[DL] Deadlands Bibliography (Part 1) (Long)

[Olympiad1@aol.com]

After many, many delays I have finally made progress on a comprehensive Deadlands Suggested Reading List.  This is the first part dealing with Deadlands. Hell on Earth and Lost Colony will soon follow.  Any additional suggestions/ corrections would be greatly appreciated.

Note:  I did not include Pinnacle products in this list (as they already provide one in their books).  Additionally, I did not include traditional western novels, movies, or tv shows in the list as they are just to numerous to mention.


Deadlands: Weird West

Books
              - The Big Book of the Weird Wild West (John Whalen) Collection of comic strips telling strange, but true stories of the Old West.
              - Castle Falkenstein series (John DeChancie) Two book series based on the RPG.  The second book takes place in the Falkenstein west with the main characters meeting thinly disguised versions of James West and Artemis Gordon.
                         - From Prussia with Love
                     - Masterminds of Falkenstein
              - Civil War Fantastic (ed. by Martin H. Greenberg) A short story collection with the Civil War as the theme.
              - Confederacy of the Dead (ed. by Richard Gilliam) A collection of Horror stories with a Civil War theme.
              - Dead in the West (Joe R. Lansdale) Novel about a gun-slinging preacher vs. zombies in Mud Creek, TX.  Highly Recommended.
              - Devils Tower and Devils Engine (Mark Sumner) A series about a magic using Sheriff and Rail Barons from back east.  Very Deadlands in feel.
              - Doomtown Fiction (various authors) A collection (on-line) of all the official and fan stories set in and around the concepts introduced in the CCG Doomtown.  Website is: www.gamesmeister.com/doomtown/fiction.htm.              
              - Frontier Earth and Frontier Earth: Searcher (Bruce Boxleitner) A series of books about aliens in Tombstone, AZ during the Shoot-out at the OK Corral.  Surprisingly accurate portrayal of the events leading up to, during, and after the Earp-Clayton feud, despite the background addition of the alien invasion. 
        - Hawkline Monster: a Gothic Western (Robert Brautigan) Story about two killers hired to kill a monster.
        - Lynch: a Gothik Western (Nancy A. Collins) Novel about a harrowed former gunslinger out for vengeance.
              - Mad Amos (Alan Dean Foster) A small collection of short stories centering on a mountain man.  More in the line of Tall Tales than Weird or Horror, but a fun read.
              - Razored Saddles (ed. by Joe R. Lansdale) A collection of Horror stories with a Western theme.  Highly Recommended.
- Skull full of Spears (ed. by Richard Layman ) Collection of Western Horror stories.
               - Tales of Alvin Maker (Orson Scott Card) Series of books set in an early 19th century alternate America where hex magic is common and Indians are one with nature.
    - Seventh Son
        - Red Prophet  
        - Prentice Alvin
        - Alvin Journeyman
        - Heartfire
               - The Flight of Michael McBride (Midori Snyder) A novel about an Irish American cowboy hunted by the Unseelie Court’s Wild Hunt.
               - The Magic Wagon (Joe R. Lansdale) A return to Mud Creek, TX.  Very atmospheric, but horror aspect is much more subtle than Dead in the West.
               - Trails in Darkness (Robert E. Howard)A collection of weird western stories by the creator of Conan.
        - Walking Wolf (Nancy A. Collins) A story about an American Indian werewolf. 
- Wild, Wild West (novelization) Adaptation of the Will Smith/ Kevin Kline movie.
- Wild, Wild West (Robert Vaughn) Series based on the original TV series.
- Wild, Wild West
- Night of the Assassin
- Night of the Death Train
              - Zeppelins West (Joe R. Lansdale) A Weird West novel about Buffalo Bills Wild West Show with Dracula, Frankensteins Monster, and Buffalo Bill as a disembodied head.

