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Rating:  -
I loved this book and read it in one night. Thats not surprising to anyone that knows me because I love Gunsmoke very much. I didnt like the fact that Mr. West refers to Matt Dillon as City Marshal I think it takes away from his character strength. And the fact Doc wasnt involved very much. I'm okay with the relationship Mr. West began with between Matt and Kitty because he had to start somewhere and explained it well in the first few chapters of the book. And all Gunsmoke fans completely understand and felt the love Matt and Kitty shared.
Rating:  -
Although Mr. West is a competent enough writer of the western genre, his characterizations of Dodge's citizens leave something to be desired. In particular, the character of Miss Kitty was almost unrecognizable. I doubt that Mr. West ever watched the later years of "Gunsmoke" or else he would have written Kitty as a more mature, fully developed character. The Kitty in this novel is too soft and girlish--as if a 21 year old Kitty exists in the last years of the show. Where's the tough-as-nails Kitty I know? Yes, the relationship between Matt and Kitty was implied, particulary in later years, and it was definitely implied as a sexual as well as emotional relationship. The relationship between Matt and Kitty in West's book is overly sentimental and lacking sexual chemistry. As grateful as I am that someone is still writing "Gunsmoke" stories, I wish they would get the character of Kitty right.
Rating:  -
This is simply a terrific western that works both as nostalgia for fans of Gunsmoke and stands on its own as a great read in the genre. Joseph A. West has given us not only a trip down memory lane, but a fine and atmospheric novel of the west. It is a fast read with humor, excitement, and characters most of us are already familiar with and quite fond of. It is no wonder that Matt Dillion himself, James Arness, writes the forward to this fun book.
Making Matt Dillon the town Marshall of Dodge City rather than a United States Marshall ensures that most of the stories in the series will be centered in the place we came to know and love over the years. This is not one of those sketchy books just written to cash in on a good thing, however. West has an ear for dialog and captures the way people talked to each other out west, as well as capturing the characteristics of all the characters.
You can cut the atmosphere created by West with a knife in the first entry of Gunsmoke. Whether Matt is lighting an oil lamp or sending Festus out to walk Texas Street and make his rounds, it all rings true. You can almost feel the rain on Dillon's yellow slicker as he rides long into the night after killers. You can sense the real danger also as hard men converge on Dodge for a war in which Matt may have to choose a side.
The relationship between Matt and Kitty which was implied the last few seasons of the show is fleshed out here. It is an unspoken truth that Matt and Kitty belong to each other and will be together one day when Dodge no longer needs the firm hand of a good man with a fast gun. It may need more than that as a young man named Sean Tyree shows up with legendary gunfighter and gambler Logan St. Claire to settle a score with Cage Stucker and his father Clint. As cowboys from the cattle drives arrive in Dodge, so does one deadly friend of St. Clair's after another when he is murdered. But it is young Sean Tyree who will settle the score and set up a confrontation the town, and Matt may not survive.
I can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book. This is a top-notch example of why we read westerns. Everything that is good about them is here. This one is written so well you hate it when it is over. Doc is out of town but Festus and Miss Kitty are here, and just as in the television series, Matt Dillon looms larger than life over the city of Dodge.
If you haven't picked up a western adventure in some time, and want to see what you might be missing, this is a sure bet to entertain you as only a tale of Gunsmoke could. Just let Marshall Dillon take care of Johnny Lomax and the rest and enjoy the wind from the Arkansas River while you read this rousing tale of Gunsmoke!
Rating: -
West has done a credible job of bringing GUNSMOKE and it's unforgetable characters back to life. On a scale of 1 to 10 West gets a 9. West made a few unforgiveable errors from the perspective of a long time GUNSMOKE fan. (1) Festus Haggen was not a former Texas Ranger as West stated at least twice in this volume. (2) Matt Dillon was not a city marshall responsible to the mayor as West states at least three times. As all real GUNSMOKE fans know, Matt Dillon was a federal or US marshall. (3) Marshall Dillon and Deputy Haggen did not use profanity. There are some additional errors, but not as grave as the three listed. Hopefully, if West is going to continue this series (and I hope he does), he will do a little research.
Rating: -
I'm a big GUNSMOKE fan, I've watched 100s of episodes and all the TV movies. So I eagerly awaited this book -- and I wasn't disappointed. While there were a few unfortunate errors (as others here have pointed out) casual viewers of the show won't notice them or care. They didn't even bother James Arness, who wrote the introduction. West succeeded in his most important task, capturing the essense of the characters and the tone of the show. The Matt Dillon in this book is the Matt Dillon of the series...and even, I would argue, the Matt Dillon he became in the TV movie/sequels. Festus and Kitty were brought wonderfully to life on these pages, too (I missed Doc, who is absent in this story). Reading the book is like experiencing a typical episode of the show and I, for one, can't wait to read the sequels. West is a gifted writer and we're lucky that GUNSMOKE is in his very capable hands.
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