Tagged: New Pulp

PRO SE PRESS RETURNS TO MAGAZINES WITH PRO SE PRESENTS#1!

  • News
  • August 2, 2011

Breaking into the New Pulp field a year ago, Pro Se Productions. initially a two man small press publisher, first made its mark with a line of New Pulp magazines.   Due to various reasons, Pro Se made the decision in March, 2011 to end its three magazines and to focus exclusively on books and anthologies/collections.  Even though that choice has been significantly positive for Pro Se, New Pulp fans have asked almost since the day the last issue was published when the next Pro Se magazine would hit the streets.  Tommy Hancock, partner and Editor in Chief at Pro Se, revealed that that day would be extremely soon.

“Yes, we’ve listened,” Hancock stated, “We’ve had requests and questions about our magazines almost literally since we decided to go a different direction.  People want to see their favorite characters continue, to read writers that they love do new sorts of things, and to hold that monthly issue to see what’s coming next from Pro Se.  Well, they’re going to get that, slightly different than we’ve done it in the past, but Pro Se is definitely back in the monthly magazine business.”

Outlining the new magazine line, now pared down to a single title, Hancock said, “Although we love the three titles we had before, it’s just more efficient for us at this point to have a single title.   PRO SE PRESENTS will be our single title, but our editorial staff will still follow the old three title model.  Lee Houston Jr. will edit stories that fall into the ‘Fantasy and Fear’ line while Frank Schildiner acts as editor on stories fitting the ‘Masked Gun Mystery’ label and Nancy Hansen rides lead as editor on “Peculiar Adventures’ type tales.  Barry Reese will continue his fine work as Submissions Editor.  Each magazine, when possible, will highlight a story of each type.  There will also be issues that focus specifically on one of the three divisions.”

“Another change is the format.   Our magazines will be fewer pages, around 70-80 monthly, and will be a smaller digest size.   This has to do with the price point as well as ease of reading and visual attractiveness.  PRO SE PRESENTS will be $6.00 for print issues.  E-issues will also be available at $1.99 each.   This change makes it possible for Pro Se to return to publishing magazines and will give readers a three-four story one-two punch of New Pulp action, adventure, and horror every single month.”

PRO SE PRESENTS #1 features three stories in its debut issue.  Sean Taylor presents a tale of the line between inspiration and horror in ‘Art Imitates Death.’  Don Thomas pens a tale of heroic fantasy with ‘Andar and the Farmer.’  And Ken Janssen’s Sherringford Bell returns to investigate ‘The Scandal of the Bohemian.”  Peter Cooper and Sean E. Ali provide art for this debut issue, Ali also responsible for design and format.

Coming in August, PRO SE PRESENTS #1 from Pro Se Press.   Pulp Magazines.  Monthly.  Just the way it should be.

PULPFEST-MUNSEY WINNER, NEW PULP, AND MORE!

  • News
  • July 31, 2011

Pulpfest 2011 has been another rousing success according to reports from many creators attending.  The winner of the 2011 Munsey has also been announced.  Congratulations to Anthony Tollin of Sanctum Books, the man responsible for reprints of THE SHADOW, THE AVENGER, and THE WHISPERER being available to fans today.  For full Pulpfest coverage on the Munsey this year, go to

http://www.pulpfest.com/2011/07/31/munsey-goes-to/

And for a bit more on the floor coverage from the viewpoint of one of the leading creators of New Pulp, Artist Rob Davis, Partner and Co-Publisher of Airship 27 Productions stated-

“Hey, to all our pals who aren’t in Columbus, Ohio for PulpFest. We are having a blast selling books and greeting people who come by the table. We had our best Friday ever sales-wise and Saturday was a very good day as well. Some old pals and new dropped by the table. I’d try to list them all, but I’m sure I’ll miss someone– Ron’s much better at remembering who he chatted with than I am. I’d venture to guess that this show is pulling bigger attendance than Windy City (no mean feat!) and sales are brisk for the dealers. Ron and I attended the “What is SteamPunk” panel Saturday night and couldn’t find seats! “

And from Win Scott Eckert-
I’m at the airport now, ready to head home. What a great show!

Friday night, although it was late, folks hung in there for FarmerCon’s Philip Jose Farmer/Wold Newton panel/presentation. Technology willing, we’ll have some video up on YouTube soon.

Ron did a fantastic job moderating the New Pulp panel on Saturday (thanks Ron!), and Duane, Bill, Greg, Wayne, and Art added a lot of insights to the writing process and why we love writing pulp, which the audience seemed to appreciate. My New Fictioneering reading was nerve-wracking, but fun.