Movies
    - Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966) Dracula travels to the American West and attempts to seduce a rancher's daughter, betrothed to Billy the Kid.  A highly campy movie, good for some laughs.
        - Curse of the Undead (1959) B-grade western with a twist: mysterious gunslinger-for-hire Drake Robey is really a vampire, and it's up to Preacher Dan to save the town and girlfriend Dolores Carter. 
            - Dead Man (1995) Dead Man is the story of a young man's journey, both physically and spiritually, into very unfamiliar terrain.  A dark and atmospheric movie, imagine it as a harrowed nightmare, and it's a perfect Deadlands movie.
    - Grim Prairie Tales (1990) An anthology film of three western tales.  Only one of the tales really qualifies as a Deadlands-like horror, but still an interesting movie.
    - Into the Badlands (1991) Anthology film framed by a tale of a bounty hunter after a wanted man.  
        - Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966) Legendary outlaw of the Old West Jesse James, on the run from Marshal MacPhee, hides out in the castle of Baron Frankenstein's granddaughter Maria, who proceeds to transform Jesse's slow-witted pal Hank into a bald zombie, which she names Igor. Another high camp movie, but reportedly so bad, it isn't even redeemable as a guilty pleasure.
    - Purgatory (1999) A made for TNT movie, tells the tale of a group of outlaws who come across a town that is literally Purgatory, a stopping place between Heaven and Hell.
        - Ravenous (1999) Captain John Boyd's promotion stations him at a fort where a rescued man tells a disturbing tale of cannibalism.  Moody movie with a disturbing soundtrack.
        - The Killing Box or The Lost Regiment or Ghost Brigade (1993) Slave traders bring back evil voodoo entity that is accidentally freed by the Confederate army during the Civil War. The entity possesses the bodies of the dead soldiers to create an army of its own bent on conquest, using the corpses of both the North and South.
        - White Buffalo (1977) A Charles Bronson western.  In this strange western version of Jaws, Wild Bill Hicock hunts a white buffalo he has seen in a dream. Hicock moves through a variety of uniquely authentic western locations - dim, filthy, makeshift taverns; freezing, slaughterhouse-like frontier towns and beautifully desolate high country - before improbably teaming up with a young Crazy Horse to pursue the creature. 
    - Wild, Wild West (1999) Update and remake of the 1960s television series.  Not very good, but has some interesting Mad Science gadgets.

TV
        - Brisco County, Jr. (1993-94) Hired by local robber barons, Harvard Law Graduate Brisco County, Jr. searches for the members of the infamous John Bly gang, the same men who killed his father, a famous marshal and western legend. Accompanied by his friend and fellow bounty hunter Lord Boler, Brisco rides through the west, trying to bring his father's killers to justice.  An extremely fun series, with mad science, mystical/ alien-tech and starring the cult favorite Bruce Campbell.
        - Lazarus Man  (1996) Shortly after the Civil War, a man pulls himself out of a grave in the South wearing Southern clothing but carrying Northern gold and carrying a US Army revolver. He has no memory save for some gorgeous brunette and being beaten over the head by a man in a derby just before John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. He calls himself "Lazarus" after the man Jesus resurrected until he can figure out who he is and why he was buried alive and left for dead.  A short-lived western starring Robert Urich.
        - Legend (1995) Ernest Pratt, a dime-store novelist in the old west, lives with his scientist friend Professor Janos Bartok in the small town of Sheridan, Colorado. The people of Sheridan mistakenly believe that Pratt--a drinker, gambler, and womanizer--is the audacious and pure hero of his novels, Nicodemus Legend. Bartok and his associate, Ramos, convince Pratt to assume the Legend persona while supplying him with Legend-like futuristic gadgets that they invent. Together, Bartok and the reluctant Pratt (as Legend), adventure throughout the west solving mysteries, capturing wrongdoers, and even making scientific discoveries.  Yet another short-lived western starring Richard Dean Anderson.  The show had a somewhat undeserved reputation as a "Western McGuyver."
        - Wild, Wild West (1965-70) James West and Artemis Gordon are two agents of President Grant who take their splendidly appointed private train through the west to fight evil. Half science fiction and half western, the Artemis designs a series of interesting gadgets for James that would make Inspector Gadget proud. A lighthearted adventure series.  Series was followed by two reunion movies: Wild, Wild West Revisited (1979) and More Wild, Wild West (1980). 

