This is the continuing re-publishing of Mr. Hubbard's fiction works from the 1930s and 1940s. I'm not usually a fan of Westerns except perhaps for Louis L'Amour writings. However I am digging these types of pulp fiction books.

Tons of cheese mixed with some very capable characters and great scenery & description. There are three stories in this collection:

Death waits at sundown, Lynn Taylor busts into town looking for McCloud, a landowner whom Lynn thinks is a liar, thief and crook who may have killed his pa and taken all the land he should rightfully get. But is McCloud the real villain in the piece or is there someone else who we don't expect is the real culprit. Lynn learns through McCloud's daughter that appearances are not all they seem. Great action and suspense, some chair-gripping moments and a fun, cheesy gets-the-girl ending that's cute.

Ride 'em Cowboy is the second entry, about some rodeo stars who have a lot to learn about mixing romance and extreme competition, complete with mustangs, bulls and a tough lady who can whip any man riding a bucking bronco! Long Tom Branner has a crush on a certain Vicky, she all dressed in white boots, spurs and corn-colored hair, and an unreal hatred towards Long Tom! Will this get handled before the final gate opens?

Last but not least, Boss of the Lazy B. 10,000 head of cattle disappear from our hero's ranch. Who's the rustler? Another cool story of a woman who scorns, a man who forgives, and a sheriff who doesn't know who's the bad guy. The least favorite of the trio.

Recommended.

Although L. Ron Hubbard is best remembered as a writer of classic science fiction pulp stories he was equally adept in other genres such as Westerns. In fact, 15 of the 80 volume "Stories from the Golden Age" series will be Westerns. That's a key point for any scholar or fan of pulp fiction that are following this landmark series. The latest release, Death Waits at Sundown, is a great example of the high quality in Hubbard's fiction.

As expected, Hubbard's writing is a treat. He paints his scenes with strong images that put the reader right into the action. Death Waits at Sundown takes place in that mythical west of pulp fiction where "The wind was soughing lonesomely through the scrub pines and far off an owl added his mournful dirge to the spooky scene." Lynn Taylor is intent on clearing his brother's name but that won't be easy considering his brother is accused of robbery, cattle rustling and murder. The action heats up fairly quickly, and not everything is as it seems in this little gem from 1938. And readers expecting a traditional Western might be surprised by a few things by the time they finish reading this story. There won't be any spoilers in this review, but just read Death Waits at Sundown for another example of L. Ron Hubbard's mastery of genre writing.

Included are two bonus stories. The first, Ride `Em Cowboy!, is a romance about two rodeo riders at odds with each other. This tales falls into the category of western romance and it's really a fine story. In fact, Ride `Em Cowboy! Is my favorite of these three stories, although the other two stories are equally entertaining.

The last story, Boss of the Lazy B, is far more traditional than the other two but still features that vaunted surprise ending that L. Ron Hubbard was so good at. Susan Price, a headstrong young cowgirl whose father was a lawyer, takes it upon herself to defend Spick Murphy. Little does she know that Big Bill Bailey has other plans, but will Susan find herself on the right side of the law? Boss of the Lazy B is a strong story with a highly satisfying ending that will please readers of classic pulp fiction.

The three tales found in Death Waits at Sundown reaffirm Hubbard's place as a writer of popular western fiction. Hubbard follows a dictum of pulp writers by opening his story with a concise statement that propels the readers immediately into the action. The idea, of course, was to keep them turning the pages because a writer was finished if he couldn't keep his readers interested in the action. Hubbard demonstrates this technique beautifully with the opening line from Death Waits at Sundown: "Sometime before dawn the posse had surrounded the shack and now with the horizon streaking with gray they lay on their stomachs in the tall grass, chilled by the desert wind but hot for battle."

All of L. Ron Hubbard's pulp fiction offers such accelerated action, coupled with memorable characters and brisk dialogue. These stories are a real treat for western fans. ( )