Should we bring younger readers into the Western genre?

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Okay, so I went to the bookstore the other day to buy some fiction books. I don't have any particular favorite genre, so any book will do for me, regardless if its old or not. So I checked each genre on the shelves. Most didn't interest me. Not at the moment that is.

I hung my head down in shame at the thought of not getting any books when suddenly I saw the Western genre. The Western genre. I haven't read any books in that genre, but I became interested in it's stories after watching Bonanza and Gunsmoke with my brother. I picked up two of them when it just hit me. How come everytime I go to the book store, I don't see any young people reading them? In fact, how come I don't see any people reading them at all except for people in their 50's and up?

It was sad when I thought about it, but it was true. Most people don't read Western books, not even the avid reader. I mean, I read one of the books that was written in 2007, and to me, it feels like a good read so far. In fact, to me, it was better than all those other fantasy/Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery, and Romance books I read. Maybe it was a new feeling you get when you read one book from the Western genre. But still, It felt like the Western genre is dying and nobody's doing anything about it.

I'm 17, so don't try to call me an old person trying to save this genre. I mean, if this genre dies, a lot of good stories won't be produced. And there are a lot of good stories in this genre, and I don't only mean the ones from 1960's and earlier. Many young people will never see the value of Westerns if this genre dies, and future generations will forget about the great stories we produced for this genre if nobody does anything about it.

So I'm asking you today: should we bring younger readers into the Western Genre? I don't mean write the Western stories (who wouldn't like to be force to write a genre they don't want to write, but if you like to write Westerns, great!), but convince the public to read some. Maybe buy some to avid readers or friends. Or maybe you can buy some for yourself, to see if you like it. I tried it, and so far I like it.

I would hate to see this genre disappear, but I can't force you to perserve it. Only you can.

It ate my reply, this is a test to see if it gets through.

It did and the reply I'm not going to rewrite. Strange error message, never seen it before.

Yes I read them, but no longer read, and was more interested in other genres, but wouldn't toss a good western out of bed either. Have some by Clarence E. Mulford I have collected over the years, some first editions too.

Introduce them and you see the people that read them in the stores in my age range? TV has changed, they don't know they're still watching westerns is all. By the way, the Scottish/English boarder lands made our wild west look like Disneyland. It is cross cultural.

I problly wouldn't, I can't stand them. But hey, If you love them and want to do s, go for it

Sorry about the comment of somebody being 50 and older reading westerns. It's just that when I go to my bookstore I see older people reading them. The younger people usually go into the fantasy/sci-fi, and graphic novels sections.

There are some young people who read westerns. Some, but not a lot. I got into it yesterday and already it's becoming one of my favorite genre.

Again, sorry about that comment. I just hope you didn't take it as offensive, for I wasn't trying to be. I was just making a point from my experiences in bookstores.

No reason to be sorry, you're probably right. Like I said, it's what the kids or adults get spoon fed with vid games, tv, the net, magazines, you name it. They just haven't stumbled across a good writer or taken the time to bother. Westerns aren't popular in the format being discussed here any more, oh they are, they just can't tell the difference. I mean take sci/fi some are good and some are gooder and some just plain f*****g sucks. Vid games, excellent example, some are popular as hell, because it's the in thing to do, when it was done before and better, but the new form has "eye candy". Go your own way and keep your mouth shut when around those that wouldn't know a brick if it hit them on the head. A good writer can write well about anything and work it into any genre. And a good reader can see it. There are classic westerns, books and movies, and they'll be around a lot longer then you or I.

Maybe if it was a sci-fi western(like firefly or somethin) or a fantasy-western(never heard of one of those before) then I might read it. But honestly, the idea of western by itself bores me. Whether its a movie or a book...

"fantasy-western"

There sure has, ever heard of Star Wars?

Fantasy and Sci-fi is alright, but I don't read them like I should. I mean, I usually don't read fantasy because it would seem that every writer has to mimic Tolkien's voice just to make a good story, which, of course, counts for a boring read. Plus, they all follow the same formula, and their worlds are too European to be enjoyed. If I had a different style of fantasy (say like anime for example), then I can read it. That's why I can enjoy anime so much: the stories don't feel tolkienesque in tone and style; they are the real personalities of the authors. Of course, most anime's in Japan, so its a new feeling.