Comics
    - Blaze of Glory: The Last Ride of the Western Heroes (2000) 4 issues - Marvel Comics.  A re-interpretation of Marvel's stable of Western heroes set during the end of their careers.
    - Blood and Shadows (1996) 4 issues - DC Comics/ Vertigo.  Another strange western tale by Joe R. Lansdale.  The story starts in the 1880's but ends in the 1930's.
              - Blue and the Grey (1995) 1 issue - DC Comics. Elseworlds tale of Batman in the Civil War.
              - Captain Confederacy - Interesting blend of Deadlands with Brave New World.  Story is about a genetically engineered government "super hero" in a world where the South won the Civil War.  The Marvel/ Epic series introduced heroes from other countries. 
               - Captain Confederacy (1986) 12 issues – Steeldragon Press.
               - Captain Confederacy Special (1986) 2 issues – Steeldragon Press. 
               - Captain Confederacy (1991) 4 issues – Marvel/ Epic.  
              - Deadlands: One Shot (1999) 1 issue – Image Comics.  Story of Deadlands hero Ronan Lynch versus a Hanging Judge. 
              - Demon Gun (1996-97) 3 issues – Crusade Comics.  Story about a Harrowed Blessed on a quest for vengeance.
              - Desperadoes – A sporadic Western series about a gunslinger, a black cowboy, an ex-saloon girl, and a Pinkerton agent who roam the Wild West facing supernatural horrors.
- Desperadoes (1997) 5 issues – Image Comics.
- Desperadoes: Epidemic (1999) 1 issue – Homage Comics.
- Desperadoes: Quiet of the Grave (2001) 5 issues – Homage Comics.
    - El Diablo (2001) 4 issues – DC Comics/ Vertigo.  A modern update of an old DC Western hero.  Very moody, and the title character is portrayed as a mysterious revenant type bounty hunter.
               - Far West (1998) 4 issues – Antarctic Press.  Series set in a Fantasy-themed west, about an Elven bounty hunter and her talking bear sidekick.
               - Far West (2000) 2 issues – Antarctic Press.  Sequel to the first mini-series.
               - Generation Hex (1997) 1 issue – DC/ Marvel Amalgram.  Weird combination of Marvel mutants in the Old West.
               - Girl Genius (2001) on-going – Studio Foglio.  Not really a Western, but a great mad science/ Victorian high adventure book.
               - Jonah Hex – Saga of an ex-Confederate Bounty Hunter, who eventually ends up as a stuffed exhibit in a travelling sideshow circus, after a side-trip to a post-apocalyptic future (see Hell on Earth section for info). The later mini-series also introduced Deadlands-type horror elements.
        - All-Star Western 10 –11 (1972) DC Comics.  The first 2 appearances of Jonah Hex.
- Weird Western Tales 12 – 38 (1972 – 77) DC Comics.
- Jonah Hex 1 – 92 (1977 – 85) DC Comics. 
                             - DC Special Series 16 (1978) DC Comics.  Depicts the death and "afterlife" of Jonah Hex.
                             - Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo (1993) 5 issues – DC Comics/ Vertigo.  Written by Joe R. Lansdale, introduced a Horror element to the character. 
                             - Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such (1995) 5 issues – DC Comics/ Vertigo.  Written by Joe R. Lansdale.
                             - Jonah Hex: Shadows West (1999) 3 issues – DC Comics/ Vertigo.  Written by Joe R. Lansdale.
              - Justice Riders (1997) 1 issue – DC Comics.  Elseworlds tale of the Justice League as Wild West heroes.
              - The Kents (1997-98) 12 issues – DC Comics.  Surprisingly deep western about the family whose descendents would eventually adopt Superman. 
              - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (1999) 6 issues – America’s Best Comics.  Series written by Alan Moore set in 1898 teaming up famous Victorian literary characters (Captain Nemo, Dr. Jeckyll/ Mr. Hyde, the Invisible Man, etc.) in adventures.
                            - The Lone Ranger and Tonto (1994) 4 issues – Topps Comics.  Written by Joe R. Lansdale.  Brings the Jonah Hex touch of horror to the famous masked man and sidekick.
              - Two Gun Kid: The Sunset Riders (1995) 2 issues – Marvel Comics.  Strange tale of one of Marvel's western heroes, who due to past adventures in the future knows the date of his death, and is trying to avoid it.
              - Westside (2001) 3 issues? – Antarctic Press – Magna influenced Western about a blind Chinese gunfighter.
              - Weird Western Tales (2001) 4 issues – DC Comics/ Vertigo.  Anthology series of Weird Western stories.
    - Wild Times: Deathblow (1999) 1 issue – Wildstorm Comics.  Alternate world story of one of Wildstorm’s heroes as a Bounty Hunter in the final days of the Old West.  Has a cameo appearance of Jonah Hex's stuffed corpse.
- The Wild, Wild West (1966-69) 7 issues – Gold Key Comics.  Based on the TV series.
- The Wild, Wild West (1990) 4 issues – Millennium Comics. Based on the TV series.
                  - Wynonna Earp (1996) 5 issues – Image Comics.  Short lived series about a descendent of Wyatt Earp who acts as a U.S. Marshall fighting the supernatural.  Think modern day Deadlands.

