I don’t remember how old I was when I decided which genres of fiction I would enjoy, but I DO remember that I was thirteen when I fell in love with horror and fantasy. The former was thanks to the genius that is Stephen King and the short stories found in Skeleton Crew. The latter was due to my discovery of David Eddings’ Belgariad series. When I was older, I started borrowing mysteries from my grandmother (Agatha Christie, mostly) and read a lot of forensics-heavy mysteries by Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell–unless I was on a plane. My ONLY plane-ride reads were mysteries by Robert B. Parker, dialogue-heavy books that I could start during take-off and devour in the five-ish hours it took to arrive on the West coast.

Until a few years ago, I avoided the dusty little corner of the store where the Westerns reside. And then Robert B. Parker wrote a western. And another. And I knew it would be a good read regardless of subject, simply because I enjoy Parker’s style. I gave it a chance, enjoyed it, and started browsing the section. And that’s when I realized: Westerns have The Most Kickass Titles. 

<Damn right, bullets don’t die.  So don’t even TRY to…kill a bullet. Cuz, you will fail. Also, you might look kinda stupid trying to stab a bullet>

<…are the fine states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama?>

<I don’t know what a “High Grader” is, but it sure looks like I wanna be one>

<This would also be a splendid title for an erotica novel by Trixie Loinburger>

<Need I say anything about this one?>

So, are there any Westerns you particularly enjoy? What does one drink when one reads a Western? Beer? Whiskey? Is there a genre that you think can TOP the Kickass Title Championship currently held by these fine offerings? Are there any titles that knock your socks off?