The rest of the programming was great, with several presentations on the Shadow for the 80th anniversary, a presentation on steampunk, and on legendary pulp writer C.L. Moore.

The dealer room was excellent, and Meteor House did quite well with THE WORLDS OF PHILIP JOSE FARMER, volumes 1 & 2.

Although I made the list of final nominees for the Munsey Award, I knew I had no chance against the other great nominees, and the award went to a very deserving Anthony Tollin for his work on The Shadow, Doc Savage, Whisperer, and Avenger reprints. Anthony joined us for dinner a couple nights and regaled us with many stories. :-)

I brought a bunch of back stock of my various books, and they went like hotcakes. The PulpFest attendees were very gracious and extremely interested and supportive. I’ll definitely be back.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTHONY TOLLIN AND TO ALL THE VENDORS AND CREATORS FINDING SUCCESS AT PULPFEST 2011!  AND A TIP OF THE ALL PULP HAT TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS SEMINAL FANTASTIC PULP EVENT!

NEW PULP ORGANIZES, EXPANDS AND TAKES OFF RUNNING!

  • News
  • July 29, 2011

Readers of ALL PULP saw it announced here first.  An initiative to bring creators and publishers of what many consider the modern version of Pulp fiction together under one banner, a branding plan that would make Pulp publishers and creators easily identifiable, regardless if it was a Western pulp tale or a sci fi pulp opus, something that would link these various modern Pulpsters together.  A way to advertise, to unite, to push what Pulp is today without concerns of competition, sales, and who writes what for who.  A true recognition of ‘If it helps one of us, it can help all of us.’ that was first expressed in a statement on ALL PULP and not only gained quick support, but led to a brand that is now sported on books from various publishers, including Moonstone, Airship 27, Pro Se Press, Pulpwork Press, and others.  A brand and an idea that has grown quickly into a Movement.

New Pulp.

In an effort to capitalize on the support and involvement New Pulp has garnished since the man who initiated the organization of the Movement, Tommy Hancock, announced it, Hancock announces today a next step in the evolution of New Pulp.  While in many ways nothing will change, in other areas, improvements are being made and plans moving forward to insure that the New Pulp Movement isn’t just something among like minded fans, but a major part of literature and social consciousness.

“New Pulp is still New Pulp,” Hancock states, “just as it was outlined in my original statement and just as its sort of organically developed since then.   It’s that development, that growth, that has sort of spurred the next step.  We could let New Pulp basically remain this open source thing that just anybody can pick up and use as a brand on their products and have a ‘New Pulp’ project here and there and most likely it would limp along forever and be okay that way.  But that’s not what this whole thing was about, jsut sort of doing it halfway.  It’s about getting recognition for creators and publishers of modern Pulp.  It’s about increasing awareness, readership, and involvement in New Pulp, so creators can get their stories told, publishers and producers can get their product sold, and society as a whole can experience some of the best durned literature for the masses anyone could read.

“What’s going to be happening as far as the Movement is concerned is some extra hands have been brought on and given formal positions within New Pulp to help facilitate more exposure, more material, more chances for New Pulp and all of us involved to get noticed, and more ways to make any creator’s or publisher’s association with New Pulp a positive and successful experience.  One thing New Pulp is committing to is that New Pulp will attend all three major Pulp Cons next year-Pulp Ark (The only official New Pulp Convention’Conference), Windy City, and Pulpfest.  Also, since people pretty much have already been asking me before they can use the New Pulp logo, that’s a practice we’re going to formalize for a couple of reasons.  One, so we can keep up with everybody who is involved in New Pulp and two, so we can at least have a say in quality control and make sure that the New Pulp logo is being applied appropriately.  It’s still free and being a part of the whole New Pulp Movement still doesn’t require you to take on extra work (unless you want to help out) or to sign your first born away.   This is just part of the evolution.”

Provided below is the roster of Staff of the New Pulp Movement.  Hancock points out that, “This list is incomplete, although that’s only by one or two spots.  And there can be more of almost everything on here as well, so if you want to help out, we can put you somewhere.  But remember, even when we start selling merchandise or producing books or whatever, that money doesn’t go into anyone’s pockets.  It goes back into New Pulp or to a charity New Pulp has partnered with.”

