By far the best writing in the series is found in the first nine volumes. Although the opportunities for plotting are limited (see the section of this web site called "The Flaw"), the books often have one or two subplots going in addition to the main story. Sometimes, like an Indiana Jones or James Bond movie, the tale begins with a two-chapter adventure—such as when the boys were caught in a landslide (In Thunder Canyon), cornered by a bear (On Whirlpool River), or lost in a blizzard (At Grizzly Pass).

In most of the books, there is plenty of occasion for flying bullets, and the X Bar X boys get flesh wounds once in a while, and sustain bullet holes in their hats and sleeves. A few bad guys do get wounded in the hand or leg, and a few good guys get creased, but those who aim to kill "cain't hit the side of a barn," and those who can shoot accurately don't aim to kill. So there is plenty of gun totin', with rifles carried on saddles, six-shooters in holsters, and full cartridge belts, but the only death-dealing is done to wolves, bears, rattlesnakes, and wildcats, and then only to save lives.

The dialogue of the characters is mostly a well-crafted western slang, but—in the early books at least—with the occasional sign of "upper class" vocabulary. Strangely, the two styles don't jar, but rather add flavor to the books. For example, in On Whirlpool River, one of the punchers says, "That's enough, Roy. We'll do the rest. There ain't no need for you to elucidate" (page 72). The X Bar X series is the only one I've run across which seriously puts words like "'Twas" and "'Tisn't" into the mouths of its characters, and couples words like "exigencies" with words like "ain't" and "reckon."

This author's skill is not exhausted by his ability to produce scenes of complex but believable humor, or his savvy in developing the personalities of numerous characters, or in stitching together dialogue that could never have been spoken anywhere on earth. In many ways, he comes to his peak when he pulls at the reader's heart with majestic descriptions of the boys' surroundings. The writing is frequently spectacular, never repetitive, and holds its own among even the best of other series book writing.

The day was drawing to a close. The few clouds in the deep blue sky had gathered on the horizon, like white sheep flocking to the fold. The orange and yellow colors of early sunset were already streaking the heavens. A bird, flying low, left a streamer of purling song behind him.