R.I.P., J.T. Edson

[Ysabel Kid]

My nickname here, the "Ysabel Kid" (pronounced "sable"; the "Y" is silent), is a fictional character from author John Thomas "JT" Edson's "Floating Outfit" series. A friend of mine from high school introduced me to the series, saying that the character reminded him of me. The character reminded me of me too!

I've read over a 100 of his books, mostly during college when I could pick up many at used book stores for $0.50 or $1.00 a book. There were many times I elected to read a new one I had found (many were written in the 1960's) instead of studying! In fact, I read a few cover-to-cover in one sitting!

Just last week I was looking at them on my shelf and a thought occured to me - I wonder if I could find some of the titles I did not have on ebay. Sure enough, I found several - mostly in the U.K. (JT Edson was British), and they are on their way now.

However, when trying to find a complete list tonight, I discovered that JT passed away this July. Here is the story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._T._Edson

Rest in Peace, John Thomas Edson. You'll never know what a postive impact you had on my life, and how much I thoroughly enjoyed your works (and how much I learned about period firearms reading your stories)!

[Topside]

"Kid", I'm seeing one of his books, WACO'S BADGE on Amazon. Kindle version 99 cents. In Mr. Edson's honor and on your recommendation, I'll grab this one and enjoy it over the weekend. Always interested in a new (to me) western writer. Thanks.

Reed.

[plowboy 45]

That's perty interesting

[AJMD429]

Sounds like a literary soulmate of Louis L'Amour, even if he was more of a 'city slicker' like Zane Grey, vs. L'Amour, who I believe went out west, and explored the terrain he would write about.

I wonder if the two ever met.

I'll have to check one of his books out.

YK - what book(s) would you say are his 'best'...????????????

[gamekeeper]

I have enjoyed some of his books, I'll have to look out for more. Rest in Peace J T.

[octagon]

I read some of his stuff too, on your recommendation. Good stuff. RIP.

[firefuzz]

Read a lot of his work when I was younger. Need to pick him back up. Tried to use the name "Dusty Fog" when I signed up for SASS, but it was already taken. RIP.

Rob

[Griff]

I too, have read some of his books. Did not know he was British.. I'll not hold that against him. RIP, JT.

[Ysabel Kid]

YK - what book(s) would you say are his 'best'...????????????

Well, my favorite of all is "The Ysabel Kid", but granted, I'm biased!

Some of my other favorites were "Hell in the Palo Duro", "A Town Called Yellowdog", "Comanche" and "Sidewinder".

As the article noted, JT Edson would describe period firearms in exacting detail. I actually read about a LeMat and recognized it from his description the first time I saw one.

[piller]

I have read some of his books, and he was much more precise about the firearms than Louis L'Amour or Zane Grey were. L'Amour gave better details in the fistfights due to his having been a professional prizefighter, and Edson having the cook teach Dustine E. Fog how to use karate always seemed to be a bit of an anachronism to me. Otherwise, Edson's books were entertaining. Edson, L'Amour, and Grey were the best of the western writers in my opinion. Max Brand (who apparently was a name for several writers) had some good ones, as did Loren Estleman. T.V. Olsen had some good ones. The Edge series was just too bloody and snarky for my taste. The Gunsmith series was great in that the author did his research on the firearms, and was as good in his details as was Edson. I did like the one book in which Edson had the Ysabel Kid use something to dye his white horse black for a disguise. It might have fooled someone from back East, but out where I grew up, the cowboys wouldn't have been fooled. Still, it was written for a different audience than the cowboys in the Cimarron Strip. I hope Mr. Edson Rests In Peace.

[Ysabel Kid]

Sad thing now is that you rarely see JT Edson books in retail book stores. In fact, the "Western" section is often a small part of one case, if there at all. I've also seen it mixed in with "Romance" (yuk!). When I started reading these in the early 1980's, you could find them new in Target! They were easy to find in used book stores - and back then, there were a ton of used book stores everywhere.

I got one of the ebay books in, a set, and the seller added four other JT Edson books that weren't part of the advertized set! I didn't have any of these (though I had just ordered two of them).

There was one (maybe two) movies made based on JT's books. I ordered them years ago, but they were actually the same movie with a different title. A combination of several of his books. It wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.