An Old West Town with an Unusual Touch
Desert Hole, under the jurisdiction of Sheriff MaryJane FreeFeets, is an Old West town that goes beyond conventional stereotypes. Here, alongside the customary gunfighters, feverish gold diggers and gambling gamblers, less conventional characters coexist, such as psychedelic dead-buriers, sandunguera deities, Raelians waiting for UFOs, deconstructed cowboys and mail delivery girls in a constant state of cathedral hangover. This setting, anchored in the 19th century, offers a unique mix of elements from the past and present, where you can even do modern activities such as partying along the Texan bakalao route and paying for pirulas through Bizum.
The Atypical Novel of the West: The Curse of Sandungo
The Curse of Sandungo, recently presented at the +Bernat bookstore, is a work that breaks the molds of typical Western novels. Written by Ane Guerra, a Basque journalist and writer living in Barcelona, this novel is a tribute to newsstand literature, forged by needy writers such as Curtis Garland, Francisco González Ledesma, Josep Mallorquí and Marcial Lafuente Estefanía. The Valencian publishing house Proyecto Estefanía, through this work, celebrates the legacy of Marcial Lafuente Estefanía.
The Renaissance of Newsstand Westerns
The publishing house Proyecto Estefanía, inspired by nostalgia for newsstand westerns, has created the Desiert Hole collection, which seeks to revive newsstand literature in a contemporary key. The idea is to offer novels in installments, written by different authors, who play with the characters and the proposed setting, imprinting their personal stamp. The intention is to counteract the macho casposity of the westerns of the 70s, filling them with ovarian characters and maintaining the ability to entertain and point the finger.
The Author’s Vision: Ane Guerra
Ane Guerra, author of The Curse of Sandungo, shares her fascination with the West since her childhood, influenced by her father, a fan of the genre’s cinema. The novel, which is read to the rhythm of reggaeton, sardana enloquecida, zapateao flamenco and hardcore pogo, stands out for its focus on friendship between girls, criticism of touristification and the transformation of cities into theme parks, and the grotesque representation of the current reality.
Gender Literature and its Recognition
Ane Guerra reflects on genre literature, highlighting that it has been considered second category. However, initiatives such as Festival 42 are working to change this perception, providing more space and recognition to this type of books.
