Grant Faust

Grant Faust was the pseudonym of two pulp fiction authors, Frederick Faust and Walter Gibson. 

Faust achieved fame as the prolific pulp writer Max Brand who became best known for his westerns, although he wrote in a variety of genres. He invented two memorable characters who were immortalized in film,  Tom Destry of Destry Rides Again and Dr. Kildare. 

Walter Gibson  wrote pulp fiction under the name of Maxwell Grant, creating the characters known as the Shadow and Norgil the Magician. Maxwell Grant was however a house name for Street and Smith publications, meaning that several authors wrote books and stories under that byline. 

    A collaboration between two hard-working and driven writers is never easy, and the two very strong personalities of these noted writers made this one especially difficult.

Even to this day it is uncertain as to who originated the idea of writing western horror novels about El Head. Each author has claimed that it was his idea.

Faust claims the idea was his and that he brought Gibson into the picture merely as a consultant for his background in investigating supernatural phenomenon and Gibson stated that it was his idea but needed help with the Western milieu.

Although there is no documentary evidence to support either view point, it is generally conceded by most pulp scholars that it was in fact Gibson who had the germ of the idea and brought it to Faust. As prolific as Faust was in a variety of genres he would have not needed Gibson's input had he originated the idea but bitterness and anger lead him to claim Gibson wanted all the glory for himself.

The collaboration was fraught with trouble from the outset,  Faust wanted to do historical dramatizations incorporating mythic elements from the El Head Legends. Gibson wanted to make a pulp western horror series based on the El Head legends but without strictly adhering to them. The battle for an even balance between the two differing artistic visions lead to the unevenness of the series story lines, writing quality and ever growing friction between the collaborators.

The first two and half books were an equal collaboration, both authors contributing ideas, time and written work. However on the third book, opinions varied greatly on how to end it. Faust threw his hands up in disgust and let Gibson finish the book.

The fourth book was almost entirely Gibson's work, Faust citing other commitment and only sending in a few notes and story ideas.

After the book came out, Faust was disgusted with the direction Gibson was taking the series. Faust petitioned Gold Medallion to make him the sole author of the series. Hearing of this action, and feeling betrayed Gibson also petitioned to become the sole author. Gold Medallion asked each author to send in three book treatments so they could decide which would best finish the series. Gold Medallion then used the three story treatments and commissioned other authors to write the three books.

Faust and Gibson put aside their differences and filed suit against Gold Medallion. The judge ruled that a legendary character such as El Head was certainly in the public domain and Gold Medallion was well within their rights to commission anyone they wished to write about him. However, even though the book treatments were contractual writing, they were written with the expressed purpose of choosing one of the two writers to continue the El Head series, therefore they deserved compensation.

Gold Medallion cut a deal to allow Faust and Gibson to continue the El Head series as long as they wanted, as long as they met all contractual obligations.

Gibson and Faust agreed to a collaboration of sorts, each would the principle author of alternating books. However the other would provide the story outline and have final proof. This collaboration worked fine until because of a clerical error and a mailing mishap Faust missed a deadline for a book he was proofing, Gibson accused Faust of missing the deadline because of his drinking problems. Gold Medallion replaced the scheduled with the third book they had commissioned by another author

Then tragedy struck Faust. Faust became a war correspondent during World War II despite being well over the age of most correspondents. While he was with the U.S. Army as they mopped up things in Italy, Faust was blinded by shrapnel from a booby trapped Nazi office. The shock of the explosion also triggered a heart attack and stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Faust spent the next five years in a state of almost perpetual drunkenness.

The final Faust and Gibson collaboration came out in 1945. It was the novel that Faust had written earlier but had missed the deadline on.

THE SERIES

Head out West 
 Gold Medallion 1937 35¢ (Faust and Gibson)
A Price on the Head 
Gold Medallion 1938 35¢ (Faust and Gisbon)   

Vengeance of El Head 
 Gold Medallion 1938 35¢ (Faust and Gibson)
El Head and the Yellow Peril 
 Gold Medallion 1938 35¢ (Gibson)
Head Hunters out West 
Gold Medallion 1940 40¢ (Norvil Page)
Hemp and Head 
Gold Medallion 1940 40¢ (Norvil Page)
Head Quarters of the West  
Gold Medallion 1940 40¢ (Faust and Gibson)
All Rails come to a Head 
Gold Medallion 1941 40¢ (Gibson and Faust)
Devil Machines of El Head 
Gold Medallion 1941 40¢ (Faust and Gibson)
Dutchman's Peril 
 Gold Medallion 1944 40¢ (Faust and Gisbon)
Ride like Head for Leather 
 Gold Medallion 1944 45¢ (Lester Dent)
Head for the Final Trail 
 Gold Medallion 1945 45¢ (Gibson and Faust)