INTRODUCTION
David Whitehead

With a few notable exceptions - no, let's make that a whole fistful - Western fiction has never truly received the respect and recognition it deserves, especially here in Britain. Its detractors, most of whom have never read a Western in their lives, of course, have always been quick to dismiss such fast-moving, action-packed tales as cliché-ridden "shoot-'em-ups," pulp literature of the very worst kind, and as such to be avoided at all costs.

Fortunately for those of us who know better, a number of publishers on both sides of the Atlantic remain justifiably proud of their Western lists. One such is London-based Robert Hale Limited, which regularly issues new titles every month under its "Black Horse Western" banner, and whose authors - or at least a goodly proportion of them - are showcased in the collection you are now about to read . . . .

Click here for details about the stories and their authors.