Tagged: fantasy

NEW PULP AUTHOR PALMER RELEASES ‘4 TERRORS!’

From the mind of New Pulp author James Palmer comes four bizarre tales of fantasy and weird horror.

The House of the Witch-Gideon Cain is a Puritan charged with tracking down the demon Azazel, who was responsible for setting off the Salem witch paranoia. But when another town is believed to be infested by witchcraft, will he be able to tell friend from foe in time to save it?

The Tunnels of Lao Fang-A daring young man goes to Hong Kong to rescue his friend and uncovers an evil older than time.

The Hand of Yogul-Can a former criminal and slave stop his former master from unleashing a terrible evil on the world?

The Meteor Terror-A meteor strikes a small Georgia farm and brings with it a terrible evil from beyond space.

Ripped straight from the classic pulps, and inspired by such visionaries as Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, these four, previously published tales of weird menace and cosmic horror will leave you gasping for breath and asking for more!

If any of you guys missed these stories the first time around, now’s your chance! And it’s a steal at 99 cents.
You can check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085MQV08/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb 

FORTIER TAKES ON ‘HELL IS EMPTY’!

ALL PULP REVIEWS-by Ron Fortier
HELL IS EMPTY
(A Walt Longmire Mystery)
By Craig Johnson
Penguin Books
309 pages
“Hell Is Empty” is as much about the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming as it is about the people who live within their shadows.  Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire is transporting several prisoners to an out of the way wilderness locale to unearth the remains of a slain Indian boy murdered by one of the convicts; a psychopath named Raynaud Shade.  Upon meeting Longmire for the first time, Shade tells him he hears ghosts and believes the sheriff possesses the same ability.  Longmire, having fulfilled his duty in getting this human monster to the site, packs it in and starts down the mountain.
Within hours of digging up the boy’s bones, the convicts, following a plan devised by Shade, escape; killing several federal agents and marshals in the process.  When the news reaches Longmire, he realizes he’s the only lawman left on the mountain able to give chase and sets out after the killers alone.  Thus begins his incredible journey that will ultimately test both his body and his spirit as a savage winter storm is descending on the mountains and becomes a deadly participant in the drama.
Johnson’s title; “Hell Is Empty,” is an homage to Dante’s classic fantasy, “Inferno,” where the lowest levels of hell are not hot but numbingly frozen over much like the very peaks Longmire must conquer to capture Shade and save the female marshal he holds  hostage.  Now a resident of Colorado, I am daily reminded of the power and majesty of these mountain ranges and threat they pose to any who venture into them naively without the proper outdoor skills.  This book is more an adventure odyssey than a mystery. Longmire must confront his own inner demons while climbing higher to reach the snow blanketed Cloud Peak which is Shade’s final destination where both will confront each other in a primal contest of good versus evil.
The book is multilayered and despite it Heminwayesque narrative style, Johnson adds a new twist by having his protagonist guided by a giant Crow warrior called Virgil White Buffalo; his version Dante’s Roman poet guide. There is a crucial connection between the giant Virgil and the fleeing killer that Longmire slowly uncovers as the pair make their way through the brutal storm.  Soon the physical suffering the sheriff has to endure begins playing tricks on his consciousness until the reader realizes his companion may simply be the hallucination of a fevered mind.
“Hell Is Empty,” is the seventh book in the Walt Longmire series by Johnson and a terrific, gripping read unlike anything else on the market today.  It is fresh with interesting characters and skillful in its economic storytelling.  As the book’s cover announces, the series has been turned into a new A & E television series that will soon premier on Sunday evening June 3rd and features Australian actor Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire with Katee Sachofff of Battlestar Galactica fame as his chief deputy Victoria “Vic” Moretti and Lou Diamond Phillips as best friend, Henry Standing Bear. If the show is as much fun as this book, then we’re all in for a treat.

DOC SAVAGE RETURNS IN LATEST ADVENTURE-THE INFERNAL BUDDHA!



May 8, 2012



THE INFERNAL BUDDHA

Altus Press is proud to announce the release of the third volume in its acclaimed Wild Adventures of Doc Savage series, written by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson.

Set in the Fall of 1936, THE INFERNAL BUDDHA tells the epic story of Doc Savage’s desperate quest to control the Buddha of Ice, a relic of unknown origin—and
what may become the most dangerous object on Earth!

When a mummy arrives at Doc Savage’s New York headquarters wearing
the clothes of his missing assistant, engineer Renny Renwick, Doc, Monk, and Ham rush to Singapore where they get on the trail of a swashbuckling pirate who calls himself the Scourge of the South China Sea, in whose hands a piece of the infernal Buddha has fallen. The trail leads to Pirate Island, the fate of Renny, and a mysterious box
containing a terrible, unstoppable power.

