Christmas is coming and though we’re all hunkered down in our homes, trying to avoid the Great Killer Pandemic, isn’t it great to know that you can still get some serious Christmas shopping done without even leaving the house? Cyber shopping! That’s right! Amazon has all my books available in either Kindle or paperback. Some of the best in weird western, space western, sci-fi noir and sword and sorcery. These books have been very well received over the last couple of years by fans and critics alike. They manage to stay popular, proving that the American reading public knows a good story when it reads it.
Let’s start with THE BIG SHUTDOWN, the story of Jack Brand, a 24th century Army Ranger searching the desolate terrain of Tulon, a dying planet, for his sister, who was kidnapped by a gang of Nomads, the outlaw
gangs that now populate the planet as it is being forced into obsolescence by the big Energy companies of Earth who know longer need the oil the planet provided. I know it’s a run-on sentence, but the book itself is one breathless run-on sentence, as the reader follows Brand on his harrowing adventures in the Tulon desert, deep in the Inland Sea, busted oil towns where the remnants of civilization are crumbling, and a domed city run by space gangsters. Despite all the frenetic activity Brand manages to meet Christy Jones, a woman as adventurous as she is beautiful. The Midwest Book Review said The Big Shutdown is “an exciting adventure not to be missed.” Amazing Stories Magazine said it has “a good story and a strong character to keep you wanting more.”
VAMPIRE SIEGE AT RIO MUERTO. One of the novels that set the pace early for the biggest trend in pulp fiction–the Weird Western. Mordecai Slate, a taciturn, no-nonsense bounty hunter who specializes in hunting
down a particularly peculiar type of outlaw– the kind that only come out at night. The kind that grow hair all over their bodies when the moon is full and bright, or that find the only way to slake their thirst is by sinking their fangs into your jugular. In this novel, Slate is hired to capture a vampire outlaw alive and bring him back to a man whose daughter the evil fiend ravished. The conclusion rivals THE WILD BUNCH in its sheer ferocity as Slate and a rag tag group of ghost town dwellers battle 100 vampire night riders. Author James Reasoner said: “Whalen has created a fine protagonist in Mordecai Slate.” Blackgate Magazine said: “. . .an interesting plot with plenty of twists and action to keep your attention.” “It’s a good monster action book.” Amazing Stories Magazine.
HUNTING MONSTERS IS MY BUSINESS. This collection of stories featuring Mordecai Slate first appeared in various western and horror publications over several years. Put together in one volume, the tales follow Slate as he roams from the Yukon down to Mexico and even travels into the future in an amazing Steampunk
adventure. Critics raved when this volume appeared. The Pulp Chronicler said: “As far as I’m concerned there are three names at the top of the weird western pile . . .Robert E. Howard, Joe Lonsdale, and Heath Lowrance. Well, know its time to add another name to the list– John Whalen. . . .” Blood Moon Rising magazine said: “Whalen’s writing keeps you enthralled in the story and makes you want to know more about the mystery man Mordecai Slate.” Skelos Magazine: “I thinnk Robert E. Howard would have enjoyed these stories.”
THIS RAY GUN FOR HIRE. Who is Frank Carson? A paid assassin? A killer for hire? Or just a tough trouble shooter for rent? Hero or villain? You decide. Some say he’s the
kind of guy you call for a job so dirty or so dangerous nobody else will touch it. He knows danger and what can happen to people in the noir world of Tulon in the 22nd Century. There’s nobody tougher or smarter. Frank Carson.
In addition to the five sci-fi noir stories featuring Frank Carson, this collection includes four tales about some of the other characters who lived in the Tulon universe Whalen first created for the novel, THE BIG SHUTDOWN. There’s plenty of space opera action and sci-fi noir intrigue in THIS RAY GUN FOR HIRE …AND OTHER TALES. Amazing Stories Magazine said: “If Quentn Tarantino wrote western space opera, you would end up with something like . . . This Ray Gun for Hire . . . and other tales.”
TRAGON OF RAMURA. My sword and sorcery masterpiece, if I may say so.
A book that’s been compared to the works of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs. A dream starts Tragon of Ramura and Yusef Ahmed on a search for an amulet said to be the source of the most powerful magic in the universe, Their search leads them to the lost city of Caiphar and the beautiful and mysterious Sai-Ul-San, high priestess of the cult of Zoth-Amin. Tragon finds the Crimson Eye of Caiphar, but the city holds dark secrets of an evil a thousand years old that threaten to unleash a demon intent on destroying the world. Can Tragon defeat the ancient forces that rule Caiphar, or will he remain trapped forever in the Tower of Lost Souls? Author James Reasoner dubbed TRAGON OF RAMURA “an honorary front porch book”– recommending it if you’re a fan or sword and sorcery action.” Amazing Stories said: “. . . a swashbuckling story set in a jungle with mythological elements of epic proportions.”
There you are, folks. Five excellent ways to spend your Christmas money this year. Order one or more for yourself and some for your friends. Show them you care enough to send the very best. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!