Morgan Kane
Encyclopedia
Morgan Kane is a fictional character created by Kjell Hallbing
under the pseudonym Louis Masterson.
The Morgan Kane series has become the biggest success in modern Norwegian
leisure reading literature. The 83 books in the series have sold 11 million copies in Norway alone, in addition to being published in ten other countries - totaling 20 million copies sold.
The first book, Without Mercy, was published in 1966.
. His parents, Brendan and Gwen Cairn were Irish immigrants - they were killed by an Indian attack when Morgan was two weeks old.
Only 16 years old, Kane kills for the first time when he stabs Walsh, a drifter who contributed to the death of his parents. In 1874, he became a scout for the cavalry and fought in the Indian wars. He left the Army and tried prospecting for gold in South Dakota
without much luck and he enlisted in the cavalry again, serving under General Custer. He fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn
, where General Custer was killed. Soon after the Sioux victory at Little Big Horn, Kane left the cavalry and became a gunslinger
, riding with Billy the Kid
and his gang of outlaws.
By the end of the 1870s, Kane used the nickname “El Gringo”, as a gunfighter in the Arizona
, New Mexico
and Sonora, Mexico
territories, where he joined up with a gang controlled by “El Coyote”. After a battle with El Coyote, he left the gang and in 1881 was recruited by the Texas Rangers
. He joined the Texas Rangers, and in 1882, he met his future wife, Linda Swift, and was later appointed a U.S. Marshall.
After meeting Linda Swift again while on a mission, Kane eventually married her. He turned in his U.S. Marshall star and settled down to raise horses on his own ranch.
After two years of marriage, Linda was murdered - Kane and set out to find his wife’s killers. He returned to serve as a U.S. Marshall, fighting many historic gunslingers including the Clanton
and Dalton Brothers and John Wesley Hardin
. Kane's superiors worried about his use of extreme use violence, his excessive use of alcohol and at times, his uncontrolled rage. By the close of the 1890s, he was transferred to Alaska
, and was later fired as a U.S. Marshall.
After being fired, Kane traveled the U.S., having many different jobs, including a job as a special agent and bodyguard for Theodore Roosevelt
. Kane was also involved in the invasion of Cuba
.
Kane's health began to decline, and in 1910 he supported and fought with Pancho Villa
during the Mexican Civil War. It was here that he met his unknown son, “Diablito”, Paco Galàn. Together they traveled to Europe where Diablito became a famous matador. Later, Kane traveled back to America
where he was again reinstated as U.S. Marshall.
In the last book Louis Masterson wrote, Kane was shot and killed by enemies in a deserted city on the Mexican border, facing overwhelming odds.
, broke the story that WR Films had also acquired the Electronic book rights as part of a strategy to launch the franchise, and to familiarize American audiences with Morgan Kane. WR Films is in the process of releasing all 83 books electronically in the U.S., and the rest of the world, through Apple's iBookstore, Amazon.com
and Barnes & Noble
. Each book features a high-end poster-like cover, and is marketed with video teasers. Within three weeks of release, the first ebooks held the top three best sellers on iTunes
in Norway
.
who has adapted the novels “El Gringo” and “El Gringo’s Revenge”
Links to International web sites:
Kjell Hallbing
Kjell Hallbing was a Norwegian author of Western books.Under the pseudonym Louis Masterson, he wrote a series of books about the fictitious Texas Ranger Morgan Kane during 1966-1978...
under the pseudonym Louis Masterson.
The Morgan Kane series has become the biggest success in modern Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
leisure reading literature. The 83 books in the series have sold 11 million copies in Norway alone, in addition to being published in ten other countries - totaling 20 million copies sold.
The first book, Without Mercy, was published in 1966.
The Life of Morgan Kane
Morgan Kane was born in 1855, somewhere along the Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
. His parents, Brendan and Gwen Cairn were Irish immigrants - they were killed by an Indian attack when Morgan was two weeks old.
Only 16 years old, Kane kills for the first time when he stabs Walsh, a drifter who contributed to the death of his parents. In 1874, he became a scout for the cavalry and fought in the Indian wars. He left the Army and tried prospecting for gold in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
without much luck and he enlisted in the cavalry again, serving under General Custer. He fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
, where General Custer was killed. Soon after the Sioux victory at Little Big Horn, Kane left the cavalry and became a gunslinger
Gunslinger
Gunfighter, also gunslinger , is a 20th century word, used in cinema or literature, referring to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun...
, riding with Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
and his gang of outlaws.
By the end of the 1870s, Kane used the nickname “El Gringo”, as a gunfighter in the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Sonora, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
territories, where he joined up with a gang controlled by “El Coyote”. After a battle with El Coyote, he left the gang and in 1881 was recruited by the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. He joined the Texas Rangers, and in 1882, he met his future wife, Linda Swift, and was later appointed a U.S. Marshall.