NEW PULP STAFF-
Tommy Hancock-Coordinator
Megan Smith-Coordinator’s Assistant
Sean Ali-Design/Advertising
Barry Reese-Online Promotions
Joshua Reynolds-Recruitment
Derrick Ferguson-Recruitment
Andrew Salmon-Merchandising
Mike Bullock-Editor in Chief, www.newpulpfiction.com
Columns Editor – Hank Brown
Columnists –
Michael May “Pulptacular”
Jim Garrison “Pulp Magnet”
Sean Ellis – Title to be determined
Reviewers –
Andrew Salmon

The New Pulp Movement also has a Staff of Advisors, a board of three that will provide advice and insight to Hancock as needed and provide a vital support in that fashion.   Two of the three positions have been selected and accepted.

NEW PULP BOARD OF ADVISORS
Ron Fortier
Wayne Reinagel

“New Pulp is about the creators and publishers that make it up,” Hancock states.  “We’re just trying to make it something they benefit from and are glad they are a part of.”

Anyone interested in helping out with New Pulp or using the New Pulp logo can email Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net

ALL PULP ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF!

  • News
  • July 29, 2011

In efforts to continue to bring Pulp fans the most comprehensive coverage of Pulp news of all types, ALL PULP has expanded its staff to include top notch reporters, reviewers, and commentators!  With the Spectacled Seven at the helm, ALL PULP has made a name for itself in being a major source of Pulp news and discussion for nearly a year.  With both the increase of awareness among fans and the public of ALL PULP along with the continuing increase of interest in all things Pulp, it was determined more hands were needed to man the juggernaut that is ALL PULP!  Current ALL PULP staff, leading off with the new Staffers and ending with the Spectacled Seven are as follows-

STAFF
WEEKLY STAFFERS
 JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO comes on board as ALL PULP’S Assistant Editor.   Joshua has published “I Am…” a poetry book and is working on a new collection. He also penned an essay, “The Modern Day Perceval” In the collection “Secrets of the Dragon Riders”. Joshua has served as one of the editors for Northern Flight, an arts and literary magazine. and has published a non fiction piece “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the fiction piece “Imaginary” as well. Veritas, Joshua’s first comic, is completed and now available. He is currently working on two novels and now will be assisting with editorial duties at ALL PULP as well as working in the trenches as a full time staffer, providing reviews, columns, and interviews several times a week!
ADAM L. GARCIA, one of the up and coming faces in the New Pulp Movement, is an award winning writer, most notably for his work on revitalizing the classic pulp character THE GREEN LAMA via Airship 27.  Adam isn’t a one character writer, though.  He’s working on various other projects, including original Pulp characters as well as mutliple projects that go beyond Pulp.  Adam will be providing news stories as well as his own unique take on Pulp via reviews and editorial columns.
BRENT LAMBERT, is an aspiring author working on his first novel and is excited to be able to expand not only his experience, but his knowledge as well by joining ALL PULP and delivering the best in news, reviews, interviews, and commentary on the world that is Pulp!
 
 
FRANK SCHILDINER, Pulp Author and Creator, joins ALL PULP’s ranks, ready to bring all his best to news coverage in the Pulp World.  Frank has had work published with Airship 27 Productions and is one of the many creators involved in the Infinity Comics Group.  Frank is also working on a novel and a whole universe all his own, for Pro Se Press, where he also acts as the editor of Pro Se’s ‘MASKED GUN MYSTERY’ line of short stories

JOSHUA REYNOLDS is perhaps one of the most prolific writers of the New Pulp Movement.  A partner in Pulpwork Press, Joshua has also written for Airship 27, Pro Se Press, Moonstone, as well as other New Pulp Publishers.  Currently, Joshua is writing for Black Library as well and has a WARHAMMER novel coming out in the near future, not to mention a ton of other really cool projects that are so secret even Josh isn’t allowed to know about them.  With all of that, Joshua will be bringing his views and thoughts to ALL PULP every week!



CONTRIBUTING STAFFERS
Suzanne Fuller, an aspiring writer, hails from Scotland and provides reviews that are entertaining, comprehensive, insightful, and do what a good review should-Helps the reader make a decision about the book and keeps the reader coming back looking for Suzanne’s next review at ALL PULP!

CHUCK MILLER, New Pulp Author and Creator, is the mastermind behind one of the internet’s best New Pulp characters and accompanying universes, The Black Centipede!  With Pro Se Press publishing the first and future volumes of the Centipede’s adventures, Chuck is readying to work on other projects as continuing to expand the Centipede’s wild and wacky world, turning out the occasional column or interview for ALL PULP in the process.

