Photo:
- Freebase
- Public domain

The Best Western Fiction Authors To Ever Pick Up A Pen

Updated July 3, 2024 72.5K views 170 items

A list of Western fiction authors with writers who specialize in all types of Western historical fiction and tales of the American frontier. If cowboys, Indians (Native Americans), gold miners, and outlaws are your favorite types of characters, then you're a western fiction fan. Western book authors and famous Western authors are among some of the best and most popular writers of all time.

When it comes to great Western novels, remember that "the frontier" is a relative term. The earliest Westerns took place in the Appalachian mountains, as that was once considered the great Western unknown. It wasn't until later, the 1850s and beyond, that Westerns began to take place west of the Mississippi River. Many consider the golden age of the Historic West to have occurred for only three decades, from the end of the American Civil War to the beginning of the 20th century. Western fiction peaked during the 1960s, but can still be found to this day.

The Western fiction authors on this list are some of the best Western novelists and their works rank among the best Western novels. Take a look at these popular Wester authors and go get their books today!

1
David Thompson
The Tennessee Letters, Timeline to Terror
Buy at
2
John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden
- Birthplace: Salinas, USA, California
- Birthdate: 02-27-1902
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
3
Anthony Burgess
A Clockwork Orange, Inside Mr. Enderby, Joysprick
- Birthplace: England
- Birthdate: 02-25-1917
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Series Written: Enderby, The Long Day Wanes
Buy at
4
James Fenimore Cooper
The Last of the Mohicans, The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea, The Prairie
- Birthplace: Burlington, New Jersey
- Birthdate: 09-15-1789
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Leatherstocking Tales
Buy at
5
Johnny D. Boggs
Arm of the bandit, Doubtful Cañon, Dark voyage of the Mittie Stephens
- Birthdate: 01-01-1962
Buy at
6
James Reasoner
Antietam, Vicksburg, Lone Star Law
- Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
- Birthdate: 06-05-1953
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
7
Louis L'Amour
Bendigo Shafter, Yondering, Dark Canyon
- Birthplace: Jamestown, North Dakota
- Birthdate: 03-22-1908
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
8
Cormac McCarthy
The Road, No Country for Old Men, Blood Meridian
- Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island
- Birthdate: 07-20-1933
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: The Border Trilogy
Buy at
9
Roger Margason
The Role Players, Calico, The Good Cop
- Birthplace: Illinois
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
10
Willa Cather
My Ántonia, Death Comes for the Archbishop, Five Stories
- Birthplace: Gore, Virginia
- Birthdate: 12-07-1873
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
11
Bret Harte
The Heathen Chinee, Clarence, East and West
- Birthplace: Albany, New York
- Birthdate: 08-25-1836
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
12
A.B. Guthrie, Jr.
Buy at
13
Zane Grey
Riders of the Purple Sage, To the Last Man, The Lone Star Ranger
- Birthplace: Zanesville, Ohio
- Birthdate: 01-31-1872
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
14
A.M. Chisholm
Buy at
15
Robert Vaughan
Age of the great cities, Range Wars, The Alamosa Trail
Buy at
16
J.A. Johnstone
Carnage of Eagles, The Last Gunfighter: Montana Gundown, Sidewinders: Texas Bloodshed
Buy at
17
Richard Matheson
I Am Legend, Hell House, A Stir of Echoes
- Birthplace: Allendale, New Jersey, USA
- Birthdate: 02-20-1926
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Shock
Buy at
18
Ralph Compton
The Ellsworth Trail, Ralph Compton Clarion's Call, Ralph Compton for the Brand
- Birthdate: 04-11-1934
Buy at
19
Frank Norris
The Pit: A Story of Chicago, Moran of the Lady Letty, The Octopus: A Story of California
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Birthdate: 03-05-1870
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
20
Luke Short
Savage Range, The Branded Man, Brand of Empire
Pseudonym of Frederick D. Glidden.
