The Big Land

Also published as Buffalo Grass this novel captures the drama of the forging of an empire as it follows two men who fought through the Civil War together who continue to the lonely and wind swept Kansas prairie to build a town, and a community out of nothing. This book made a great moive starring Alan Ladd, also. You might want to check that out. Frank Gruber created some memorable works during his long career, and this is by far his longest and best book. Still written in his inimitable style of short crisp sentences, and shifting scenes, the book reads like a movie. You never get bored, or weighed down by lengthy character interspectiion. His work is action and reaction.