YOu're making me want to go back and dig out all t...YOu're making me want to go back and dig out all those old edge books I've got. Now where are they?Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-39755749946825763702008-11-27T07:02:00.000-08:002008-11-27T07:02:00.000-08:00Nicely done Gary, keep up the good work feller.Nicely done Gary, keep up the good work feller.Steve Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631734673248632467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-26257748005638142622008-11-26T17:17:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:17:00.000-08:00Jo (and Gary),I'm sure that, as new western writer...Jo (and Gary),<BR/><BR/>I'm sure that, as new western writers, you would enjoy reading Terry Harknett's own article, appropriately titled "Writing Westerns". This appeared when Edge was at the height of popularity, in the August 1979 edition of the US magazine <I><B>The Writer</B></I>, and is well worth tracking down if that's at all possible.<BR/><BR/>It covers some of the ground Gary does here, but includes more detail on Terry's working methods, as you might expect. It covers creating an original character, outlining, research, and ten rules, "which," Terry says, " I have adhered to" but "are no guarantee of success, for what they amount to is merely that forty-nine percent of perspiration". (There's also "two percent inspiration".)<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, westerns' biggest marketing problem today is standing up to the PC brigade . . . and the PC doesn't stand for Piccadilly Cowboys but Politically Correct. These shadowy, seemingly hard-to-name people want all new westerns to be Plastic Water-Pistol Westerns.<BR/><BR/>Another colourful quote from Terry's article: "This all happened when the screen western (under the influence of Italian movie makers) had hung up its guitars in the cozy bunkhouse and come out with blazing guns onto the dusty streets and wind-blown high plains. Clint Eastwood did not wear a white hat, and when he shot a man, the blood flowed -- and showed. The movie West was suddenly tough, but nobody was writing books like that."<BR/><BR/>Today, the problem has shifted to "nobody is allowed to write books like that". Other than for writers who reside in the US, the only regular market for genre westerns is offered by Robert Hale Ltd's Black Horse Westerns, where the approach has become increasingly cautious and PC-affected. The prompt and courteous email I received today about <I><B>Faith and a Fast Gun</B></I>, completed and air-mailed from NZ one week ago, accepts the book on a condition -- "provided you will allow us to tone down references on pages 91, 93, 103, 121, 128, 130, 131 and 138."<BR/><BR/>I'm grateful, but damn! Another eight or so tasty lines lost to the blue pencil!Chap O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04404176810063857291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-84345288839027832072008-11-26T15:44:00.000-08:002008-11-26T15:44:00.000-08:00Jo, I'm sure you'll love them. Above all they're f...Jo, I'm sure you'll love them. Above all they're fun and that's what reading should be about.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-28267977360783384292008-11-26T15:39:00.000-08:002008-11-26T15:39:00.000-08:00Very interesting. Based on your previous review I ...Very interesting. Based on your previous review I actually bought a job lot of 5 Edge books on eBay for £3.20 + £5.00 p&p. Sounds like I was lucky. I'm really quite excited to read them now I've heard what the author has to say. Thanks to you and him for sharing :-)Jo Walpolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972318968316588965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-88094294566202993012008-11-26T15:18:00.000-08:002008-11-26T15:18:00.000-08:00Thanks Ray I'm glad you enjoyed it. I grew up read...Thanks Ray I'm glad you enjoyed it. I grew up reading the Edge books so it's kind of amazing to email back and forth with Terry. Chandler's his hero but he's very much mine.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-32286537447865831202008-11-26T15:14:00.000-08:002008-11-26T15:14:00.000-08:00Well done, Gary. I have nothing but admiration fo...Well done, Gary. I have nothing but admiration for the Edge books.<BR/>After Edge has to be the exploits of Jedediah Herne and Barnaby Gold.<BR/>One of those books that didn't happen was the one where Edge and Herne met up.<BR/>An excellent post.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18154296143024548830noreply@blogger.com