- Birthplace: Kewanee, Illinois
- Birthdate: 11-19-1908
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
21
Robert B. Parker
Poodle Springs, Pastime, Perchance to Dream
- Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts
- Birthdate: 09-17-1932
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, Philip Marlowe, Spenser
Buy at
22
James Keene
Broken Gun, Texas Yankee, Vengeance
Buy at
23
Elmore Leonard
LaBrava, Get Shorty, Maximum Bob
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Birthdate: 10-11-1925
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
24
Robert W. Chambers
The Tree of Heaven, The King in Yellow, The Slayer of Souls
- Birthplace: New York City, New York
- Birthdate: 05-26-1865
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
25
Michael Newton
Justice gun, Bounty Gun, The Lawman 1
- Birthdate: 01-01-1951
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Mark Stone: MIA Hunter
Buy at
26
Robert E. Howard
Conan the Barbarian, Conan, The Coming of Conan
- Birthplace: Peaster, Texas
- Birthdate: 01-22-1906
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Gnome Press (1950-1957), Bran Mak Morn, Conan of Cimmeria (Ballantine), Solomon Kane, Conan (Berkley)
Buy at
27
Tony Hillerman
A Thief of Time, Skinwalkers, Dance Hall of the Dead
- Birthplace: Sacred Heart, Oklahoma
- Birthdate: 05-27-1925
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn
Buy at
28
Stephen Bly
One Went to Denver and the Other Went Wrong, I'm Off to Montana for to Throw the Hoolihan, Last of the Texas Camp
Buy at
29
Terry C. Johnston
One-Eyed Dream, Sioux Dawn, Lay the mountains low
- Birthplace: Arkansas City, Kansas
- Birthdate: 01-01-1947
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
30
Kat Martin
El Secreto, The Summit, Fanning the flame
- Birthplace: Central Valley, California
- Birthdate: 07-14-1947
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
31
Elizabeth Butler
Calico Queen, The Colonel's Widow, Trailboss
Pseudonym of Eva Ridenour.
Buy at
32
Charles King
The medal of honor, An Army Wife, Under fire
- Birthplace: Albany, New York
- Birthdate: 10-12-1844
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
33
Owen Wister
The Virginian, Lady Baltimore, The Pentecost of Calamity
- Birthplace: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Birthdate: 07-14-1860
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
34
Will James
Lone cowboy, Smoky the Cowhorse, Out the Ball Park
- Birthplace: Saint-Nazaire-d'Acton, Quebec, Canada
- Birthdate: 06-06-1892
- Nationality: Canada, United States of America
Buy at
35
William W. Johnstone
The Last Gunfighter, Eyes Of Eagles, Vengeance Is Mine
- Birthplace: Missouri
- Birthdate: 10-28-1938
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Code Name, Rockabilly Hell, Mountain Man, First Mountain Man, Ashes
Buy at
36
Mike Jameson
Tales from Deadwood, the Gamblers
Buy at
37
Jory Sherman
The bamboo demons, The Ellsworth Trail, The Baron brand
Buy at
38
Tim McGuire
The Law of the Barbary Coast, Danger Ridge
Buy at
39
Dusty Richards
Rancher's law, The Ogallala Trail, Noble's way
Buy at
40
Larry McMurtry
Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment, The colonel and Little Missie
- Birthplace: Wichita Falls, Texas, USA
- Birthdate: 06-03-1936
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Lonesome Dove series
Buy at
41
Win Blevins
Ravenshadow, The Rock Child
- Birthdate: 10-21-1938
Buy at
42
Andrew J. Fenady
Buy at
43
Theodore Victor Olsen
Blood Rage, Birth of a city, Hammer's Horde (Linford Western Library
- Birthplace: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
- Birthdate: 04-25-1932
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
44
Conrad Richter
The Town, The Light in the Forest, The Fields
- Birthplace: Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
- Birthdate: 10-13-1890
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
45
Andrey Veter
Buy at
46
Andre Norton
Garan the Eternal, The Elvenbane, Sargasso of Space
- Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Birthdate: 02-17-1912
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Witch World Stories, Imperial Lady, Witch World: The Turning, Moon Singer/Free Trader/Moon Magic, Carolus Rex
Buy at
47
Peter Brandvold
Once Hell Freezes Over, Riding with the devil's mistress, Rogue Lawman
Pseudonym of Frank Leslie.
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
48
John D. Nesbitt
Adventures of the Ramrod Rider, One Foot in the Stirrup, Black Diamond Rendezvous
Buy at
49
Hyung Min-woo
Priest VOL. 3, Justice N Mercy, Priest
- Birthplace: South Korea
- Birthdate: 04-14-1974
- Nationality: South Korea
Buy at
50
Jon Sharpe
Dead man's hand, Trailsman 185, Trailsman 187
- Series Written: The Trailsman
Buy at
51
Cameron Judd
Renegade Lawmen, The Bridge Burners, Mr. Littlejohn
Buy at
52
Lucia St. Clair Robson
Walk in My Soul, Ride the Wind, The Tokaido Road
- Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
53
Ernest Haycox
Whispering Range, The Earthbreakers, Trail Town
- Birthplace: Portland, Oregon
- Birthdate: 10-01-1899
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
54
Arthur Henry Gooden
Buy at
55
Andy Adams
Wells brothers, The log of a cowboy, Reed Anthony
- Birthplace: Indiana
- Birthdate: 05-03-1859
Buy at
56
Dee Brown
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, The Year of the Century: 1876, Killdeer Mountain
- Birthplace: Louisiana
- Birthdate: 02-28-1908
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
57
Edward S. Ellis
The Land of Mystery, Oonomoo the Huron, Thomas Jefferson
- Birthplace: Geneva, Geneva Township, Ohio
- Birthdate: 04-11-1840
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
58
Leigh Brackett
The Starmen, Stranger At Home, The Secret of Sinharat
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Birthdate: 12-07-1915
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Mars [2], Skaith, Eric John Stark
Buy at
59
Karl May
Der Mahdi, The Treasure of Silver Lake, In den Kordilleren
- Birthplace: Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany
- Birthdate: 02-25-1842
- Nationality: Germany
Buy at
60
Jack Schaefer
Shane, Old Ramon, Shane and other stories
- Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
- Birthdate: 11-19-1907
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
61
Rex Beach
The Spoilers, Oh, Shoot! Confessions of an Agitated Sportsman
- Birthplace: Atwood, Michigan
- Birthdate: 09-01-1877
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
62
Mike Kearby
The Road to a Hanging, Ambush at Mustang Canyon, Ride the Desperate Trail
- Birthdate: 01-01-1952
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
63
Barry Cord
Pseudonym of Peter B. Germano.
