Saddle up and step into the dusty, action-packed world of the Fargo series, where Neal Fargo, a rugged gunslinger with a knack for trouble, takes on the Wild West’s toughest challenges! Written under the pseudonym John Benteen by prolific author Ben Haas, this 23-book western saga blends gritty adventure, high-stakes missions, and a no-nonsense hero who’s as lethal as he is charismatic. If you’re craving a thrilling ride through the American frontier, Fargo delivers.
From Mexican revolutions to Alaskan gold hunts, Fargo’s tales are a love letter to the men’s adventure genre, packed with gunfights, double-crosses, and just enough charm to keep you hooked. Let’s explore how this series came to be, its heart-pounding stories, and why it still captivates readers today.
How Fargo Began
The Fargo series kicked off in 1969, born from the mind of Ben Haas, a paperback powerhouse of the 1970s. Writing as John Benteen, Haas crafted Neal Fargo as a soldier of fortune inspired by the likes of Lee Marvin and Doc Savage. After penning a novel for Tower Books’ Lassiter series, Haas was encouraged to create his own western hero. The result? A globe-trotting mercenary who thrives in chaos, set against the fading frontier of the early 1900s. Haas’s commitment to authenticity—writing 5,000 words daily with meticulous historical detail—gave Fargo a raw, lived-in feel that resonated with fans of hard-hitting pulp fiction.
The Heart of Fargo
The Fargo series spans 23 novels, each a standalone adventure showcasing Neal Fargo’s grit and resourcefulness. In Fargo (Book 1), Fargo is hired to retrieve $250,000 in silver from Mexico’s bandit-infested Sierra Madre during Villa’s revolution—a mission rife with betrayal and gunfire. Alaska Steel (Book 3) sees him braving the icy wilderness to find a missing man, battling outlaws in a lawless gold-rush town. Hell on Wheels (Book 15) pits Fargo against a ruthless railroad baron, with sabotage and a climactic train fight. Death Valley Gold (Book 17) delivers a mobile-fort wagon battle and whip-wielding action in the scorching desert.
Themes of survival, vengeance, and rugged individualism dominate the series, wrapped in a testosterone-fueled style typical of 1970s men’s adventure fiction. Fargo’s world is unforgiving, with vivid settings like Mexican deserts and Alaskan tundras that feel as dangerous as the villains he faces. While the series leans into pulp tropes—think steely-eyed heroism and larger-than-life battles—Fargo’s flaws and occasional mistakes add depth, setting him apart from invincible archetypes. Haas’s prose is lean yet evocative, balancing breakneck action with historical flavor.
Why Fargo Resonates
The Fargo series carved a niche in the western genre, helping define the modern western series market alongside Haas’s Sundance novels. Its influence lies in its unapologetic embrace of pulp adventure, appealing to readers who crave fast-paced, morally complex tales. Fans on platforms like Goodreads praise its “cracking good yarns” and vivid action, even if some note its dated gender portrayals. Revived by Piccadilly Publishing’s e-books, Fargo continues to attract readers seeking a gritty escape into a bygone era of mercenaries and frontier chaos.
The series’ lasting appeal is its timeless hero: Neal Fargo embodies the lone wolf spirit, navigating a world where trust is scarce and survival demands cunning. For western enthusiasts, it’s a nostalgic thrill that captures the raw energy of 1970s pulp fiction.
- Publication Years: 1969–1977
- Number of Books: 23
- Author: Ben Haas (as John Benteen)
- Genre: Western, Men’s Adventure
Dust off your boots, grab Fargo, and dive into Neal Fargo’s wild, gun-slinging world! Whether you’re a western fan or just love a good adventure, this series promises a heart-pounding ride.