Oakley Hall

[Steve Maas]

I'm surprised that in all of the discussions of Hall's _Warlock_ I've never 
seen it mentioned that in the late 1980s the book was marketed as Book 1 of 
"The Legends West Trilogy."  Bantam Books published the mass market 
paperback set, which also included _The Bad Lands_ as Book 2 and _Apaches_ 
as Book 3.  I've acquired Books 1 and 3 through one of my favorite hobbies 
(perusing used-book stores), though I haven't yet read either one.  Even 
this mass-market version includes the following testimonial: "_Warlock_ is 
'among the finest of American novels.'-Thomas Pynchon."  Pynchon's blurb 
didn't make the back of the book; rather, the first page inside.

On the subject of Oakley Hall, I also picked up a 1969 paperback edition of 
a 1963 novel of his, _The Downhill Racers_ (wasn't there a movie of that 
name?).  I bought the book for the cover (it was cheap), a classic late-60s 
image.  The guy is facing out, holding the long skis of the period, with his 
other hand holding his belt buckle.  He has on an open vest exposing his 
bare chest and abdomen and is looking in such a way that implies he means 
business at the girl.  Judging by her pose (her back is to us), she's gazing 
directly back at him.  One hand is pushing her page-boy hair out of her face 
and the other is casually holding a jacket.  Both are standing with hips 
slung.  For a final crowning glory, he has his ski boots on.  (The backdrop, 
incongruously, appears to be a ca. 1860s Plains Indian painted buffalo 
skin.)  Well, I guess Mr. Hall had to pay the rent too.  Speaking of which, 
he used to live (or maybe still does) in my neck of the woods, here at Tahoe 
in Squaw Valley (yeah, that's really what they call it).

     Steve Maas

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