Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West by Maynard Blackoak – Guest Post

The Wild West’s Post-Apocalyptic A-Team

Maynard Blackoak

Many of the characters in the stories of Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West bring their own diverse brand of wiles, courage, and resourcefulness. Though they display those characteristics in different ways, each possesses a measure of all those virtues that would prove useful in a survival situation.

The first person I would want on my side in a post-apocalyptic world would be someone with a medical background. There are a few doctors in these stories, only two play significant roles, Doc from Brethren and Isaiah Longoak from Willows of the Mourning Dove. Each demonstrates a strong character and wisdom. That said. I believe I would want Doctor Isaiah. His character is younger and just has more appeal to me.

Next, I would want someone resourceful who will do what it takes to get things done even in the direst of circumstances. There are several from which to choose, but my vote goes to Annie also from Willows of the Mourning Dove. In spite of danger and long odds, she bravely makes a perilous journey to have a showdown with the unknown. She is an ordinary wife who shows remarkable resilience and courage in the face of adversity.

Every successful group of survivors has to have an individual or two who knows how to scrounge for food and other necessities. After much consideration, I would want those rough and ready Cunningham boys, Kid Cooper and Cole the Younger, from The Culling on my side. They are good with a gun and do not quit until the job is done. In a savage world of survival, they would find a way to get much needed supplies.

Now every collection of people needs a ruffian or two, an unpleasant individual who has no problem performing the ghastly tasks that have to be done for survival. Hattie from Deception at Skull Creek fits that bill. She is as tough as it gets and is not one who can be fooled. The other character that suits this need is Colt Shivers of The Devil’s Herds. A gun-for-hire, Colt sold his gun to anyone with the need and money to buy it. War was his profession and he loved it.

Another thing this band needs is a jack-of-all-trades. There are many tasks of a nonspecific nature needing to be done every day. Without an individual or two like this and the infrastructure of the group crumbles. My choices to fill this need would be Clara from Brethren and Rowdy Thomas of Little Bordello in the Meadow. Both show not only a willingness, but also an aptitude, for performing different tasks. They also display pleasant demeanors that help keep the peace in a group of diverse personalities.

Last, but certainly not least, every pocket of survivors has to have a leader, that one individual who holds the group together in one cohesive unit. Who better to serve in that capacity than a trail boss? My head ramrod would have to be Sam from The Jonah Herd. Against terrible odds and a supernatural curse, he keeps his group of men together and his herd moving.

Someone else who reads Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West may agree with my choices, or they might select a different cast of characters to form their post-apocalyptic band of survivors. At any rate, these are my choices. Who would you choose?

Synopsis:

Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West

In this collection of fourteen strange tales from the wild west, Cowboys and Indians face down supernatural beings of all varieties – from vampires and werewolves; to ghosts and vengeful spirits; to mythological creatures.

Saddle up cowboys and ladies alike, once the journey begins, Eerie Trails of the Wild Weird West will take you down a strange and bizarre path though the old west that you’ve never been on before.

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About the Author — Maynard Blackoak is a freelance writer living in the backwoods of Pawnee County, Oklahoma. He draws upon the sights of neglect and unusual sounds around him for inspiration. A bit of a recluse, he can often be found strolling through an old, forgotten cemetery or in the woods among the twisted black oaks and native elms under the light of the moon.

Twitter: @maynardblackoak

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