But that is only the beginning of the quest into which the Man of Bronze plunges—one that will take him to the upper reaches of the Yellow Sea and a series
a wild ocean battles against the vicious factions fighting for control on the infernal Buddha.

Before it is all over, every human life on Earth will tremble on the brink of eternity, and Doc Savage will face his greatest test.

“This may be my wildest Doc novel to date,” says author Will Murray. “THE INFERNAL BUDDHA is a fantasy epic full of corsairs, criminals and other culprits. The menace is planetary. The threat, extinction. Doc Savage has a reputation for saving the world. This time he does it on the greatest scale possible. I began this book back in 1992, working from an opening situation Lester Dent started in 1935. Together, we have produced a true Doc Savage epic. And it only took about 75 years….”

THE INFERNAL BUDDHA will be released as a trade paperback and e-book in May, with the hardcover edition following in June. All editions will feature a startling cover painted by Joe DeVito, depicting Doc Savage as the Buccaneer of Bronze! This cover was painted from a still taken in 1964 of legendary model Steve Holland, and is a variant pose shot for famed illustrator James Bama’s classic cover to THE MAN ON BRONZE. There has never been a Doc cover like it!

The hardcover edition will include two bonus features—an Afterword by Will Murray detailing the creation of this story, and a memoir by James Bama of his days painting the Bantam Books Doc covers.

For ordering information, go to www.Adventuresinbronze.com 

AIRSHIP 27’S LATEST- CALL OF SHADOWS- DEBUTS!

  • News
  • March 27, 2012

A MAN OUT OF TIME

Airship 27 Productions is proud to release its fifth book of the year; CALL OF SHADOWS, by well known fantasy adventure writer David C. Smith. Although known for its novel and anthologies starring classic and new pulp heroes from the 30s, Airship 27 Productions has occasionally ventured beyond that era umbrella.

“Every now and then, a project comes along that totally appeals to us as modern pulp,” Managing Editor Ron Fortier explained. “This was such a book. Written with all the sophistication and sensibilities of a 21st Century narrative yet capturing some of the same magic and sense of wonder the classic pulps were famous for. We’re very excited about this title.”

Restaurant owner Steve Beaudine is killed in a car accident and his beautiful wife, Ava is severely injured. After months of physical recuperation, she returns to AVA’S with the desire to keep the business going. But Tony Jasco, her husband’s partner, has plans to sell the eatery and split the profits. Ava adamantly refuses to terminate what had been Steve’s dream. She is determined to make it work no matter Jasco’s opposition.

Then the mysterious David Ehlert enters her life with a fantastic story, one straight out of a fairy tale. He claims to be a wizard and that Jasco is trying to have her killed to gain his own ends. Ava simply can’t believe such a fanciful claim…until they are attacked by magical dark forces. Suddenly she finds herself the target of a twisted, dark magician and her only salvation is Ehlert, a man claiming to have been born in 1886 but still looking young and fit.

Writer David C. Smith spins a colorful, fast paced thriller that introduces a fascinating new hero in the vein of the classic golden age pulps but with a decidedly modern day twist. It is the story of a haunted man out of time seeking redemption for past sins in a world of arcane mysteries and magiks. CALL TO SHADOWS is a masterful thriller by a veteran writer that will keep you on the edge of your chair from start to finish.

The book features a cover painted by Bryan Fowler and designed by Art Director Rob Davis with nine interior illustrations by artist Mark Saxton. Look for it at Amazon, Airship 27 Productions’ website and soon fromwww.IndyPlanet.com.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – Pulp Fiction For A New Generation !

Available now at Amazon’s Create Space

(https://www.createspace.com/3829099)

$3 PDF version available at Airship 27 Hangar Site

(http://robmdavis.com/Airship27Hangar/airship27hangar.html)

And soon at the POD store, Indy Planet.

(http://indyplanet.com/store/)

Hugo Deadline Fast Approaching

Hugo Deadline Fast Approaching

  • News
  • March 11, 2012

I always leave these things to the last minute, so I just submitted my nominating ballot. It’s not as full, or as well-informed, as I’d like to be, but this process works best the more of us take part — however much, and however well, we can.

So, if you’re eligible, and you haven’t yet done it, take a few minutes before midnight PDT tonight and fill out some of your favorites from 2011. The nominating ballot is here. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read or seen “everything;” none of us have. You’ve read or seen some things, and if you thought some of those are good enough, nominate ’em.

