Gunman's Reckoning by Max Brand

Name: Gunman's Reckoning
Author: Max Brand

In Gunman's Reckoning by Max Brand, Donnegan grapples with his emotions as he prepares to confront Landis, driven by love for Lou Macon and the need to reclaim his place in a chaotic world. As tensions rise in The Corner, he resolves to fight for his desires, knowing that the outcome will shape not only his fate but also that of those he cares about.

By Max Brand · First published 1923 · Genre: Western, Adventure, Drama · 44 chapters · 97,750 words

First lines

The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost. Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind. This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone -- it is an overtone of conversation, one might say -- and it is distinctly nasal. The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe. They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars. No matter how the train lurched and staggered over that fearful road bed, these two swayed in their places as easily and as safely as birds on swinging perches. The brakie had touched Lefty Joe for two dollars; he had secured fifty cents; and since the vigor of Lefty's oaths had convinced him that this was all the money the tramp had, the two now sat elbow to elbow and killed the distance with their talk.

What this Textopian page supports

Gunman's Reckoning is listed on Textopian as a novel by Max Brand, dated 1923 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Max Brand
Date: 1923 CE
Language: English
Genres: Western, Adventure, Drama, Romance, Action
Length: 97,750 words
Structure: 44 chapters, 2,623 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Gunman's Reckoning?
How does this novel by Max Brand fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Western first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Western — The book is set in the American West and features themes of gunfighting, lawlessness, and frontier justice.
Adventure — The plot involves action-packed sequences and the protagonist's journey through dangerous situations.
Drama — The story explores complex character relationships and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist.
Romance — There are elements of romantic interest that influence character motivations and plot development.