Games
              - Boot Hill (TSR) – The first (?) Old West RPG.  It has gone through 3 editions and a handful of modules.
        - Call of Cthulu (Chaosim Games) – The Outstanding RPG based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft.  Deadlands did a single dime novel cross-over with the game.  Chaosim did a number of supplements set in 1890.
                           - Cthulu by Gaslight
                 - Dark Designs
                 - Sacraments of Evil
        - Castle Falkenstein (R. Talsorian Games) – High Adventure in the Steam Age.  An alternate 19th century Earth where magic and steam tech exist, and the literary heroes of the Victorian age are real.  Highly useable as a source for the rest of the world in a Deadlands game.
                               - Castle Falkenstein – Main Rule Book
                     - Comme Il Fault – Player’s Guide
                     - Steam Age – Weird Science Equipment Book
                     - Six-Guns and Sorcery – America Sourcebook
                     - The Book of Sigils – Magic Sourcebook
                     - The Memoirs of Auberon of Faerie – Faerie Sourcebook
        - For Faerie, Queen, & Country (TSR) – An Amazing Engine sourcebook detailing an 187- Victorian England where magic and faerie are part of everyday life.
        - Gurps: Castle Falkenstein (Steve Jackson Games) – Gurps version of the R. Talsorian Games.  With the upcoming Gurps: Deadlands, should make merging the two games a snap.
        - Gurps: Old West (Steve Jackson Games) – Gurps genrebook for running campaigns in the Old West.
        - Knuckleduster Adventures (Knuckleduster Publications) – Two solo adventures set in the Wild West.
                     - The Devil’s Addition
                     - Raining Hammers
        - Knuckleduster Firearms Shop (Knuckleduster Publications) – Excellent sourcebook on the Firearms of the Old West.  Includes Deadlands stats for all the weapons.
        - Phoenix Command: Wild West Weapon Data Supplement (Leading Edge Games) – A short supplement for the Phoenix Command game adding Firearms of the Old West.
        - Ravenloft: The Gothic Earth (TSR) – AD&D Supplement using the Ravenloft horror rules to set up a macabre version of 1890's earth.  Notable for the contributions by Shane Hensley.
            - Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales – boxed set
            - The Gothic Earth Gazetteer – 1890’s sourcebook
        - Space: 1899 (GDW/ Hierophant Games) – RPG set in an alternate world where travel between the planets is possible on giant floating ships.  The setting is very much a nod to Edgar Rice Burroughs' work.  Interesting mainly as it’s setting is the Victorian Age.
    - Werewolf: the Wild West (White Wolf) – The Wild West in the World Of Darkness.  Pinnacle did a three dime novel cross-over with this game.
                            - Werewolf: the Wild West – Main Rule Book
                            - Frontier Secrets – GM guide
                            - Ghost Towns – Sourcebook adding Wraith: the Oblivion to the setting. 
    - Western Hero (Hero Games) – A genre book written for the Hero System written by one time Pinnacle staff member Matt Forbeck.  Even had the distinction to mention horror westerns as a type of game to run.