Speculative (fantasy or alternative reality):
The Wood Wife by Terri Windling This has been my all-time favorite speculative-fiction-set-in-the-desert. The fact that Ms. Windling divides her residence between Tucson, AZ, and Dartmoor, England, just proves that she 'gets' the desert. Her writing definitely reflects that attitude by wrapping up her background in mythology with a Sonoran Desert bow.
Territory by Emma Bull This is more recently published (2007) and now shares a co-favorite spot with the above book. While even as a fan of Western history, I'm a little tired of hearing Tombstone events (yes, I heard the collective gasp at such blasphemy), this is set in the six months before that fateful October in 1880 and is fresh, imaginative, well-researched and highly entertaining. I also recommend Emma Bull's other (non-desert) works like War for the Oaks, which are well-written enough that I forgive the Southwest-challenged locales.
Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour When this first came out, a lot of people were like, whaaaaat? I was one of those (it seemed to be really different from L'Amour's other writings) but the story is engrossing, set in a familiar (modern day) reality with an alternate twist, and desert-located to boot. Once L'Amour fans get over the shock, it's a great read. If you're not a L'Amour fan, you're missing out.
The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour (novel and/or short story).
All Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee (desert-localed) writings by Tony Hillerman. Complete list is coming.
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
(NOTE: Again, there are more titles in my a-store. Either I need to learn how to update this site easier or I'll just keep adding the bulk the a-store. They make that 'way easy to do.)
