What are some of the best literary westerns novels?

Sure. 'True Grit' is a great choice for a beginner. It has a straightforward plot about a girl's quest for revenge and is full of memorable characters. It gives a good taste of the western setting and its values. Another good one is 'Shane'. It's a classic story that's easy to understand and really captures the essence of the western hero. 'The Virginian' is also a good start. It's an old - fashioned western that helps you understand the origin of the western genre and its typical elements.

One of the best new westerns novels could be 'The Ranger' by Ace Atkins. It combines great character development with an exciting plot set in the Old West. The descriptions of the landscapes and the action scenes are really engaging.

One of the best westerns novels is 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey. It's full of action, with a hero who has to fight against the forces of evil in the wild west. The descriptions of the landscape are also very vivid. Also, 'True Grit' by Charles Portis is great. It tells the story of a young girl who hires a U.S. Marshal to track down her father's killer, and it has been made into a very successful movie.

Some of the best western novels of all time include 'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurtry. It's a sweeping epic that follows a cattle drive and the complex characters involved. Another great one is 'The Ox - Bow Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, which delves into themes of justice and mob mentality in the Old West. And 'True Grit' by Charles Portis is also highly regarded for its memorable characters like Rooster Cogburn.

Some of the best horror westerns fiction books include 'Bone Tomahawk'. It's a story that takes the western genre and adds a terrifying twist with a tribe of inbred cannibals. The movie adaptation also did a great job of capturing the horror of the situation. 'Dead in the West' by Joe R. Lansdale is another good one. It has voodoo and zombies in a western town, creating a unique blend of horror and western tropes. And of course, 'The Quick and the Undead' which has a great mix of undead creatures in a lawless western frontier.

Sure. 'These Violent Delights' by Micah Nemerever is a great new western. It has a unique take on the western setting and themes. The characters are well - drawn and the story keeps you hooked from start to finish.

The main characteristics of westerns novels include the setting in the American West. They often feature cowboys, outlaws, and frontier life. There's a strong sense of adventure, with tales of horseback riding, gunfights, and struggles for survival in the harsh wilderness.

A great western novel often has a vivid setting. For example, it might describe the vast plains, the deserts, or the mountains of the American West in detail. This helps to transport the reader to that time and place. Also, strong characters are key. Cowboys, outlaws, and settlers with their own motives and personalities.

Cormac McCarthy's 'Blood Meridian' is also a great choice. It's a brutally violent and beautifully written novel that follows a young man's journey in the American Southwest during the mid - 19th century. The Judge, a complex and terrifying antagonist, is a memorable part of the story.

They often have a rugged western setting like deserts or ranches. The heroes are usually tough cowboys or settlers. And there's a romantic relationship, which could be between a cowboy and a local girl, or two settlers. For example, in 'Riders of the Purple Sage', the male lead is a strong cowboy and the female lead is a Mormon woman, and their relationship develops against the backdrop of the western landscape.