Jack DeMattos is the author of six books on
western gunfighters, including Mysterious Gunfighter: The Story of
Dave Mather.
Chuck Parsons is the author of Captain John R.
Hughes and The Sutton-Taylor Feud and coauthor of A Lawless Breed,
a biography of John Wesley Hardin.
"While Luke Short did not achieve Hollywood fame, he was a vastly
interesting personality certainly deserving the recognition of a
'sporting man.' DeMattos and Parsons have given us a unique and
memorable treasure for our Old West library."--Chronicle of the Old
West
"Jack DeMattos and Chuck Parsons have produced an engaging and
exceptionally well-researched book tracking the life of Luke Short,
one of the West's lesser-known gunfighters and 'sporting
men.'"--New Mexico Historical Review
"Short ran gambling tables over much of the West--Deadwood,
Leadville, Tombstone, Dodge City, and Fort Worth. At one time or
another, he was part owner of The Long Branch in Dodge City and The
White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth."--Panhandle-Plains Historical
Review
"Jack Demattos and Chuck Parsons combined their formidable research
skills to present a wealth of new facts about Luke Short, and their
version of his exciting life has added a great deal of fascinating
material to our fund of knowledge about the diminutive
gambler-gunfighter. . . . [A] worthy addition to the collection of
any student of western sporting men and shootists."--Southwestern
Historical Quarterly
"The book should be required reading for anyone interested in the
frontier west as well as those with even a passing interest in the
history of gunplay and gamblers in the trans-Mississippi
West."--Tombstone Epitaph
"[T]his is the best and most recent biography of Short. . . . [The
authors'] own knowledge and exceptionally thorough research combine
to make an outstanding book about a man who crossed the bridge
between lawlessness and cunning avarice."--East Texas Historical
Journal
"Short owned, or was part-owner, of a number of saloons and gaming
establishments and during his life his name was linked with some of
the most famous sporting houses of the West: the Long Branch Saloon
in Dodge City, Kansas, the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth,
Texas, and the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone, Arizona. He was
friends with the real men who became part of Western mythology,
such as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. . . . In sum, the book offers
a fascinating story and makes for gripping reading."--Kansas
History
"The authors have covered in greater detail than any previous book
or article the so-called 'Dodge City War' of 1883 in which Luke
Short was the central figure. This account alone will make the book
noteworthy. Fans of authentic Wild West history will leap at the
opportunity to purchase the first authentic account of this
legendary character written by two recognized and accomplished
writers."--Robert K. DeArment, author of Bat Masterson and editor
of Life of the Marlows
"The authors provide a fine account of a man who, though small in
stature, had the grit expected of a frontiersman, and who, though
with flaws, stood up for his principles. In his major physical
encounters, in which his life was on the line, he was defending
himself and was not the aggressor. Beyond handiness with a
six-shooter, Luke Short more correctly was a prominent 'sporting
man, ' ultimately earning wealth through legitimate gambling
activities. This biography gives Luke Short the complete,
definitive inspection as a whole man that he deserves and finally
sets the record straight."--Rick Miller, author of award-winning
Texas Ranger John B. Jones and the Frontier Battalion,
1874-1881
"Parsons is an impeccable researcher and DeMattos has an excellent
track record as a Western historian. The Notorious Luke Short
contains wonderful new information on Luke Short that William Cox
did not have when he wrote his Short biography in 1961."--Richard
F. Selcer, author of Hell's Half Acre and co-author of Written in
Blood
"An impressively written, exceptionally well researched, deftly
organized and engagingly presented biography."--Midwest Book
Review
"Short had a fearsome reputation as a gunfighter and did kill two
noteworthy opponents--Charlie Storms and Jim Courtright--but truth
be told, he spent far more time and enjoyed more success appealing
in the courtroom than trading shots on the street. . . . Neither
the book nor the man it chronicles should be sold short."--Wild
West
"The authors have done a very fine job of research and have cleared
up much of previous misinformation that has been published about
Luke Short. The book is well organized and is very readable. It is
highly recommended for all serious scholars of the Old West and for
the general reader as well."--Journal of South Texas
"The book is a gem of research. . . . The authors' craftsmanship is
solid, presenting Short sans the glitz and drama of something like
Unbreakable."--Library Journal
"Two biographies of [Short] were written prior to this effort, one
by William Cox and the other by Wayne Short. Jack Demattos and
Chuck Parsons have written a much more thorough account and it
should become the standard text for some time. It is chock-full of
interesting information."--Wild West Historical Association Journal
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