AND FINALLY, THE SPECTACLED SEVEN
Tommy Hancock,Editor in Chief of ALL PULP,  first and foremost, is a Pulp fan. What form it comes in really doesn’t matter. Book, Movie, Radio, Comic…Orange, not really a deal for him. This has been a lifetime condition for Tommy and went to the next level very early in life as he became a writer and, soon following that development, an actor. He has performed on stage since high school, formed and disbanded (mostly) a community theater all his own, and is now Drama Ministry Director at his church. He also has a background in audio drama. He was a newspaper reporter at 14 and has lived a variety of experiences in his time. Currently, he is Editor in Chief of Pro Se Press and the founder and coordinator of the PULP ARK Creator’s Conference/Convention. He is also a published writer, his first novella published by Airship 27 Productions. He is currently working on projects for Airship 27,  Moonstone, Decoder Ring Theater, and his own Pro Se Press.

Barry Reese has spent the last decade writing for publishers as diverse as Marvel Comics, West End Games, Wild Cat Books and Moonstone Books. Known primarily for his pulp adventure works like The Rook Chronicles, The Adventures of Lazarus Gray and Savage Tales of Ki-Gor, Barry has also delved into slasher horror (Rabbit Heart) and even the fantasy pirate genre (Guan-Yin and the Horrors of Skull Island). His favorite classic pulp heroes are The Avenger, Doc Savage, John Carter, Conan and Seekay.
From his secret lair in the wilds of Bethlehem, Georgia, Bobby Nash writes. He is an author of novels and short stories like Evil Ways, Fantastix, Lance Star: Sky Ranger, Domino Lady, Sentinels: Alternate Visions, Full Throttle Space Tales: Space Sirens, A Fistful Of Legends, and the upcoming Green Hornet Chronicles and Secret Agent X among others. He also writes comic books and graphic novels like Life In The Faster Lane, Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell, Demonslayer, Fantastix, Yin Yang, I Am Googol: The Great Invasion, and Lance Star: Sky Ranger, among others. For more information on Bobby Nash please visit him at www.bobbynash.com, http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/bobbyenash, www.lance-star.com, and www.twitter.com/bobbynash, among other places across the web.

Much like removing a bandaid I suppose the best way to get through this is to rip it off as quickly as possible, accept the pain and move on: My name is Derrick Ferguson and I’m from Brooklyn, New York where I’ve lived most of my life. Married for 28 years to the wonderful Patricia Cabbagestalk-Ferguson who lets me get away with far more than is good for me. My interests include old radio shows, classic pulps from the 30’s/40’s, comic books, fan fiction, Star Trek, pop culture, science fiction, animation, television and movies…oh yeah…movies. I’m currently the co-host of the podcast BETTER IN THE DARK where my partner Thomas Deja and I rant and rave about movies on a bi-weekly basis. To date I’ve written five books: “Dillon And The Voice of Odin”, my love letter to classic pulp action/adventure with a modern flavor and the sequel, “Dillon And The Legend of The Golden Bell” ; “Derrick Ferguson’s Movie Review Notebook” and its sequel “The Return of Derrick Ferguson’s Movie Review Notebook.” Both of ’em packed full of movie reviews that I think are pretty damn good otherwise I wouldn’t be asking folks to pay hard earned cash for ’em, now would I? ; “Diamondback Vol I: It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time”, a spaghetti western disgused as a modern day gangster/urban crime thriller. Anything else you’d like to know about me, check out my Live Journal: http://dferguson.livejournal.com/. The Pulpwork Press website: http://www.freewebs.com/pulpworkpress/. or Better In The Dark: http://sites.google.com/site/betterinthedarkcentralsite/. Or hit me up on Facebook. I ain’t hard to find!

