What are some of the best western short stories?

One of the best is 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' by Bret Harte. It's a story full of moral exploration set in a mining town.

A really good Western novel is 'The Ox - Bow Incident' by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. It delves deep into themes of justice and mob mentality. Among short stories, 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' is quite famous. It's a story that explores the idea of how legends are made in the Wild West.

One of the great ones is 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' by Bret Harte. It's a classic that shows the harshness of the Wild West and the human nature within it.

'The Dubliners' by James Joyce also belongs to a great collection of Western short stories. Although Joyce is Irish, his works are deeply influenced by Western literary traditions. The stories in this collection vividly depict the lives of Dubliners at that time, exploring themes such as paralysis, both physical and spiritual.

Most of them have a strong sense of place. They are set in the western landscapes, with descriptions of deserts, mountains, and small western towns. The characters are often cowboys, outlaws, or settlers. For example, in 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat', the setting of the town is crucial to the story.

Sure. 'Blood Meridian' by Cormac McCarthy is a powerful Western novel. It's a brutal and vivid portrayal of the American Southwest borderlands. For short stories, 'Stage to Lordsburg' is a classic. It has all the elements of a great Western tale like outlaws and a journey.

Sure. 'The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky' by Stephen Crane is a great start. It's not too long and has an interesting plot about a sheriff bringing his new bride to a wild western town.

The story of Wyatt Earp is also a great true western story. He was a lawman in Dodge City and Tombstone. Earp was involved in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. His actions in upholding the law in the wild west are well - known and make for an exciting story. He had to deal with outlaws and maintain order in a very rough and lawless environment.

Well, 'Riders of the Purple Sage' by Zane Grey is a well - known Western novel. It's full of adventure, with cowboys, outlaws, and a strong female lead. In short stories, Jack London also wrote some great Western - themed ones. His stories often explore the harshness of the Western environment and the people in it.

Traditional publishing houses that specialize in western fiction are worth considering. However, getting accepted can be competitive. You might need to go through a rigorous submission process and wait for a response.