To me, I can't read sci-fi that much because it seems to be more technology-oriented. I mean, every story has to revolve around a scientific field or technology. I want to experience the characters, but they don't seem realistic in sci-fi. Of course, this can be from every story. I don't sympathize with the characters that much, but I can at least relate to them.

When I read that western however, it didn't seem Tolkienesque or have unrealistic characters at all. In fact, I could actually hear the author speaking to me face to face. I actually felt alive after the way the writer wrote how the main character killed four guys with his Arkansas toothpick. I'm still reading it, so I hope the story will satisfy me to the very end. So far it has.

Of course, westerns are perhaps my favorite kind of movie.

Whoa... someone who lives near me! Go home team!

fantasy? I could argue or debate that word vs what I consider hard core sci/fi, but I won't. Star Wars was a western right down to the trial dust. The independent spirit was a base to it, the story. And that is still the heart and crux of a western and still is alive and well in those areas.

I forgot the name of the western movie that perhaps fits your definition more to your suiting, the late 60's is a bit blurred these days, actually a good deal of those days was even when I was in them.

I don't read Stephen King, as I said I have trouble reading anything real long these days. However if IIRC he uses the western genre in parts of the 12 Towers and it is whacked out more, or perhaps more to your idea of fantasy. What ever the hell that word means anyway. To each their own I guess.

If you ever watched the old Star Trek series there is one were Kirk fights the reptile captain, that was directly ripped from the old days of sci/fi. Now that to me is hard core and I don't mean Star Trek. I forgot when the short story was written, early 50's maybe, maybe 40's. But Campbell was an editor of far sight.

Hmm. Maybe this is what I will try. The teenage books don't seem to interest em much anymore. I have a book list of a couple but.

There are some books that're western but don't all fit into particularly one category.

I was never a western fan until I got into some good books but it's kind of sad that appreciation for books of various times is sinking for kids. I'm glad I got to get introduced in school with some of the books I did....as it taught me to appreciate and look outside my own genre of what is "popular".

Culture tends to cater towards what's in rather than what's out there. Children will usually abide mostly to trends than to things outside that realm unless they happen to explore them.

Despite that one problem, politically most westerns have already been frowned upon mainly due to the incorrectness of stereotype with characters. For one, they tend to make Indians out to be the bad guys or savages who are rightfully shot. But I think you can even learn through stereotypes.

I personally love westerns that're not "mainstream" or cater to much of the typical aspect you see in movies and books. I highly doubt it would even if it should since there are already complaints about the introduction of books into the academia....especially those that are not from this time period sadly.

Instead, I think they should just have a class for literature appreciation instead of mixing it with standard english or something close to that....I don't know.

Agreed with the above, with a slight deviation

I was a literacy volunteer for a while. It would amaze those here, who could read but poorly at best and what jobs they held, what they had gone through in life, how they created the coping skills to pass by unnoticed, not being able to read even simple things very well. The very first thing I did, was get to know them and the with that in mind, what did they like, TV, Movies, what interested them and would then suggest the books they might like. I didn't give a damn if it was a comic book, I didn't care if it was porn, a western, all good by me. What I didn't know at the time was I read differently then most and had developed little "tricks' go get by the hard parts and still have it make sense. I mean take a Russian name in a book as example. Who the hell can say those and not get hung up everytime you see them, so I taught them a trick to use.The rate of poor readers in the country is staggering, totally unacceptable to me. It flows into so many areas, including the mortgage crisis, some had to take the salesmen at face value with what they said. Not that I could even read all of the fine print and loop holes in that junk. Get a lawyer, money, should have and yet I see so many talk about the current problems and no one, no one has said, way too many can't read or read poorly.

I don't care what the genre, read first. Damned if I would ever recommend Dick, Jane and Spot. I know others that are far more entertaining and can keep the words simple.

If I had it to over again, I could do it even better, since I have discovered much more that was never brought up in the training to begin with. The school system in this country is totally screwed up, but they keep going down the same damn path. Let's go play football and get a real cute cheerleader squad. Save it for recess and put the damn money in the basics and make it practical. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

My first pupil? I don't even know how he made it through the test, got through the Navy and worked in the post office. But I had reading, slowly but gaining, best sellers, because he wanted too, he was interested in it. But damned if I could say those Russian names either, in Tom Clancy's books. I taught him a place holder.