Buy at
64
Walter Van Tilburg Clark
The Ox-Bow Incident, The City of Trembling Leaves, The Watchful Gods and Other Stories
- Birthplace: Orland, Maine
- Birthdate: 08-03-1909
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
65
Elmer Kelton
The way of the coyote, Texas vendetta, Elmer Kelton Tells the Truth
- Birthplace: Texas
- Birthdate: 04-29-1926
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
66
Bill Pronzini
The Eyes Still Have It, Boobytrap, The Crimes of Jordan Wise
- Birthplace: Petaluma, California
- Birthdate: 04-13-1943
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
67
Jack Martin
The construction and understanding of psychotherapeutic change, Models of classroom management, Instructional counseling
- Birthdate: 01-01-1950
Buy at
68
Cotton Smith
Stands a Ranger, Dark trail to Dodge, Behold a red horse
Buy at
69
J. Frank Dobie
Legends of Texas, Tone the Bell Easy, Coffee in the Gourd
- Birthplace: Texas
- Birthdate: 09-26-1888
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
70
Frank Gruber
The Man From Missouri, Twenty Plus Two, The lock and the key
- Birthplace: Elmer, Minnesota, USA
- Birthdate: 02-02-1904
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
71
Oakley Hall
Warlock, The Bad Lands, The downhill racers
- Birthplace: San Diego, California
- Birthdate: 07-01-1920
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
72
Robert J. Conley
Border line, The Cherokee Nation, A Cherokee Encyclopedia
- Birthplace: Cushing, Oklahoma
- Birthdate: 12-29-1940
Buy at
73
Todhunter Ballard
Nowhere Left to Run, Lost gold, High desert
Pseudonym of Peter B. Germano.
- Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
- Birthdate: 12-13-1903
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
74
Jackson Cole
Guns of Mist River, The outlaws of Caja basin, Vaquero Guns and Gun Fight at Deep River
Pseudonym of Peter B. Germano.
Buy at
75
Lee Hoffman
Salon dialogue for successful results, West of Cheyenne, The Caves of Karst
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Birthdate: 08-14-1932
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
76
Charles G. West
Buy at
77
Chuck Tyrell
Pseudonym of Charles T. Whipple.
Buy at
78
Michael McGarrity
Nothing but trouble, The Judas Judge, Everyone dies
- Birthplace: New Mexico
- Birthdate: 01-01-1939
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
79
Robert J Randisi
Dangerous breed, Outlaw Luck, Tricks of the trade
- Birthplace: New York City, New York
- Birthdate: 01-01-1951
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
80
W. Michael Gear
People of the Wolf, People of the Sea, People of the Fire
- Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Birthdate: 01-01-1955
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
81
Will Cook
The Wind River Kid, The Last Scout, The Brass and the Blue
Pseudonym of William Everett Cook.
- Birthdate: 01-01-1921
Buy at
82
Clarence Edward Mulford
Buy at
83
William MacLeod Raine
Gunsight Pass, Challenge to danger, To ride the river with
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Birthdate: 06-22-1871
- Nationality: United States of America, United Kingdom
Buy at
84
Loren D. Estleman
Red highway, Downriver, General Murders
- Birthplace: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Birthdate: 09-15-1952
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
85
Clay Turner
Pseudonym of Peter B. Germano.
