For thousands of years, the lonely canyon knew only wind and rain, wild animals, and an occasional native hunter. Then a trapper found a chunk of gold, and everything changed overnight. In six days, a town called Confusion appeared, consumed by the flames of lawlessness and violence. On one side are those who understand only brute force, while on the other are men who want law and order but are ready to use a noose to achieve their ends. Between them stand Matt Coburn and Dick Felton, one a hardened realist, the other an idealist trying to dig a fortune from the muddy hillside. Outnumbered and outgunned, Felton and Coburn can't afford to be outmaneuvered. As the two unlikely allies confront corruption, betrayal, and murder in an attempt to tame a town where the discovery of gold can mean either the fortune of a lifetime or a sentence of death, they realize that any move could be their last.

On the edge of the frontier, boomtowns like Confusion sprang up overnight. Here honest men came to work the mines, while thieves, gamblers, and outlaws worked on them. But in Confusion, the mines themselves were the target of a violent plot. Matt Coburn had cleaned up tough towns before, but he wanted no part of Confusion. Too many enemies knew he was there, too many lies had been told. Now there's only one way out of Confusion for Coburn: a path of honor that could cost him his life.

Characters:

The characters are strong and complex, dealing with themes of morality and survival, while the protagonist navigates personal dilemmas.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is vivid and engaging, characterized by detailed descriptions and an immersive quality that vividly brings the setting and action to life.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the establishment of a lawless boomtown after a gold discovery, featuring the struggles of its characters amidst violence, corruption, and the fight for survival.

Setting:

The setting is the lawless boomtown of Confusion in the 1870s, vividly depicting the Wild West's environment and challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow but becomes fast-paced and action-packed, effectively maintaining reader interest throughout.

It was the seventh century, and the great T’ang dynasty was rising in China, while across the Asian continent a relatively unknown young man named Mohammed sat meditating in Mecca, conceiving the reli...

Notes:

The Empty Land is set in a boomtown called Confusion, which emerges rapidly after the discovery of gold.

The story contrasts the lawless behavior of certain characters with those striving for order and justice.

Main characters Matt Coburn and Dick Felton face significant challenges as they try to stake their claim in the mine while navigating violence and betrayal.

L'Amour's vivid writing style allows readers to feel immersed in the setting and action, particularly during gunfights.

The novel raises themes about violence, honor, and personal identity, going deeper than typical Western narratives.

L'Amour was the first novelist to receive a Congressional Gold Medal and was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1984.

The book is noted for its visual storytelling that can evoke comparisons to classic films by directors like Kurosawa and Fred Zinnemann.

Readers appreciate that the novel's start is slow but builds up to engaging action and character development.

Many fans regard L'Amour as a master of the Western genre due to his compelling character portrayals and detailed descriptions of frontier life.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements present, including relationships involving the main character and multiple women.

From The Publisher:

For thousands of years the lonely canyon knew only wind and rain, wild animals, and an occasional native hunter. Then a trapper found a chunk of gold, and everything changed overnight.

In six days a town called Confusion appeared . . . and on the seventh it could disappear, consumed by the flames of lawlessness and violence. On one side are those who understand only brute force. On the other are men who want law and order but are ready to use a noose to achieve their ends. Between them stand Matt Coburn and Dick Felton: one a hardened realist, the other an idealist trying to dig a fortune from the muddy hillside. Outnumbered and outgunned, Felton and Coburn can't afford to be outmaneuvered. For as the two unlikely allies confront corruption, betrayal, and murder in an attempt to tame a town where the discovery of gold can mean either the fortune of a lifetime or a sentence of death, they realize that any move could be their last.

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The Empty Land

Louis L'Amour

Book 8 in the series:Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures