Book Review: Texas Standoff
The Elmer Kelton book Texas Standoff is a good frontier adventure.
When it comes to Western authors, Elmer Kelton is about as good as it gets in my opinion. Although I didn’t learn about him until I was in my 30s, I’ve come to really enjoy his books. If you’re not familiar with Kelton, he was voted The Best Western Author of All-Time by the Western Writers Association. His books are great for a number of reasons, but his characters stand out as some of the best. I once read an interview with Kelton and he was asked about Louis L’Amour. He said the biggest difference between him and L’Amour is that “L’Amour’s characters are seven feet tall and bulletproof. Mine are 5’7” and nervous.” Once you’ve read a Kelton, you get what he is saying.
Recently, I finished up a good Kelton book titled Texas Standoff. Honestly, I have to admit I have yet to read a Kelton that I didn’t like, and Texas Standoff is no different.
Texas Standoff Review
Like many of Kelton’s books, Texas Standoff takes place on the Texas frontier of the 1800s. It follows Texas Ranger Andy Pickard. Andy Pickard is a character that Kelton follows in a handful of his books including The Buckskin Line, Badger Boy, and Other Men’s Horses. Texas Standoff is actually the final book in his Texas Rangers series.
The story picks up when Andy is sent to a small frontier town after the Rangers receive a strange and mysterious note. On this mission, Pickard is paired with a grouchy and violent Ranger named Logan Daggett. Daggett is the type of man who would rather shoot first and ask questions later. Pickard is the opposite, so Kelton plays with the contrast throughout the book.
As the duo gets to the town, they find themselves in the middle of a feud between two ranching families. At one point, the two families were friendly. However, as their ranching operations grew, they eventually came to be at odds with each other. When the Rangers show up, the feud is ready to erupt into an all-out range war. As Pickard and Daggett begin their investigation, they get to know each of the two families. It doesn’t take long for them to find themselves thoroughly stuck in the middle. As Texas Standoff plays out, the Rangers come to uncover a whole mess of small-town politics that threatens to splinter the community.
As with most Kelton books, this book is enjoyable for a few reasons. First, it is historically accurate. Kelton was born to a Texas cowboy family in 1926. As a boy, the old-timers he knew would have been men who had cowboyed in the country before the wire. He understood their character, mannerisms, and how the country really was back in those days. Secondly, Kelton was a master of having many subplots running throughout the book that all come together at the very end. Texas Standoff is no different. Finally, Kelton understands people. As a result, his stories make sense and you can perhaps see some of these people in your own community.
All in all, I’d recommend Elmer Kelton’s book Texas Standoff to a reader looking for an entertaining frontier fiction. Although not his best (in my opinion) it is a good book that si worth the time to read. It’ll teach you about frontier life and tell you an entertaining story in the process.
