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Strange Idea.... set in the Old West?

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Fireflywyo:
I'm not sure if this has ever been done but it's been something that I've been thinking about that I'd like to see in a novel.

Setting, the old west roughly 1865-1885 or thereabouts. Main character is 30 year old James Black who joins a Supernatural "Pinkerton" like Agency after he is saved by them during the Civil War following a supernatural "incident". His family is later hunted down and killed. He is totally mortal, with no special powers or abilities aside from what he's trained on and his Colt 44 armed with Silver Bullets. The thing is, is during his investigations, he runs into actual "Pinkertons" and doesn't like them as they represent the authorities who can't see into the truth behind things. (Thinking of a smarmy character who can act as a foil to Morgan.)

Enter his sidekick, a Chinese immigrant of great talent who is steeped in Asian mysticism and who also joins up after he is discovered by the agency during the California Gold Rush during an investigation.

Annabelle Grant, an African American woman who was born and raised in the North after her parents escaped the south and who was educated by a powerful northern family. She would be like a female version of Frederick Douglas. She's attractive, smart, and ATTRACTED to Morgan after various adventures. Given her African American heritage, she may also have a bit of mysticism applied to her as well. (Not sure how yet)

Marion Leigh, an enigmatic "wild card" with her own agenda who would pop in from time to time to spice things up. lol

Bad guys, "Ghost Riders," demons from the other side with a hidden agenda. Other bad guys and neutral characters would include other myths and legends who also "immigrate" to the new world.

To put it simply, I kind of imagined it as a cross between Have Gun, Will Travel, Maverick, the Men in Black, the Wild Wild West, "Supernatural", and, of course, the Dresden Files.

Given the need for vengeance from Black, the racial problems arising from having a "Chinaman" as a sidekick, and the colorful history of the west, I think it could it be an interesting world. Native American lore, battles, gold rushes, wagon trains, railroads, obscure mining towns, western gunfights, run-ins with famous historic western figures (at least we think, lol.. John Wesley Hardin, man or demon? jk), the possibilities are there. I've even thought of having our hero return to the "old world" to deal with things "American Cowboy Style".

Too bad I can't make this a guy a distant mortal relation to Harry. I always thought it would kind of cool if there was a story behind Harry's Colt .44 which he isn't aware of.  :D

The Corvidian:
I think that the Ghost Riders were actually the American version of the Wild Hunt.

Annabelle Grant could be descended from an African tribe who can fly. Another spin could be that she has a tribe of Abatwa who work for her. The Abatwa are a type of "Fairy" native to Africa.

Perhaps the "Supernatural" Pinkertons have the immortal smith Weyland on their payroll. ;D 

Roaram:
I really like this idea, I would definatly give this book a try.

that said, there are a few fantasy westerns out there, and most of them are truly bad. like really bad. they either have horrible research done, or don't take full advantage of the american wests rich history, namely the native history and legends of the american natives.

plus, unlike the usual fantasy, the 1860's are not terribly long ago. for example my grandparents were just children when wwestern heros and ledgends were senior citizens. some legends say Billy the Kid died in the 1930's or 40's.  so a lot of people know just enough about the wild west to call you on a simple mistake, like if your characters use a bullet that hasn't been inveted in your timeline yet.

and I would also warn against being accidentally racist. sure, racism was a big problem in this country at the time(it still is, I know) but if your magicians are all african sorcerers and asian mystics? come on, merlin, one of the mst well known wizards of all time (not counting gandolf or harry potter) was english/celtic, as were the druids. and a host of others. my point is don't just have your magic done by some ancient chinaman, just cause he has some "chinese mystic" crap. use actual chinease fantasy stuff, research it so you know what asian wizards could do in asian myths.

by the by, I think the story possibillities would be greater if you had your characters be free lance, trying to disrupt your ghost busting pinkertons. you know, americas the land of the free, and that goes for werewolves and gobblins too.

and read louis lamour, he is to books what john wayne is to movies.

p.s. sorry for the long post, I got excited by the idea

Keryth:
Great idea, but you should be made aware that its already been done as an RPG called Deadlands. Still, the story idea sounds fantastic and I'd definitely pick up a copy to read

Lash Dresden:

--- Quote from: Roaram on September 19, 2008, 08:13:25 PM ---and read louis lamour, he is to books what john wayne is to movies.

--- End quote ---
Specifically, read "Haunted Mesa" by Louis L'Amour.  It's not a western, it's modern, and it explains what happened to the Anasazi.  I think you'd like it.  (And I can't really tell you more because that would spoil it.)

ETA:  It's fiction, obviously -- Just re-read this post and realized it could look like I'm claiming the book actually explains what really happened.  And that's not the case. :)

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