#french paperbacks

Lewis B. Patten

5 among the more than hundred westerns written by Lewis B. Patten. Published in “Le Masque Western” (247 issues between 1967 and 1982). These titles possibly exist with an alternate cover in the case they were reissued infra the collection.

# 004 - Une ville en colère [Guns at Grey Butte, 1967] 

#135 - Mon ami l’Indien [Redskin, 1973]

#139 - 500 $ Mort ou Vif [Bounty Man, 1974]

#179 - La potence de Graneros [The Gallows at Graneros, 1975]

#193 - Le shérif de Placita [Man Outgunned, 1976]

publisher:Librairie des Champs-Elysées

cover art: unknown

Collection “La Main Rouge”

Detective novels in fine paperback collection. Format 105 x 160. 13 issues [1949-1951] - 4 more were announced but were published elsewhere.

Directed by Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat.

Publisher:Editions des Deux Mondes

Le Gibet

Collection created in 1955 at Editions Robert Laffont, and continued [# 11 to #18] at Editions Gérard (Marabout) in Verviers (who already printed the series since the beginning]. This series - ahead of its time and on the taste of the public - was entirely devoted to historical detective novels. Among the themes discussed: The Courrier de Lyon affair, the Revolution of 1848, Néron, Fouché, Cortez ... In spite of remarkable texts, the collection did not exceed the 18 titles. [1955-1957]. The authors were french (except Bruce Graeme). 

Fine unknown cover art, often recto verso. Reproduced here, 9 of the 10  issues at Robert Laffont, including the verso of # 1. The series at Editions Gerard will have a different presentation.

publisher:Robert Laffont, Paris

Gather, Darkness

Fritz Leiber’s unforgettable novel in french language. Original edition in Le Rayon Fantastique (Gallimard, 1958) and a reissue at Editions J’ai Lu (1976).

The world is ruled by a small group of scholars, priests of the religion of science. Science as God. The good intentions of the learned priests were soon transformed into delusions of pride and ambition. But here is a revolt against the sovereign Hierarchy, a rebellion that claims to be ... Satan. Against the scientific miracles of pseudo-Religion are those of pseudo-Witchcraft. An epic struggle - a battle of gods fertile in grotesque or grandiose episodes confronts the demiurges under the incomprehensible eye of the masses. But this time, as always, it is from the Darkness that the Light will burst forth ...

Die Welt wird von einer kleinen Gruppe von Gelehrten, Priestern der Religion der Wissenschaft regiert. Wissenschaft als Gott. Die guten Absichten der gelehrten Priester wurden bald in Wahnvorstellungen von Stolz und Ehrgeiz verwandelt. Aber hier ist eine Revolte gegen die souveräne Hierarchie, eine Rebellion, die behauptet, ... Satan zu sein. Gegen den wissenschaftlichen Wunder der Pseudo-Religion sind die von Pseudo-Hexerei. Ein epischer Kampf - eine Schlacht von Göttern, die in grotesken oder grandiosen Episoden reich, konfrontiert die Demiurges unter dem unverständlichen Auge der Massen. Aber dieses Mal, wie immer, ist es aus der Dunkelheit, dass das Licht aufbrach ...

Il mondo è governato da un piccolo gruppo di studiosi, sacerdoti della religione della scienza. Scienza come Dio. Le buone intenzioni dei detti preti si trasformarono presto in deliri di orgoglio e di ambizione. Ma ecco una rivolta contro la Gerarchia sovrana, una ribellione che afferma di essere ... Satana. I miracoli scientifici della pseudo-Religione contra quelli di pseudo-Stregoneria. Una lotta epica - una battaglia di dèi fertili in episodi grotteschi o grandiosi tra i demiurges sotto l'occhio incomprensibile delle masse. Ma questa volta, come sempre, è delle Tenebre che la Luce scoppierà ...

Fritz Leiber (1910 -1992)

John Dickson Carr  - A la Vie, à la Mort

Till death do us part, a reissue in french language

(”Le Miroir Obscur”, NéO, July 1982)

cover art: Jean-Claude Claeys

Western Pocket

17 titles published in 1965/1966.  This collection is a typical exemple of André Guerber’s editorial methods: paperbacks about  which you can’t be certain if what they contain corresponds to their covers; materiel taken from different horizons, signatures that can’t be authenticate....

Probably many titles written by Guy de Wargny taking pen-names from other writers. 

But :  Jim Ferguson is italian; GF Unger, Chuck Adams & Glenn Stirling are german; Will C. Brown, William Mac Leod Raine are american, as well as  Lewis Cashyan a known pen-name of Lewis B. Patten....

Will C. Brown’s L’homme à abattre hides an abridged version of Trail Town (which is a novel of Ernest Haycox - issued 1941)

Norton Wisher’s Les canons de l’Arizona is an abridged version of Charles N. Heckelman’s Guns of Arizona (1947)

Jim Ferguson’s title exists in Italia with the same cover. 

Here is the listing of the collection...

1- Bas les pattes, Charlie par Jim Ferguson 2- Le vengeur, par Ricky Jones 3- L'homme à abattre, par Will C. Brown 4- Les canons de l'Arizona, par Norton Wisher 5- Une balle pour Billy Reo, par Lewis Cashyan 6- Le rebelle, par Will C. Brown 7- Texas Boy, par Lewis Cashyan 8- La piste de la vengeance, par William MacLeod Raine 9- L'homme au colt rouge, par Chuck Adams 10- Les indomptables, par Lewis Cashyan 11- Le doigt sur la gâchette, par David O'Hary 12- L'or du sang, par Barry Donald 13- Bill Alamo ranger du Texas, par Lewis Cashyan 14- Justice sera faite, par G.F. Unger 15- La chevauchée sans retour, par Bob Merlin 16- Malheur au shérif, par Glenn Stirling 17- La vengeance de Miguel Blanco, par David O'Conny

publisher: Editions Bel-Air, Paris

publishing director: André Guerber

Collection Western

In french language, the most important western novels collection ever : 247 issues between 1967 and 1982.

#159 Lee Floren L’homme de Silver City [The last gun, 1962]

#165 Tom West L’or du Circle C [Rattlesnake Range,1966]

#173 Ray Hogan L’homme de l’Ohio  [Skull Gold,1973]

#175 Clifton Adams Le justicier fantôme [The legend of Lonnie Hall, 1960]

#182 Gene Thompson Le déserteur de Santa Fé [The Deserter, 1974]

#184 Sebastian Morales Le troisième cheval [Trail of blood, 1975]

#191 J.-L. Bouma Le fermier de Cloverville [Vengeance, 1976]

publisher:Editions Le Masque/Librairie des Champs-Elysées, Paris

Benny muscles in

Peter Rabe. Edition in french language. “En plein dans le mille”(collection Un Mystère # 300, Presses de la Cité, October 1956). Translated by A. Hilaire. Fine hard-boiled.