Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #741173 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Gay pulp veteran Banis's pseudonymous soft core novels of the '60s are hailed as "foundational" to gay literature in Michael Bronski's fulsome introduction to this new novel, Banis's "re-emergence." Bronski goes on to call this Western a "response" to Brokeback Mountain, and a "queer meditation" on the cowboy as American icon. Forty-year-old Les, the trail boss of the Double H Ranch, works for its beloved chatelaine, the elderly widow Miz Cameron, "a little dumpling of a woman, dressed in black." Les rides herd over a crew of rowdy cowboys, roping steer and sleeping around prairie campfires. Young drifter Buck, part Nasoni Indian, catches up to them on a roundup. After proving himself an expert sharpshooter, rider and roper, Buck celebrates his initiation to the group by luring one of their number, Red, into his bedroll. But Buck is really after Les, sandy-haired and significantly endowed. Banis provides a well-researched, detailed panorama of wrangling steer and the narrowing of the American Southwest, but his characters fail to convince and his sex scenes are pallid. Buck unleashes a stream of single-entendre wherever he goes (it feels good to be "rode hard"), and after the first 10 pages, it becomes tiresome.
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About the Author

Customer Reviews

I'd Like to Ride These Saddles
Great book: endearing, exciting, fun characters, teasing, flirting, roping and riding not only horses but also guys, hot and steamy sex scenes, watching a major character struggle with his own sexuality and his view of who he is and what he wants. Buck is a doll of a character. Any gay guy worth his salt would want Buck, not only for his beauty and sexuality but also for his cocky, happy, fun-loving, in your face attitude and love of life. Les is a big hunk of cowboy who doesn't know what hit him when the tornado named Buck came into his life. Then there is Red, the other member of the triumvirate of sexy cowboys in this book; Red is solid, competent, empathic, understanding and sensible. He's going to be the cement that will enable the three cowboys to create a long term triumvirate after the events of this book. Grab it, read it, love the characters, love the way Banis slowly stirred his kettle and brewed up a fine stew in this lovely gem of a book.

Longhorns - A Love Story of the Old West
Anyone over the age of 50 who reads gay themed fiction and literature will certainly recognize this author's name. Victor Banis was one of the early forerunners in the 50's and 60's who helped push gay fiction to the fore front of the literary world, often times paying a severe price for his efforts. In the 60's, his books seemed to be everywhere, as stories poured from his typewriter, but not necessarily under his own name: he had many different pen names he used. The names may not be familiar to a reader, but the titles of his books should be: The Gay Haunt, The Man From C.A.M.P., The Greek Boy, Stranger at the Door, Kenny's Back, and the book which started his gay writing careet, The Why Not? All these titles had long been out of print until recently, along with his autobiography, Spine Intact, Some Creases: Remembrances of a Paperback Writer.

After years of a self-imposed exile from publishing, Victor has been coaxed back to his desk and the result is a wonderful, powerful tale of the Wild West where love is as hot as the weather, as deadly as a snake bite and as wily as the winds that blow across the terrain. Cowboys are an unusual breed: rough, tough,and rowdy but under the right circumstances can be smooth, sensual and loving; especially if they have gone long enough without sex and are horny enough to go looking for love.

Les,the boss of the Double H Ranch,is out on the range, herding cattle with his men when into their midsts rides one young cowboy, Buck, part Indian, part American, who quickly upsets all the notions and beliefs Les has about what a cowboy should be and how one should act, both in the saddle and out.

The western landscape is set ablaze with the heat that Banis pours into his new novel, showing that he is still a true connoisseur of the written word. You simply cannot wait to turn page after page to see what happens to Les, Buck and a couple other ranch hands as they learn lessons about life and love they never thought possible.

With the publication of Longhorns, and the multiple re-issues of his older works, it is a happy day for readers both gay and straight, as Victor Banis returns to the spotlight for a "return engagement". This grand old man of letters is at his best and we, his readers, are only too happy to say, "Welcome Back!"

The Wild "Gay" West
Banis, Victor J. "Longhorns", Carroll& Graf, 2007.

The Wild, "Gay" West

Amos Lassen

Victor Banis is a gay literary icon. He was one on the early authors in the 50's and 60's and was instrumental in pushing gay literature forward. His output has been tremendous and book after book came from him in the 60's, although under many different noms de plume. Until recently he has been out of print and he has put himself into a form of exile from publishing anything new. The good news is that he is back with a wonderful new book about the old West. This plus the fact that much of his other work is being reissued is a cause to celebrate and it is so good to have him back.
"Longhorns" is a wonderful read and it has something for everyone. The characters are fun; there is hot sex, a struggle with sexuality and a search for identity. The prose captures the reader on the first page and it is easy to place oneself into the story. There is "true grit' and good spirits in a believable story of two men who fall in love. It is a realistic story filled with humor and very erotic in sections.
Les is the boss of the Double H Ranch and he spends a great deal of time on the range herding cattle. When a young cowboy suddenly rides into his midst, Buck, things take a turn, as he upsets everything Les feels what a cowboy should be and how he should act. From the moment the two men meet. Buck is set upon getting into Les' pants. The two men are complete opposites. Les is tall, blonde and broad and has led a solitary life for years. Buck is young, small and dark with a sense of self certainty and immediately beguiles and discomforts Les with off color stories and sexual references. Because they are shorthanded and Les needs help, he hires Buck who manages to impress his boss with the adroit way in which he works. Buck secretly pines for Les but the boss wants nothing to do with the hired hand.
This is a love story which introduces us to a bunch of tough cowboys none of whom classify themselves as gay but still taking care of their sexual urges with each other. Buck shows that, even though he is gay, he is no sissy. He, nevertheless, is set upon winning the heart of his boss and whether he does or not, you will have to read the book to find out.
"Longhorns" is the tale of two men who are meant to be together and Banis weaves a story that delights. As he balances colloquialisms and rich language, we are there with the cowboys and we watch as the two men come to terms with each other.
"Longhorns" is easy and relaxing to read and makes the reader wonder where Banis has been and why has it been so long since we have heard from him. It is good to have him back and we ca only hope that he has more on tap for us.