I've never been much of a reader of western stories, but I happened to come across a book with 3 short western novels in it, one by Zane Grey, and read it. I was quite surprised by the Zane Grey story "Tappan's Burro". It really is an exceptional story, in my opinion, and it does not fall into the sort of cliched western gunfighter mode I was expecting at all. It's very atmospheric, tragic, noble, very much about the internal struggles of a man, and its descriptions of the natural landscape are tremendously evocative. The burro herself is a pretty memorable character. It's a grand story.

Now I'm wondering if anyone else has read some stories by Zane Grey that they have a similarly high opinion of?

Previously to this, the only western tales I've been much impressed by were a couple by Larry McMurtry, although his endings are a real downer...he's such a pessimist.

- LH