Merlin’s Switch to 35mm Filming Expands Cinematic Capabilities

merlin-lamia-1-300x200-7268815The shift to filming in glorious 35mm has opened new doors of creative storytelling for the crew of MERLIN, and the evidence is clear in the lush cinematography and haunting approach to “Lamia,” an all-new episode MERLIN premiering Friday, February 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT only on Syfy.

The episode sets Merlin and several Knights of the Round Table on the road to a distant village to help treat those inflicted with a mysterious illness – but the young warlock quickly discovers he is the one in danger. As the Knights become increasingly bewitched by an alluring young woman named Lamia, Merlin finds himself with only Gwen as an ally as he’s lured into a game of cat and mouse against an unseen enemy more deadly than he could possibly imagine. (more…)

HANCOCK TIPS HIS HAT TO BPRD: BEING HUMAN!

  • News
  • February 15, 2012

TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Reviews of All Things Pulp by Tommy Hancock
BPRD: BEING HUMAN
Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Scott Allie, et al
Dark Horse Comics
I’m a Hellboy Fan.  Probably not as well read as most, but a fan nonetheless.   Hellboy is a kind of visual Pulp that excites the senses for a variety of Pulp fans-Horror, mystery, fantasy, adventure, and on and on and on.   Although the quality of stories has varied at times, one thing remains true.  A Hellboy related Tale is never ever without weirdness and adventure.  Never.
The same holds true for the stories found in ‘BPRD: Being Human.’  There’s haunted woods, zombie plantation owners, werewolves, spirit eating demons, and that’s just the bad guys.  Although Hellboy makes an appearance, this collection focuses on other members of the BPRD and each story ties very strongly into the title of the collection.
This book is about the aspects of humanity that some members of the BPRD feel like they don’t have, others feel like they don’t deserve them, and still others are desperate to have some sense of humanity.   In that, the book hits home.  Each story, there are four, clearly illustrates just how human the strange beings that work with or alongside the BPRD actually are and how maybe the humans around them could take lessons. 
The art is stunning as usual.  Creepy, under your skin, making you study the shadows to see what might jump out at you.   Overall, the collection is solid.  The werewolf story is probably my favorite as it conveys its point amongst a ton of action in a very few pages.  The  Roger the Homunculus story started off strong, but didn’t really have a resolution that lived up to the beginning.  The other two stories were usual fare from the Hellboy realm, which means they were pretty solid.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT-  The book made its point.  And did it with spooky art and fairly strong storytelling.

DEATHWALKER DEBUTS FROM AIRSHIP 27!

  • News
  • February 10, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
TOUCHED BY DEATH
Airship 27 Productions announces the release a brand new fantasy novel by noted comic book writer, R.A. Jones; “Deathwalker.”  Jones is best remembered for his early work for Malibu Comics where he created the adult action series, “Scimitar” along with artist Rob Davis.  Now he turns his imagination to a different kind of hero, this one inspired by a certain Robert E. Howard barbarian.
While on his vision quest, the young Cheyenne brave High Bird encounters the spirit of Death.  The powerful wraith recruits the boy as his new agent in the world and High Bird returns to his tribe altered forever as Deathwalker.  When the Cheyenne become the target of a vengeful Pawnee Shaman, Stands Alone, only Deathwalker can stand between this evil sorcerer and the total destruction of his people.
Writer R.A. Jones has woven a new and exciting fantasy set against the background of authentic Native American lore and culture.  He dares to imagine what this wild untamed land would have become had there been no conquests by outside civilizations beyond the great waters.  Here is an old world re-envisioned in a bold new action packed adventure worthy of pulp writers such as Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Featuring stunning cover art by Laura Givens with interior illustrations by Michael Neno.
Airship27 is proud to present R.A. Jones’ DEATHWALKER, another original and quality title in the New Pulp movement. 
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – Pulp Fiction For A New Generation!
+++
Available at three sites on-line.
Airship 27 Hangar
(http://robmdavis.com/Airship27Hangar/airship27hangar.html)
From Amazon –
(http://www.amazon.com/Deathwalker-R-Jones/dp/0615597521/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328910046&sr=1-10)
And Soon From –
(http://indyplanet.com/store/)

REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST-THE NOVEL DEBUTS!

