3:10 to Yuma

By: Elmore Leonard

Narrated by: Henry Rollins, David Strathairn, Tom Wopat, William Atherton

Length: 32 mins

Publisher's summary

From Elmore Leonard, the author who has influenced more writers than any other, comes a thrilling story of law in the Old West, upheld by the barrel of a six-gun.

Deputy Paul Scallen will earn his 150 dollars if he can get his prisoner Jim Kidd on the train to Yuma Prison. But the members of Kidd's gang have determined that Scallen won't live long enough to make the Three-Ten to Yuma.

Performed by Henry Rollins, this classic of bullets and bad men demonstrate the superb talent for language and gripping narrative that made Elmore Leonard one of the most acclaimed writers of our time.

©1954 Elmore Leonard (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Enjoyed a lot

I very much enjoyed this audio book, one of the better "listens" I've had among the many audio books I've heard.

I will warn the casual browser thinking this is a long and drawn out narrative like the film versions, this audio is only about 30 minutes long.

That said I really thought Leonard packed in a lot of compact storytelling and characterization for such a short piece (Leonard in general has some very fascinating takes on the Western genre, actually in all the genres he has written stories for). I found the take on the hero character to be refreshing and interesting. Listened to this on a long road trip and surprisingly found myself very engaged in the story, so much so I can kind-of understand disappointment at it being so short since I wanted more.

The audio itself is pretty straightforward and can't say it is very best production I've heard, but I did think Rollins’ narration fit the streamlined story and was nothing to complain about. Again, I recommend this, but understand that people might want more for their money in regards to time duration, but say give it a shot anyway—and don’t judge a story by its run time!

Good Story

Good short story and the reading is well done. Nice, succinct modern writing, in sort of a noir style. Wonderful to have this short story available. I had just seen the 2007 version of the movie and the original back to back, and it was really great to hear what the screen writer and director had started with from Elmore Leonard. They came a long way from the short story. I would say that EL's story went other places altogether than either movie did. Very different protagonist.

Quick western fix.

Just a quick, tight little vignette of western adventure. Surprised me with its brevity but packed with a solid tale of morals.

More Henry Rollins please

This was a thirty minute skit. They did a good job getting the complex situation and the thrill of the story. I loved it

never worked

what a rip-off!!!! only loads chapter 1 and it's actually the last in the book.

I'm Hooked!

I wasn't familiar with Elmore Leonard even if I was familiar with his work. I was already a fan of the TV show Justified when I decided to Google search the guy whose books the show was based on. Wasn't I surprised to learn the classic western movie 3:10 To Yuma was based on a Elmore Leonard story. I just recently got a Amazon Fire as a gift and my first audio book purchase was Pronto by Elmore Leonard which is basically th events right up to the start of the first episode of Justified, while searching for other available works by Leonard I come across 3:10 To Yuma narrated by one of my favorite singers \ entertainers Henry Rollins former front man for the punk rock band Black Flag. I'm very familiar with Rollins' spoken word and I was keen to hear him read 3:10 To Yuma. Something in Rollins delivery of Leonard's words just worked for this 33 minute telling of Elmores tail of a man desperate to deliver on the one thing he had left, his word. This is a great story, it's read well and it made me want more from both Elmore Leonard and Henry Rollins.

Saddle up to hear this great Western

3:10 to Yuma is a short story packed with drama which sees a deputy marshall waiting with a dangerous prisoner to make the train which will take the prisoner to jail and earn the deputy marshall a $150 bounty. It's a classic Western and made a fantastic film - but note that this is NOT the same story as the film, it just inspired the film.

Henry Rollins is a perfect choice to read this story - his voice is subtle enough to convey everything the story and its characters need and has the toughness required to narrate a gun-toting Western and keep the listener engrossed.

Leonard's the master...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes; it's Leonard at his best.

What does Henry Rollins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

There's something about Rollins' voice that just brings to story to life.

Understand why it is a classic

This reminded me of how powerful a good short story can be. The story has been made into movies twice, and neither have the power that this did. The story is told with an economy of words, but it had me from the opening.

Short but sweet

Very nice short story that is read with lots of passion.
Highly recommended.