What do you think of 'new' books by dead authors?

Something I've noticed about westerns (though it happens elsewhere too: V.C. Andrews for example) is that dead authors will continue to have new books published under their names.

The two Western authors I can think of are Ralph Compton and William Johnstone. Do you buy these books?

I'll buy the Compton ones, because they at least give the actual author credit right on the cover. I buy the ones written by Joseph A. West and Marcus Galloway.

I avoid the Johnstone ones because even the co-author name (J.A. Johnstone) is a phony name.

Anyone have any different opinions?

I think it is more of a drag that these seem to be the ones taking up space on the already limited bookshelf space given to Westerns. I prefer to give my business to and buy the books of real authors, dead or alive, that they wrote themselves.

Yeah, I agree with that.

I buy the 'Ralph Compton' books that are written by Marcus Galloway and Joseph A. West (I'm reading his Rawhide Flat right now), but I'd be happier to see Joe's name up there in big letters. I know he was paid to write the book, but I don't think he gets any royalties off of it.

There are so few western writers hitting the bookstores these days. The only ones I ever see are compton, Johnstone and Zane Grey. Where do you go to find the other authors who are writing westerns these days.

The Tor-Forge web site has some western books from authors such as Loren Estleman and Elmer Kelton: http://us.macmillan.com/torforge/categories/General/LiteratureandFiction

Often best just to hit Amazon and look up "Fiction - Western".

Also take a look at http://www.westernwriters.org/ and inparticular their SPUR awards.

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely look into both.

Wm. Johnstone was one of my favorites; the new books (written by others) are not as good, actually not very good at all. No matter how much one author tries to sound like another, it just does not work. I will now try to avoid any books written by someone else from the supposed notes of the late author.