I've had time to read both books suggested to me on this forum and for what it's worth "Report'n In".....The first "Savage Art" Was not what I expected. Although well written, people need to know, the title has nothing to do with outlaws, fearless lawmen or anything to do with that era of early Oklahoma and don't be fooled into believing this is a biography of "Sheriff" Jim Thompson. It is a biography of his son ( Also "Jim" ) and the title relates to his career as an author of crime fiction novels. With all that said, the first ( and in my opinion, the only chapter worth reading ) was excellent and the insight into the life of "Big Jim Thompson" was worth the price alone. A big bonus for me was a great picture of my cuz'n, Jim Bourland !.......#2 was "Oklahoma Renegades-Their deeds and misdeeds"....This book is just outstanding and plain FUN to read! If I had any complaint at all, it would be the lack of including the "Pond Creek train robbery of April 9,1894 as that research would have answered any question the author has about Jim Bourland "serving time". I just wish this book could have been longer but we all know a book has to end somewhere. I for one, am sure hope'n for a "Volume-2" and am now taking my place towards the front of the line!.....RB

Boomer,

If you want to know more about the Pond Creek Train Robbery and about Jim Bourland's part in same, you MUST read Jim Fulbright's book entitled: "W.D. 'Bill' Fossett - Pioneer and Peace Officer". Soft Cover. 314 pages with Index, Bibliography, Notes & Sources, Photos and Maps. ISBN# 0-9664039-5-9.

Mid-South Publishing, POB 718, Goodlettsville, Tenn. 37070

As for your evaluation of the Jim Thompson biography, entitled "Savage Art" by Robert Polito, you are correct that the bio is actually about Big Jim Thompson's son, who was a writer of crime fiction. However, as Polito explains in this great work, many of the characters in Jim Thompson's rather sordid novels were based on "true" characters that he and his father knew intimately during those early years in Oklahoma -- the crooked lawyers, sheriffs, politicians, etc. They're all there. And, if one needs a "program" to Oklahoma's seedy history, the names Moman Pruiett, Buck Garrett, Jake Hamon, etc., are just a few of the characters written about.

Young Jim Thompson was born in 1906 in the apartment above the Anadarko jail, when his father, Big Jim Thompson, was Sheriff. His experiences in Oklahoma, that he writes about, are "pure Okie". In additon to his excellent crime novels, which many have been made into movies, Jim Thompson also wrote several articles about Bert Casey and other early day outlaws. Thompson's "source" for these stories was his father's first-hand accounts, told to him as he was growing up.

I may have Jim Fulbright's home address and phone number -- if you have any trouble locating a copy of his excellent book on Marshal Fossett.

I just finished reading Ken Butler's Oklahoma Renegades and felt that i had to post about it somewhere. I guarantee you this was a great book that I could not put down. congrats to Butler, he did an excellent job.
I concur with Boomer, wish it could be longer, I hope to hear of a sequal someday.
eshawn412

Ken Butler, author of Oklahoma Renegades, is a regular contributor to the Oklahombres Journal, our official publication. Anyone interested in joining our organization, please feel free to email me directly at:
OKLawDog@aol.com