Picture a storyteller who spun gritty tales of gunslingers and outlaws, capturing the wild heart of the Old West—meet Benjamin Leopold Haas, better known as John Benteen! Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1926, Haas crafted over 130 novels, including the pulse-pounding Fargo and Rancho Bravo series. His stories, drenched in authenticity and action, became beloved escapes for readers craving rugged adventure.
The Making of Ben Haas
Growing up in the South, Haas was shaped by vivid tales from his grandmother, who lived through the Civil War and Reconstruction. His father, a pioneer of movie theaters, gave young Ben free access to Charlotte’s cinemas, where he soaked up the lore of the Old West. A family friend named Ike taught him to respect firearms, sparking a lifelong fascination with the tools of the frontier. After serving in the U.S. Army, Haas married Douglas Thornton Taylor, settled in Raleigh, and began writing in 1961 after a layoff from a steel company pushed him to pursue his passion full-time.
Ben Haas’s Unforgettable Stories
Under the pseudonym John Benteen, Haas created the iconic Fargo series, starting with Fargo (1969). The series follows Neal Fargo, a tough-as-nails soldier of fortune who thrives on danger, from stopping revolutions to battling villains in settings like Panama and Alaska. Known for its vivid action and historical detail, the series ran for 22 novels. The Sundance series, featuring a half-Cheyenne gunslinger fighting corruption, showcased Haas’s knack for blending cultural depth with thrilling plots. His Rancho Bravo saga, written as Thorne Douglas, chronicled a Texas cattle outfit with a gritty, interconnected narrative. Haas’s prose was muscular yet poignant, often rising above the pulp genre’s expectations with haunting authenticity.
Haas didn’t shy away from variety. As Ken Barry, he penned racy paperbacks like The Love Itch, but his heart lay in Westerns. His attention to historical accuracy and knack for crafting flawed, relatable heroes—like Fargo, who makes real mistakes—set him apart. Despite the low pay of paperback writing, Haas churned out 5,000 words daily, ensuring every tale felt alive and immersive.
Why Ben Haas Matters
Haas’s work defined the men’s adventure genre of the 1960s and 70s, offering working-class readers an escape into worlds of courage and rebellion. His series, especially Fargo and Sundance, gained cult followings, with fans praising their raw energy and historical flavor. Piccadilly Publishing’s e-book reprints have introduced his stories to new generations, cementing his legacy. Tragically, Haas died of a heart attack in 1977 at 51, but his tales of the frontier endure as timeless tributes to the untamed West.
- Born: 1926, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Key Works: Fargo, Sundance, Rancho Bravo
- Pseudonyms: John Benteen, Thorne Douglas, Ken Barry, Richard Meade
- Died: 1977, New York City
Snag Fargo or Sundance and dive into Ben Haas’s thrilling Old West adventures—your inner gunslinger will thank you!