Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate policy
Elmer Kelton Books in Order
Elmer Kelton is a celebrated author of over forty novels that have captivated readers with their rich storytelling and vivid portrayals of the American West. His notable works include <i>The Time It Never Rained</i>, <i>Other Men’s Horses</i>, <i>Texas Standoff</i>, and <i>Hard Trail to Follow</i>, each one a testament to his skill in crafting immersive narratives. Born on a ranch near Crane, Texas, Kelton's roots in the region are reflected in his writing, which often explores the complexities of life on the range. A journalism graduate of the University of Texas, Kelton has received numerous accolades for his work, including seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Bibliography verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What are all of Elmer Kelton's book series? Elmer Kelton has written 8 book series. The most notable is the Buckalew Family series.
Complete series list with all books in reading order below.
Book Series by Elmer Kelton
- #1
Massacre at Goliad(1965) - #2
After the Bugles(1967)
- #1
The Good Old Boys(1982) - #2
The Smiling Country(1998) - #3
Six Bits a Day(2005) - #4
The Unlikely Lawman (By: Steve Kelton)(2022)
- #1
Looking Back West: Selections form the Pioneer News-Observer(1972) - #2
Permian: A Continuing Saga(1985) - #3
Elmer Kelton: 30 Years of Western Fiction(1985) - #4
Living and Writing in West Texas: Two Speeches(1990) - #5
The Art of Howard Terpning(1992) - #6
The Art of Frank C. McCarthy(1992) - #7
The Art of James Bama(1993) - #8
Elmer Kelton Country: The Short Nonfiction of a Texas Novelist(1993) - #9
My Kind of Heroes: Selected Speeches(1995) - #10
Texas(1995) - #11
Texas Cattle Barons: Their Families, Land and Legacy(1999) - #12
Prairie Gothic (By: John R. Erickson)(2005) - #13
Sandhills Boy: The Winding Trail of a Texas Writer(2007) - #14
Tom Lovell: Storyteller with a Brush(2020) - #15
Horsing Around(1991) - #16
New Trails: Twenty-Three Original Stories(1994) - #17The Best of the American West II(1999)
- #18
A Century of Great Western Stories(2001) - #19
Lone Star Law(2005) - #20
Noah’s Ride(2006) - #21Lost Trails(2007)
- #22The Way of the West(2008)
- #23Law of the Gun(2010)
- #24
Ghost Towns(2010)
- #1
Sons of Texas(1989) - #2
The Raiders(1989) - #3
The Rebels(1989)
- #1
Hot Iron(1956) - #2Buffalo Wagons(1957)
- #3Bitter Trail(1959)
- #4
Texas Rifles(1960) - #5
Donovan(1961) - #6
Pecos Crossing(1963) - #7
Horsehead Crossing(1963) - #8
Savage Guns (With: Brian Garfield,Alex Hawk)(1968) - #9
Shotgun Settlement (With: Brian Garfield,Alex Hawk)(1969) - #10
Bowie's Mine(1971) - #11
The Time It Never Rained(1973) - #12
Barbed Wire(1980) - #13
Eyes of the Hawk(1981) - #14
Llano River(1982) - #15
Shadow of a Star(1984) - #16
Hanging Judge(1988) - #17Slaughter(1992)
- #18
The Best Christmas(1993) - #19
The Indian in Frontier News(1993) - #20The Far Canyon(1994)
- #21The Pumpkin Rollers(1996)
- #22Cloudy in the West(1997)
- #23
Christmas at the Ranch(2003) - #24
Shotgun(2007) - #25
Many a River(2008) - #26There's Always Another Chance, and Other Stories(1986)
- #27
The Big Brand(1986) - #28
Legend(1999) - #29
ReadWest(2011) - #30
Wild West(2017) - #31
Hard Ride(2018) - #32
The Cowboy Way(2020) - #33
Law of the Land(2021)
- #1
Captain's Rangers(1968) - #2
Joe Pepper(1975) - #3Long Way to Texas(1976)
- #1
The Buckskin Line(1999) - #2
Badger Boy(2001) - #3
The Way of the Coyote(2001) - #4
Ranger's Trail(2002) - #5
Texas Vendetta(2004) - #6
Jericho's Road(2004) - #7
Hard Trail To Follow(2008) - #8Other Men's Horses(2009)
- #9Texas Standoff(2010)
- #1
The Day the Cowboys Quit(1971) - #2
Wagontongue(1972) - #3Manhunters(1974)
- #4
The Wolf and the Buffalo(1980) - #5
Stand Proud(1984) - #6
Dark Thicket(1985) - #7
The Man Who Rode Midnight(1987) - #8Honor at Daybreak(1991)
About Elmer Kelton
Elmer Kelton is a celebrated author of over forty novels that have captivated readers with their rich storytelling and vivid portrayals of the American West. His notable works include <i>The Time It Never Rained</i>, <i>Other Men’s Horses</i>, <i>Texas Standoff</i>, and <i>Hard Trail to Follow</i>, each one a testament to his skill in crafting immersive narratives. Born on a ranch near Crane, Texas, Kelton's roots in the region are reflected in his writing, which often explores the complexities of life on the range. A journalism graduate of the University of Texas, Kelton has received numerous accolades for his work, including seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, Reading Order Books earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site and continue providing reading order guides. Read our full disclosure