Cormac McCarthy, Influential Author Who Reinvented and Transcended the Western Genre, Dead at 89

Cormac McCarthy was a highly influential author of Westerns who brought the genre into the literary realm.
McCarthy's work allowed Western writers to explore metaphysical topics and created an alternative mythology of the American West.
McCarthy's writing was praised for its poetic prose and detached presentation of violence.
McCarthy's work has been adapted into award-winning films and had a strong influence on contemporary Western authors.
Even writers unfamiliar with McCarthy's work must contend with his impact on the Western genre.