Typically, I read some 1,200 to 1,500 pages a week (roughly 200 pages a day); to be clear there are some days I have little or no opportunity to read, and some days I read hundreds of pages.
I enjoy Reading and have since I was a child. I believe that reading helps me write better. Several published authors have a significant influence upon my writing; while I believe I have my own voice I "steal" ("borrow") from three authors in particular: Tom Clancy, Robert Heinlein, and Louis L'Amour. All three of those particular authors have their own particular peculiarities and foibles that "Should have made them Unpublishable."
{"Amateurs borrow (copy), Professionals steal!" Although I am an amateur, I try, at least in some ways, to write in a "professional" manner.}
When I was a teenager, I read a few books by Louis L'Amour. I don't know why I didn't read more of his books back then (late 1970's and early 80's). When I was deployed after September 11th 2001, friends of mine mailed me 'Flat Rate' 'care packages' containing mostly books. In particular a lot of books by Louis L'Amour (available at .50 cents to $1 at local used bookstores). I really appreciated them, because most of his paperback novels were only 150 to 200 pages; as were collections of his short stories. Also, many included maps of the locations where events in those stories occurred. While I was deployed, and often under significant stress, and sometimes on the edge of depression; the stories of Louis L'Amour soothed my soul, and almost always had a happy ending.
The Lonesome Gods is longer than most of his other novels, at 450 pages, and it was written c.1983 As was Last of the Breed. Sadly, if there was a sequel to Last of the Breed it either wasn't written/completed, or at least not published.
The Lonesome Gods has similarities to other novels by LL, in particular: The Californios. The Haunted Mesa.
If you feel that Louis L'Amour is 'just a Western writer' you are mistaken. Last of the Breed is set in the 1980's and has aspects of a 'Techno Thriller' and most of it occurs in the Soviet Union, Siberia in particular. The Haunted Mesa seems to be set, for the most part, in the late 1960's or early 1970's; it is a Mystery / Supernatural / Sci-Fi / Western novel, with other aspects as well.
Among the things I most enjoy about the novels written by Louis L'Amour is that he weaves Real History into his novels, and Real Places. On my bucket list is to spend weeks traveling to various locations depicted in his stories. I have been to some of them already, although not because they were in one or more of his stories. That is why I know they are well depicted. In the end the Good Folks Triumph, and the Evil Folks get a comeuppance! Not every problem is resolved with "Blazing Guns" often the hero uses Cleverness, and sometimes they avoid a fight. Sometimes a villain wises up and avoids a fatal conflict, or rarely, turns to the side of good. Compelling Characters is another strength of the stories by LL.
My biggest complaint about the stories of Louis L'Amour is that most of them end abruptly. Similar to the endings of many short stories. To me they feel incomplete, and too often one or more plotlines are not resolved. LL writes in marvelous detail, and then, he realizes "This is page 150." The hero shoots the villain; the damsel falls into his arms. The End.
I understand that such a technique "allows the reader to imagine his/her own ending." But too often a highly detailed novel just ends in a paragraph. It is jarring! While I very much enjoy the numerous 'end' chapters in the Return of the King; the final book in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy; I wouldn't want most stories to continue so long past the climax.
On the other hand Louis L'Amour published more than 400 novels. I have numerous stories that I have a conclusion plotted out for, but I haven't actually finished writing.
I am seeking the opinions of others about how to bring a story to a satisfying conclusion.