J T Edson Western Books Catfights

[maine516]

Anyone here have an interest in this topic?  I've recently collected about 40 of his western paperbacks and have read 24 so far.   All but 3 had at least one catfight (some have several catfights).  I'm trying to find the best catfights in the approx. 130 or so westerns books he wrote.   I can share the titles of what I've read so far.  I'm looking for others to share titles of books they've read that I haven't yet come across.     

[Bear]

A passing glance at an actual photo of Calamity Jane would douse even the most ardent catfight fan's interest in imagining her in any kind of sexy activity.  That being said, history holds that brothel / saloon owner Madame Bulldog physically threw Jane out of her establishment in Virginia City, Nevada one evening.  The Madame was no looker either -- hence the nickname. 

[maine516]

I agree that the Belle vs. Eve fight is an excellent one - I have that book.  One of my favorites is Calam vs. a villainess in Ranch War.  The fight is outdoors and ranges all over the place.  The Quiet Town brawl is also very good.

Anyone know of some great fights from the earlier books he wrote in the '50's and '60's? 

[tomboy999999]

Pre internet etc JT 's books were one of favourite catfight sources.

IIRC one of the very best western catfights was in " diamonds ..." I've forgotten the full title but the UK paperback cover actually featured the catfight - daring in those days.

The lesser known Bunduki series - a sort of sub Tarzan series set in Africa had a cool english woman " Dawn" who was Bunduki's partner/love interest. As Bunduki was Hunki ( sorry) she had several fights with local women - pretty good ones too

[ripher_apart]

Buy a paperback book called Mistress Glory.... It takes place in England during the time of bare knuckle boxing.  One lady gets her boyfriend to show her how to fight.  She challenges a larger woman to a fight or a fight takes place and is well done, though short in length...
bill

[colt 45]

If you can, find the Rockabye County series.  Female deputy is involved in several fights and all have apartment house wrestling in them.  Very good.  All Edson's books were good reading as well as good fights.. The Wildcats and the Bad Bunch have several with Belle Boyd, Calamity and Belle starr in them.

[maine516]

I just finished "The Trouble Busters". There's a very good fight between Freddie Woods and Kate Gilgore.  They are are rival saloonkeepers and Freddie is also the mayor (and later marries the hero Dusty Fog). The confrontation builds up over several chapters and culminates in a showdown behind locked doors in Freddie's saloon, with their saloon girls also getting in on the act in an overall brawl (no men in the saloon). Freddie and Kate keep getting separated so they go into Freddie's office, lock the door, pause for a drink, and then continue their lengthy battle.

I'm now reading "Slip Gun". This also has a very good fight between Wil Jeffreys and Lily Shivers. Wil is the mayor and Lily is the saloonkeeper. Their rivalry goes back to childhood and there is a very nice build up to the fight in previous chapters. They finally agree to fight topless in Lily's room where there is only a bed. The other furniture has been conveniently moved to the hallway for redecorating. Lily locks the door and they have a sexy, long battle. This fight is now one of my favorites.

I now have 45 of his westerns - and I've just ordered 3 more. I've read 25 so far. Only 3 do not have a catfight, but they still have strong female good and bad characters and they are good stories.

I'm not a fan of female ring wrestling, mud wrestling or boxing; I prefer the different scenario fights with good buildups. Lengthy, even battles between attractive, well-built women, starting out topless, or becoming topless or nude as the fight progresses. These are the type of fights I'm looking for in JT's books.  The 2 books I described above are just that.

[maine516]

sinclairfan - Just curious, do you happen to recall if the Rockabye County fight you mentioned where the deputy shows up at a woman's house out of uniform so they can fight is from "The Sheriff of Rockabye County"?  I'm planning to get some of the books in this series soon.  Thanks.

[cosette]

I just finished "The Trouble Busters". There's a very good fight between Freddie Woods and Kate Gilgore.  They are are rival saloonkeepers and Freddie is also the mayor (and later marries the hero Dusty Fog). The confrontation builds up over several chapters and culminates in a showdown behind locked doors in Freddie's saloon, with their saloon girls also getting in on the act in an overall brawl (no men in the saloon). Freddie and Kate keep getting separated so they go into Freddie's office, lock the door, pause for a drink, and then continue their lengthy battle.

I'm now reading "Slip Gun". This also has a very good fight between Wil Jeffreys and Lily Shivers. Wil is the mayor and Lily is the saloonkeeper. Their rivalry goes back to childhood and there is a very nice build up to the fight in previous chapters. They finally agree to fight topless in Lily's room where there is only a bed. The other furniture has been conveniently moved to the hallway for redecorating. Lily locks the door and they have a sexy, long battle. This fight is now one of my favorites.

I now have 45 of his westerns - and I've just ordered 3 more. I've read 25 so far. Only 3 do not have a catfight, but they still have strong female good and bad characters and they are good stories.

I'm not a fan of female ring wrestling, mud wrestling or boxing; I prefer the different scenario fights with good buildups. Lengthy, even battles between attractive, well-built women, starting out topless, or becoming topless or nude as the fight progresses. These are the type of fights I'm looking for in JT's books.  The 2 books I described above are just that.

Do you remember which 3 books these are? I'm trying to compile a list of JT Edson fights and need to know which doesn't feature fights...

