Wild West historical fiction often paints a brilliant picture of lawlessness and violence in the past as it combines western history and pure fiction. The era most commonly covered by Wild West historical fiction is the 1880's and 1890's, during the taming of our American frontier. In order for a story or novel to be considered historical fiction, it has to be written at least fifty years after the historic event occurred, and our Wild West's history took place over 100 years ago.

Most historical fiction authors attempt to capture the spirit of the times which includes behavior, mannerisms, and living conditions of the period presented in the story. The author may, at times, present points of view in lieu of actual historic details when the details of an event were not recorded or established in history. These points of view can add interest and excitement to the story.

Historical fiction with its historical facts can often become boring to the reader if the facts are cited one after the other. But when fiction stories are formed around true facts with distinguished characterization, real places, true circumstances, meaningful plots, and realistic narrative, readers and lovers of the Old West can be wonderfully entertained while being educated about the real Wild West.

Some western readers assume fiction based on real people and incidents has a lower standard of historical accuracy. This is not usually the case as every attempt is made by a good historical fiction author to accurately describe the true events, people, dates, minor details, and circumstances of the period which is portrayed. Add to this a very active imagination in recounting the action scenes, dialog, and emotions for human interest - historical fiction becomes alive, exciting, full of action, love, hate, and over-all nail-biting suspense as it covers events and stories that tell about cowboys, American Indians, law men, gold, silver, and other treasures, never-ending love, terrible rage, bloody revenge, men and women of courage and worth, and desperadoes and murderers who killed for the simple pleasure that killing gave them (they didn't need a reason for killing. One thing was sure - the cold-blooded killers were criminals of the worst kind, and all deserved the grim fates that were in store for them - a marshal's bullet or a hangman's rope.

There were many heroes in the Wild West risking their lives to help bring law and order to towns and settlements. Disputes were often resolved in a cloud of gun smoke as our heroes fought to build our American frontier and end wanton lawlessness.

When you read through the pages of Wild West historical fiction you travel along a thin winding trail between true western history and pure fiction. Good historical fiction stories usually have an equal mix of history and fiction to entertain and enlighten the western reader.

Historical Fiction by Bob Turpin is a website dedicated to researching and writing about well-known and unknown outlaws and heroes of the Wild West, You can learn more about Turpin's books by going to: http://www.historicalfictionbybobturpin.com

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By Bob Turpin

Wild West Historical Fiction Brings
Exciting Stories to Readers