Buy at
86
Chad Oliver
Mists of Dawn, Continuum 2, Three in Time: A White Wolf Rediscovery Trio
- Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Birthdate: 03-30-1928
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
87
Max Evans
Bluefeather Fellini in the Sacred Realm, Bluefeather Fellini, Rounders 3
- Birthplace: Ropesville, Texas, USA
- Birthdate: 08-29-1925
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Bluefeather Fellini
Buy at
88
Frederick Schiller Faust
Destry Rides Again, Outlaw's code, The Border Kid
- Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
- Birthdate: 05-29-1892
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
89
Cynthia H. Haseloff
Buy at
90
Matt Braun
Rio Hondo, Deadwood, Hangman's Creek
- Birthplace: Oklahoma
- Birthdate: 01-01-1932
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Brannocks Series, Gunfighter Chronicles Series, Luke Starbuck Series
Buy at
91
Frank H. Spearman
Nan of Music Mountain, Laramie Holds the Range, The Strategy of Great Railroads
- Birthplace: Buffalo, New York
- Birthdate: 09-06-1859
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
92
D.M. Harrison
Buy at
93
B. M. Bower
Lonesome land, Flying U Ranch, The Heritage of the Sioux
Pseudonym of Bertha "Muzzy" Sinclair.
- Birthplace: Cleveland, Montana
- Birthdate: 11-15-1871
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
94
Dana Fuller Ross
Buy at
95
Lauran Paine
The Bordermen, Montana trail, The guns of El Paso
- Birthplace: Duluth, Minnesota
- Birthdate: 02-25-1916
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
96
Frederick Nolan
The Oshawa project, Bad Day at Agua Caliente, The Lincoln County War
- Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Birthdate: 03-07-1931
- Nationality: England
Buy at
97
J.T. Edson
Waco Rides In, Set Texas Back on Her Feet, Go Back to Hell
- Birthplace: United Kingdom
- Birthdate: 01-01-1928
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Buy at
98
David Wynford Carnegie
Buy at
99
Bill Brooks
Best of Westerns, High Impact Living/Book and Cassette, Dakota Lawman
- Birthdate: 01-01-1943
Buy at
100
Richard S. Wheeler
The deliverance, Eclipse: A Novel of Lewis and Clark, The Far Tribes
- Birthdate: 01-01-1935
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
101
Robert E. Vardeman
The Space Hotel, Rocket Racers, The Robot Olympics
- Birthdate: 01-01-1947
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Keys to Paradise, Tom Swift Young Inventor, Vor - The Maelstrom, Peter Thorne, Cenotaph Road
Buy at
102
Frank Bonham
Mystery of the Fat Cat, Mystery of the Red Tide, Honor Bound
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Birthdate: 02-25-1914
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
103
Courtney Ryley Cooper
The White Desert, Poor man's gold, Designs in scarlet
- Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
- Birthdate: 10-31-1886
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
104
Henry Everett McNeil
The Lost Nation
- Birthplace: Stoughton, Wisconsin
- Birthdate: 09-25-1862
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
105
Edward Gorman
Moonchasers and other stories, The Cage of Night, The Eyes Still Have It
- Birthplace: USA, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Birthdate: 11-02-1941
- Nationality: United States of America
- Series Written: Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Sam McCain, Star Precinct, Robert Payne
Buy at
106
Leslie Scott
Terror stalks the border, Silver City, The range rider
- Birthdate: 01-01-1893
Buy at
107
E.Z.C. Judson
Pseudonym of Ned Buntline.
Buy at
108
F. Eugene Barber
Buy at
109
Harry Sinclair Drago
Gunsmoke and trail dust, Secret of the wastelands, The law busters
- Birthdate: 03-20-1887
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
110
H.A. DeRosso
Buy at
111
Dorothy M. Johnson
A Man Called Horse, The hanging tree, The man who shot Liberty Valance
- Birthplace: McGregor, Iowa
- Birthdate: 12-19-1905
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
112
Ray Hogan
Tracker / Legacy of the Slash M, Outlaw's empire, The regulator
- Birthdate: 01-01-1908
Buy at
113
Jake Logan
Buy at
114
Fred Grove
The spring of valor, Into the far mountains, Destiny Valley
- Birthdate: 07-04-1913
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
115
James Edwin Branch
Buy at
116
Dale L. Walker
Pacific destiny, Januarius MacGahan, Westward
- Birthplace: Decatur, Illinois
- Birthdate: 01-01-1935
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
117
Lewis B. Patten
Massacre Ridge, The woman at Ox-Yoke, The Hide Hunters
- Birthdate: 01-13-1915
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
118
James J. Griffin
Buy at
119
Don Coldsmith
The lost band, Buffalo Medicine, Daughter of the Eagle
- Birthplace: Iola, Kansas
- Birthdate: 02-28-1926
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at
120
Wayne D. Overholser
Red is the valley, Fight for the Valley, The Gun And The Law
- Birthplace: Pomeroy, Washington
- Birthdate: 09-04-1906
- Nationality: United States of America
Buy at