What is a Weird Western?

Welcome, fellow adventurers, to the enigmatic realm of the Weird West! A place where the tumbleweeds whisper secrets and gunslingers duel with supernatural foes. You, know! The coolest rodeo ever!

What is the Weird West?

The Weird West didn’t just pop up suddenly. It has strong connections to American folklore and the myths of the frontier. The Victorian Era overlapped with the latter part of the American Frontier, spanning from the 1820s to the 1910s. That gives plenty of space for ghost stories to thrive. Plus, it’s nestled up quite nicely to Cosmic horror (Lovecraft lived from 1890 to 1937). Put all that and more together, then add the dangers and the issolation of the Old West, and you get yourself a weird tasting storytelling-stew around the turn of the century. Meanwhile, back east, folks were captivated by the thrilling tales of adventure and danger that the west held. Stories of outlaws, lawmen, and pioneers quickly spread across the country, igniting the imaginations of people from coast to coast. Luckily, it was only a matter of time before some weirdo put some ghosts, magic, or creatures in there.

The Birth of a Weird Genre

As the 20th century dawned, the Weird West emerged as a distinct literary genre, blending rugged realism with elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Pioneering authors like Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft began to explore the untamed frontier through a supernatural lens. Thanks to them, it became not uncommon to find gunslingers battling vampires or cowboys riding alongside werewolves.

One thing that makes weird westerns so strange to me is not just the blend of genres, but also the blending of different historical periods. I have to remember that pulp magazines typically circulated from the 1890s to the 1950s. When the genre first appeared, the Wild West wasn’t just history; it was a living possibility for adventure.

The Genre Continues

The mid-20th century saw the Weird Western genre reach new heights of popularity, thanks in part to the rise of television and cinema. Shows like “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits” brought tales of the supernatural to living rooms, while films like “High Plains Drifter” and “The Valley of Gwangi” introduced audiences to the strange and fantastical side of the Old West.

Meanwhile, authors like Ray Bradbury, Fritz Leiber, and Joe R. Lansdale continued to push the boundaries of the genre, creating stories that blended western tropes with elements of magic, mythology, and mystery.

Fast forward and weird westerns endure. From bestselling novels like “The Gunslinger” by Stephen King to blockbuster video games like “Red Dead Redemption” and “Weird West,” the genre continues to captivate.

But what is it about the Weird West that keeps us coming back for more? Perhaps it’s the thrill of the unknown, the sense of adventure that comes from exploring uncharted territory. Or maybe it’s the timeless appeal of the western genre itself, with its rugged heroes, dusty landscapes, and codes of honor. Whatever the reason, one thing’s for certain: the Weird West isn’t going anywhere.