The Friday 56: 'The Familiar Stranger'

Hello, fellow Friday 56ers! 

I’m back in the saddle. For those who don’t know, my dad recently underwent knee replacement surgery on his left knee last Thursday. Thankfully, the procedure went smoothly, and he was released from the hospital the very next morning. Now it’s a familiar routine we’re navigating, much like his previous surgery on the right knee: he’ll be using a CMP machine three times a day for at least three weeks, alongside outpatient physical therapy three times a week. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but we’re making progress. 

For my Friday 56 pick, I’ve chosen The Familiar Stranger, a 2024 Western co-written by Steve Kelton and John Bradshaw. This little Western caught my eye at the library; it’s a brisk read, just under 200 pages. I plan to read it and have my thoughts posted by Sunday.

Now, here’s a preview from page 56:

"Well, I'll be damned," Henry said. "A camel. I still think I need to put up signs. If that camel doesn't hurt someone, it's gonna cause somebody's horse to hurt them."

— Kelton, Steve. Bradshaw, John. The Familiar Stranger, Forge, 2024, p. 56.

Elmer Kelton passed away in 2009, leaving behind a legacy rich in Western storytelling. After his son Steve, who sadly died in 2022, left an unfinished manuscript, the task of completing The Familiar Stranger fell to his longtime friend, John Bradshaw. It's intriguing to consider how their intertwined lives and creative journeys have given rise to this new story. 

〜B.J. Burgess