  • News
  • February 9, 2012

February 8, 2012 (Fullerton, CA) –
REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST, the second novel by author Kevin Paul Shaw Broden, charted as high as #70 in the Hardboiled Detective Fiction list for Amazon UK on the day it was released. It remained in the top 100 for several hours.
In the novel, a vigilante stalks the streets of the 1930’s Manhattan, and Margaret Randolph is terrified that he will break into her home. Even though her husband Donald tries to reassure her that it won’t happen, the mystery man known as the Masked Ghost steps in from a stormy night and dies at her feet. What is the secret of the Masked Ghost? Why did he come to the penthouse home of the Randolphs? Do they go to the police, or must they solve his murder on their own? Must this young couple be forced to bring about the… REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST? Written in the style of the pulp novels of the 1930s, REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST is the tale of a man obsessed and what that obsession does to his family. Originally released in serialized blog form, this compiled edition includes new interior black and white illustrations along with a never before published SCARLET SPIRIT backup tale.
Kevin’s first novel CLOCKWORK GENIE – a blend of fantasy, romance, and murder mystery – is still available.
REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST can be found at the following:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/zg3PcN
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/xhWpgy
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/xDv5pX
REVENGE OF THE MASKED GHOST is soon to be available at most other online distributors.

FORTIER TAKES ON DOC VOODOO!

  • News
  • February 5, 2012

ALL PULP REVIEWS by Ron Fortier
DOC VOODOO
Aces & Eights
By Dale Lucas
Beating Windward Press
201 pages
Last year well known fantasy author Charles Saunders delighted the new pulp community by releasing his novel DAMBALLA, making it the very first pulp novel set in the 1930s to feature an African American hero.  Just this week that same book has been nominated for the Pulp Factory Awards of 2011 for Best Pulp Novel.
Of course good ideas often emerge simultaneously amongst multiple creators and this was the case here.  While DAMBALLA was making its big splash from its widely respected new pulp publisher, Airship 27 Productions, another hard hitting new pulp thriller was debuting from a little known outfit called Beating Windward Press.  This one also featured an African American avenger operating in Harlem, only this one was set in 1926, the heart of the Roaring Twenties.  Written by California based Dale Lucas, “Doc Voodoo” shares several iconic similarities with Damballa to be sure, yet there are also enough differences to define each hero as unique and original in the world of pulpdom.
The hero is a World War One veteran of the famous Harlem Hellfighters 369th Infantry Division named Booker Dubois Butler Corveaux, a practicing M.D. known in his community as Doc Dub Corveaux.  Raised in Haiti and  having traveled the globe during his service years, Doc Corveaux is well versed in the Voodoo Religion and has become the physical agent of three  powerful entities who, when possessing his physical body, imbue it with supernatural abilities that make him virtually indestructible.  Thus in this state, he dons the garb of the Cemetery Man, black clothes, twin .45 automatics, magical clay bombs, a top hat and white painted face to resemble a skull. This frightening entity has assumed the mantle of Harlem’s protector and as we learn in this first book, she needs one desperately.
Two rival gangs are battle for control of the streets and the action is focused on a tough minded woman known as Queen Bee attempting to open a posh speakeasy called Aces & Eights.  Her opponent is a sadistic gang lord called Papa House who will do anything to ruin her plans even if it means unleashing a terrifying magic to corrupt the entire neighborhood and bring about untold suffering and misery.  Into this vicious contest comes the Cemetery Man, guns blazing, determined to thwart that black magic and save the innocent souls caught in the crossfire.
Dale Lucas is a superb writer with an eye for period detail. His research is meticulous and he knows New York from one end to the other, painting a virtual setting that is truly authentic for its period.  His command of slang and mood of the times pulls the reader into a world in flux, a world caught between the past horrors of the first world conflict and the heady exuberance of a social order challenging the mores of the future.
And like any classic pulp tale, the pacing is fast, the characters brilliantly etched and the action non-stop.  This is a true page-turner that will have you cheering with each new gun battle, from this new pulp hero’s first appearance to his last.  And Lucas wisely leaves the finale open ended for many more sequels, all of which we eagerly await.
“Aces & Eights” is as good a pulp actioner as any other there on the market today.  It’s one and only flaw is its packaging.  Most new pulp publishers are aware of the demands of the genre in regards to marketing.  True, one cannot judge the contents of a book by its cover, but then again, one can’t sell a good book with a bad cover.  “Aces & Eights” isn’t so much a bad cover as a non-existent one.  The tiny image of a white skull and a little color design manipulation do not make a great pulp cover.  I would argue this book would have won lots more attention had it sported a traditional pulp painted front, visually debuting Doc Voodoo in full regalia, guns firing away.  So please, Dale Lucas, if you do indeed have more of his wonderful adventures in store for us, give your packaging the extra attention it really deserves.

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