
November is Native American Heritage month! To celebrate, we’re heading west, theย weird west, everyย Wednesday.ย Weird Western Wednesdays are devoted to the wonderful and often wild sub-genre of speculative fiction, weird westerns. ย Guest authors will contribute a posts discussing weird westerns.
Welcome Jason Gilbertย to Pulp Reports.
Ah, the Weird Western! Not that Westerns, in and of themselves, are boring, but a Weird Western spices things up quite a bit! Whether itโs cowboys versus zombies or aliens mingling with humans in the Oklahoma and Texas territories, Weird Westerns open the door for a ton of possibilities to create diverse, action-packed, and more-than-a-little-strange situations for cowboys and the like.
What is a Weird Western?
I asked the same question a while back, and the answer I got was, โA western story that has elements of other genres like the supernatural, steampunk, or even science fiction.โ It makes it different from other genres because the setting is typically still during the 1800s when Wild West was still a thing, and historical figures can sometimes still play a part in the story. In the case of my series, The Rifle Chronicles, the story is set in a time when industry is encroaching on the Colorado territory, and my characters begin to see the new steam-powered technology become more present in their lives. Even so, they are familiar with airships and steam-powered vehicles and mechanics. But, there is also the supernatural. My main character, Jack โThe Rifleโ McMurtry, is a witch hunter who has been hired by an Earth Witch as a protector from a male witch trying to become a sorcerer.
I typically write horror, urban fantasy, and comedy, but the opportunity to be looked at for an upcoming anthology, Tales from the Weird Wild West, came about and I figured Iโd step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. I didnโt make the anthology (maybe next time!), but I enjoyed the story Iโd come up with and decided to roll with it and self-pub it on Amazon. I started the second story and realized that I was having far too much fun to stop! I enjoyed the story, and I love the freedom I have to work with such a flexible genre.
Iโd never really delved into the Weird Western genre before this year, so I never did really zero in on any one character. I wrote Rifle as the kind of character Iโd want to be. Heโs a loner, heโs quiet, and heโs got a fair amount of snark to dish out for any situation. He has a strong sense of justice, but he doesnโt see himself as a leader and refuses to do so. Heโs also got a strong sense of loyalty and doesnโt mind risking his life for the few friends he keeps around.
Weird Western fiction isnโt as well-known as some would think, but better-known than others realize. Many donโt realize that theyโve been watching and reading Weird Westerns for years until itโs brought to their attention. But, itโs undeniable that the genre is in a major upswing. No, Iโm not saying weโll see the return of Firefly; Joss Whedon made it clear that it ainโt happening. But, youโll start to see the emergence of new Weird Western more and more in different mediums. Film, television, literature, even video games have already started picking up the trend!
An interesting question for you anime fans: Is Cowboy Bebop a Weird Western? Well, yes and no. It depends on who you ask. It does follow the formula of a western-style feel and storyline, but it takes place, largely, in space. I would be inclined to say yes because it does have the feel and western-style story, but others would argue that itโs straight science fiction. Having only watched a few episodes, I personally canโt see why someone wouldnโt give it the Weird Western nod. Firefly was a Weird Western very much in the same vein, and people have no problem looking at it as a model Weird Western. But, one could also go as far back as Bravestar, which was a total Weird Western that laid the science fiction on thick.
If you want an example of my interpretation of a Weird Western, check out The Rifle Chronicles on Amazon. You can also touch base with me on Twitter (@JasonFailFlix) or on Facebook! Thanks so much to Nicole Kurtz for letting me guest blog, and yโall saddle up for a good time this month!