Death at the Double-X Ranch by Holly Martins
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| John C H Grabill photo, the Cowboy, late 1800s: thanks to Fine Art Los Angeles |
Author: Holly Martins
Publisher: Not known
Source book: Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
It says in Something Rotten, that Death at the Double-X is set in 1875 but written in 1908.
But a quick glance at the internet tells me that Death at the Double-X Ranch and The Oklahoma Kid are trashy Westerns written by Holly Martins, a major character in the film The Third Man. Holly Martins is played by Joseph Cotton who was only born in 1905. And when was The Oklahoma Kid written? It definitely features in The Third Man (1949), you even see a copy if you look hard enough.
But never mind; Thursday Next and Commander Bradshaw are investigating inside Pulp Westerns in search of the Minotaur which has gone on the run after murdering a Jurisfiction agent. Unfortunately things get out of hand and a call for assistance brings Emperor Zhark in a huge Battle Cruiser. Spaceships in Pulp Westerns are seriously out of place and a lot of paperwork will be needed to sort the situation out.
Emperor Zhark is the undisputed villain of eight books by Handley Paige.
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| Vintage print: thanks to ObscuraPhotos Look! He’s drinking out of a glass bottle. |
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