So far I think these are missing a fight:
* Cut One, they all bleed
* The Lawmen of Rockabye County
* Guns in the Night
* Go Back to Hell

I'm also looking for fatal fights in JT Edson, haven't read one yet but I think there's at least one or two... Anyone know anything?

[maine516]

These are the 4 JT books I have that do not contain a catfight:

Texas Kidnappers
Cut One, They All Bleed
Guns In The Night
A Town Called Yellowdog (a good story though I thought)

The only catfight I can recall at the moment with a fatal ending is in Terror Valley.  Let's just say lions are involved.

[lumberjack66]

Never read any of the books (I did read some Jake Longarm novels that had recurring catfight themes and of course Gor books).  After reading this I did do a search and came across the Wikipedia entry which include a partial list of all the books that have Catfights in them.  From the sound of things here, some of you may be able to update the Wiki page with what you know.

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

[chickenwuss]

Never read any of the books (I did read some Jake Longarm novels that had recurring catfight themes and of course Gor books).  After reading this I did do a search and came across the Wikipedia entry which include a partial list of all the books that have Catfights in them.  From the sound of things here, some of you may be able to update the Wiki page with what you know.

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

Do you remember any of those Longarm books that had catfights? I read a few but none of them had any.

[cosette]

CALAMITY JANE VS. ELLA WATSON
from The Cow Thieves

   "Give it up," Calamity ordered. "Or do you want to wrassle it out?"
   Seeing that she could not escape unless she got by Calamity, Ella prepared to take action. Quickly Ella hooked her left foot behind Calamity's right ankle, rammed her right boot against the red-head's knee, pulled with the left, hoved with the right, and brought Calamity down on her back. Then Ella reared up and flung herself on the Calamity.
   From the moment Ella landed, Calamity knew, as she figured on their first meeing, that the saloonkeeper could take care of herself in any girl's kind of tangle.
   Calamity's kepi went flying as two hands dug deep into her hair and damned near tore out a pile of red curls by her roots. Pure instict guided Calamity's response. Even as she screeched in pain, her own hands hooked strong fingers into Ella's black hair and Calamity braced herself, heaving up then rolling Ella from her. Swiftly Calamity twisted on to the top of Ella, trying to bang the black head against the ground. Not that Calamity stayed on top for long. Over and over the two girls rolled and thrashed. Neither showed any kind of skill, or gave a thought to anything more scientific than clawing hair, swinging wild slaps and punches or biting at first.
   Nor did the situation improve for almost three minutes. Then, how it happened neither girld could say, they found themselves on the their feet. Ella stood behind Calamity, arms locked around the red-head and pinning Calamity's own arms to her sides. Just what advantage Ella aimed to take from the situation is hard to say. She retained her hold and crushed on the red-head, but could do little more. Gasping in fury more than pain, Calamity lashed backwards, her heels landing on Ella's shins hard enough to make the other girl yelp and loosen her hold a little. Then, Calamity clasped her hands together, forcing outwards agains Ella's grip with her elbows and sucking in a deep breath. Suddenly Calamity exhaled and felt the encircling arms relax their grip. Before Ella could tighten again, Calamity twisted slightly and rammed back with her wlbow, driving it into the other girl's stomach.
   Giving a croaking gasp. Ella lost her hold and stumbled back. Jumping in to attack again, Calamity discovered that the other girl was far from beaten. Ella's left hand shot out, driving the fist full into Calamity's face, then the right whipped across to connect with the other girls jaw. Staggering, Calamity caught her balance just in time to meet Ella's rush.
   For over ten minutes the girls put up a hell of a fight. They used fists, elbows, feet, knees, punching, slapping, kiking, pushing and shoving. Twice they rolled over Calamity's Colt without giving it a glance or thought. However, Calamity slowly gained the upper hand. Her normal working life offered greater advantages in the matter of staying fit and strong than did Ella's career in the saloon.
   Gasping in exhaustion, her shirt torn open and minus one sleeve, Calamity landed a punch which sent the sobbing exhausted Ella sprawling to the ground. Calamity stumbled forward. Through the mists which roared around her, Calamity heard horses approaching. She came to a halt and started to look at the newcomers. That look nearly cost her the fight. Ella had come to her feet, swaying and barley able to stand. Yet she still swung a wild punch that ought to have flattened Calamity; only it missed the read-head by a good two inches. Once more Calamity's instincts came to her aid. Ignoring the two men who rode towards her, she turned and lashed out with all she had. In missing, Ella staggered forward and walked full into the punch Calamity threw. It clocked like two rocks cracking together as they fell down a cliff. Ella shot sideways, landing face down and lying still. Weakly Calamity followed the saloonkeeper up and dropped to her knees by the still shape.
   "Ease off, Calam!" Danny yelled, leaping from his horse and running to where Calamity rolled the unsconscious Ella over.
   "She's done!"
   "Know something?" Calamity gasped. "I'm not much better myself."
   Five minutes later Calamity recovered enough to tell Danny what had happened. Ella sat moaning on the ground to one side and Calamity looked at Danny with a wry grin as he said:
   "I'd swear you let her jump you and get your gun just so you could fight."
   "Shucks," grinned Calamity. "Can't a gal have any fun at all?"

[maine516]

Just fyi - The Cow Thieves was also released later as Running Irons.

[colt 45]

Some VERY Few on AMAZON for kindle.  Most are paperback on ebay.  VERY PRICEY since the auther has passed on.