Flip the book over, and there's Webb's Weird Western Tales of Horror by Don Webb. This is a small collection of twelve unconnected tales, all with weird twists. Included are stories where the brother of Jesse James takes revenge for the dead outlaw, another featuring a bunch of tramps who rescue a zebra from a stolen train, and the story of Satan soaring overhead in his own Zeppelin. It's a decidedly eclectic collection of bullets, not all of which hit their target, at least for me. But the beauty of this kind of work is that there is such diversity, something will appeal to most readers. How much, and whether it is enough, is another matter.

Everything on offer here comes rapid fire as a Gatling gun, and with about as much subtlety. Judas Payne was an interesting, if unoriginal idea, which left me with the feeling that I'd have enjoyed it more had the author had been able to construct a full length work. As it stands, the story was a bit too crude and clichéd for my tastes, although I concede that other readers may prefer the punchy, stripped-down style of writing. Judas Payne has a definite beginning middle and end, albeit one that allows wiggle room for additional adventures. In contrast, Webb's Weird Western Tales of Horror ranged far and wide, both in terms of the ideas presented and in their execution. I felt the collection was lacking in consistency. Some inclusions left me wanting more, and others were so distant from what I'd expected -- and hoped for -- that my attention soon drifted. In summary, this double bill is not for those looking to read a classic western, or even a western with a dash of SF. It better suited to those keen to taste cross-genre writing, with its hat tipped toward the wild West.