After meeting Linda Swift again while on a mission, Kane eventually married her. He turned in his U.S. Marshall star and settled down to raise horses on his own ranch.
After two years of marriage, Linda was murdered - Kane and set out to find his wife’s killers. He returned to serve as a U.S. Marshall, fighting many historic gunslingers including the Clanton
Ike Clanton
Joseph Isaac Clanton was born in Callaway County, Missouri. He is best known for being a member of group of outlaw Cowboys that had ongoing conflicts with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. The Clantons repeatedly threatened the Earps because they interfered with...
and Dalton Brothers and John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
. Kane's superiors worried about his use of extreme use violence, his excessive use of alcohol and at times, his uncontrolled rage. By the close of the 1890s, he was transferred to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and was later fired as a U.S. Marshall.
After being fired, Kane traveled the U.S., having many different jobs, including a job as a special agent and bodyguard for Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. Kane was also involved in the invasion of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Kane's health began to decline, and in 1910 he supported and fought with Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
during the Mexican Civil War. It was here that he met his unknown son, “Diablito”, Paco Galàn. Together they traveled to Europe where Diablito became a famous matador. Later, Kane traveled back to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he was again reinstated as U.S. Marshall.
In the last book Louis Masterson wrote, Kane was shot and killed by enemies in a deserted city on the Mexican border, facing overwhelming odds.
Characteristics
The books depict Morgan Kane as a womanizing character with sociopathic tendencies, with a star-shaped scar and damage to tendons which has paralyzed the ringfinger on his gun hand. The paralyzed finger is fixed to his middle finger with a leather strap.- Born: Autumn 1855, somewhere along the Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe TrailThe Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
- Height: 192 cm
- Weight: 75 kg
- Hair: Dark, a grey streak on right temple
- Eyes: Smoke grey
- His clothing was function and practicality before style or image
- Handsome with distinct features
- Unshaven and suntanned
- Wore a single gun holster.
- Draws his gun in 0.2 seconds.
- Weaknesses: women, alcohol and gambling.
- Weapons: Numerous, including the Colt PatersonColt PatersonA Colt Paterson is a revolver. It was the first commercial repeating firearm employing a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers aligned with a single, stationary barrel. Its design was patented by Samuel Colt on February 25, 1836, in the United States, France, and England, and it derived its...
, Walker ColtWalker ColtThe Colt Walker is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six charges of black powder behind six bullets. It was designed in 1846 as a collaboration between Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker and American firearms inventor Samuel Colt....
, .45 Colt Peacemaker, Smith & Wesson No. 3 RevolverSmith & Wesson No. 3 RevolverThe Smith & Wesson model 3 was a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson from 1870 to 1915, and again recently as a reproduction by Smith & Wesson themselves, Armi San Marco, and Uberti.It was produced in several variations and sub-variations, including both...
, 1873 Winchester rifleWinchester rifleIn common usage, Winchester rifle usually means any of the lever-action rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, though the company has also manufactured many rifles of other action types...
and Krag-JørgensenKrag-JørgensenThe Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
rifle.
eBooks
On November 6, 2011, Norway’s largest financial paper, Dagens NæringslivDagens Næringsliv
Dagens Næringsliv, commonly known as DN, is a Norwegian tabloid specializing in business reporting with a claimed daily circulation of 82,775 copies in 2008, making it the 8th largest newspaper in Norway. The editor in chief is Amund Djuve. Its name is Norwegian for "Today's Business".Originally...
, broke the story that WR Films had also acquired the Electronic book rights as part of a strategy to launch the franchise, and to familiarize American audiences with Morgan Kane. WR Films is in the process of releasing all 83 books electronically in the U.S., and the rest of the world, through Apple's iBookstore, Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
and Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
. Each book features a high-end poster-like cover, and is marketed with video teasers. Within three weeks of release, the first ebooks held the top three best sellers on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Film Adaptation
WR Films Entertainment Group acquired worldwide screen rights to do film adaptations of Morgan Kane, and announced in The Daily Variety on May 9, 2011, they will produce three major motion pictures based on the novels. The film will reportedly begin production in the spring of 2012 and will be released in 2013, with an anticipated R rating. While several western-bloggers have had access to the production set of WR Films’ eBook covers related to the introduction of the franchise, the same bloggers also report a high level of secrecy surrounding the project. No filmmakers involved have yet to be announced, including the screenwriterScreenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
who has adapted the novels “El Gringo” and “El Gringo’s Revenge”
External links
Links to Norwegian web sites:Links to International web sites:
- Who Is Morgan Kane? - Official website for the upcoming Morgan Kane movie.
- «www.facebook.com/WhoIsMorganKane» The Morgan Kane Facebook page.