Wraiths of the Broken Land

Book excerpt: A brutal and unflinching tale that takes many of its cues from both cinema and pulp horror, Wraiths of the Broken Land is like no Western you’ve ever seen or read. Desperate to reclaim two kidnapped sisters who were forced into prostitution, the Plugfords storm across the badlands and blast their way through Hell. This gritty, character-driven piece will have you by the throat from the very first page and drag you across sharp rocks for its unrelenting duration. Prepare yourself for a savage Western experience that combines elements of Horror, Noir and Asian ultra-violence. You’ve been warned. Praise from Kurt Russell, Joe R. Lansdale, Booklist, Jack Ketchum, and Ed Lee: "Zahler's a fabulous story teller whose style catapults his reader into the turn of the century West with a ferocious sense of authenticity." -Kurt Russell, star of Tombstone, Escape from New York, Dark Blue, and Death Proof "If you're looking for something similar to what you've read before, this ain't it. If you want something comforting and predictable, this damn sure ain't it. But if you want something with storytelling guts and a weird point of view, an unforgettable voice, then you want what I want, and that is this." -Joe R. Lansdale, author of The Bottoms, Mucho Mojo, and Savage Season" "[C]ompulsively readable.... Fans of Zahler's A Congregation of Jackals (2010) will be satisfied; think Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. [C]lever mayhem ... leads to a riveting climax." -Booklist "[A] classic Western that's been twisted into the shape of a snarling monster...." -Gabino Iglesias, Out Of The Gutter Online "It would be utterly insufficient to say that WRAITHS is the most diversified and expertly written western I've ever read."-Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and Gast. "WRAITHS always rings true, whether it's visiting the depths of despair, the fury of violence, or the fragile ties that bind us together for good or ill. It's a Western with heart and intelligence, always vivid, with characters you will detest or care about or both, powerfully written." -Jack Ketchum, author of Off Season and The Girl Next Door