Ron Fortier had been writing professionally for thirty-five years. He is best known for his work on the Green Hornet comic series for Now Comics and writing Alex Ross’ first comic project, Terminator:Burning Earth for the same company. Four years ago Ron co-founded Airship 27 Productions with artist Rob Davis. The company produces brand new novels and anthologies featuring classic pulp heroes from the 1930s, to include Ron’s revival of Captain Hazzard. Their books are published by Cornerstone Book Publishers of New Orleans. Ron also maintains a weekly blog at his website (www.Airship27.com) and writes a review column, Pulp Fictions Reviews found at – (http://www.pulpfictionreviews.blogspot.com/) He is a frequent contributor to Moonstone Books pulp fiction anthologies and is currently writing and self-publishing a new comic series, Mr. Jigsaw, Man of a Thousand Parts from Rob Davis’ Redbud Studios plus working on three new weekly webstrip comics. Redbud recently published Ron’s pulp comic graphic novel, The Boston Bombers. Email Ron at Airship27@ comcast.net.
Writer, editor, publisher, and historian Van Allen Plexico stands at the forefront of the pulp revival movement and the new wave of prose superhero fiction, with popular works including his “Sentinels” novels, “Sherlock Holmes,” “Lucian,” and “Gideon Cain” (with Kurt Busiek). His big-selling “Assembled!” books garnered praise from the original Marvel creators themselves. He has been published by Airship 27, Swarm Press, White Rocket, Rittenhouse, Adamant Entertainment, RevolutionSF.com, and Pro Se Press, and is the publisher of White Rocket Books. He and his family live near St Louis. Visit him at http://www.plexico.net/ and/or at http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/ .

Sarge Portera: As someone recently pointed out to me, I’m a 3rd generation pulp enthusiast whose dad & grandfather created an obscure pulp hero, Doc Diamond, that they self-published! Being nurtured on comicbooks, movies, science fiction & actioneers since childhood it would only be natural for me to help establish & maintain the following FB Groups with me darlin’ daughter’s able assist: Bronze Pastiches, Purple Prose Pulp Parade, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Fan Club, Silhouette Pastiches & Worlds of Doc Diamond!

FORTIER TAKES ON THE MYTH HUNTER!!

  • News
  • July 25, 2011

ALL PULP REVIEWS by Ron Fortier

THE MYTH HUNTER

By Percival Constantine

Pulpwork Press

192 pages

Release Date – May 2011

ISBN 10 – 1461050596

ISBN 13 – 978-1461050599

(Suspense – thriller – pulp adventure)

What happens when you put the best parts of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft together then mix them up with a little bit of Modesty Blaise?  Answer, you get Percival Constantine’s coolest new pulp hero, Elisa Hill.  From the opening action sequence to the last climatic battle with a cruel and vicious assassin, “The Myth Hunter” is a super charged thriller that never lets up.

Even when dealing with exposition scenes, Constantine shines in this adventure.  His writing has matured greatly since his last book and “The Myth Hunter” captures the reader’s interest with a fluid ease of storytelling that is both polished and suspenseful.  Learning that a little is often better than more, he gives us bits and pieces of Elisa’s past, when she was a mercenary tomb raider, seeking out the world’s ancient treasures solely for personal gains.  Yet somewhere along the way, echoes from her parents’ teachings take root and she learns to value the non material treasures of the world, particularly honor, loyalty and courage.

Now she is out to discover the secret to the whereabouts of the fable lost Lemuria with the help of her university allies and a truly bizarre Japanese changeling.  But there are also dark forces gathered against her such as the secret society known as the Order and their roguish agent, Lucas Davalos.  Davalos and Elisa were once partners, now they are on opposite sides and a victory for one could mean death to the other.

“The Myth Hunter” is a solid, masterful thriller by a young writer realizing his tremendous potential.  Another publishing note, “The Myth Hunter” is the first book from any publisher to bear the New Pulp logo brand signifying a very exciting movement in the field.  Based on the classics of old, new pulp thrillers like “The Myth Hunter” are blazing into the future to thrill and excite an entire new generation of readers.  Isn’t it time you bought a ticket on this train?

Derrick Ferguson Suits Up With THE IMPOSTOR

  • News
  • July 24, 2011
A lot of times I’ll get asked can a superhero be a pulp hero and vice versa.  And I say sure.  Take Batman.  To me, he’s a pulp character who happens to inhabit a superhero universe.  Or the Challengers of The Unknown who to me are also pulp characters.  The lines can get blurry, especially with guys like Thor who is both a legitimate epic fantasy character (or at least he used to be back in the day) and well as being a superhero.  Now guys like Spider-Man, Superman and The Flash, I call them straight up superheroes.
What does all of this have to do with THE IMPOSTOR #0: “Suiting Up” by Richard Lee Byers?  Not much, to be honest with you.  But it was thoughts like that bouncing around in my melon of a head while I read the story.  There’s a lot of New Pulp as well as Classic Pulp for that matter that can also classified as prose superhero fiction.  When it’s done well, it can be just as much fun and as satisfying as a well-drawn or well-written comic book.
The story is as uncomplicated as a glass of milk: Working stiff Matt Brown is on his way home after a hard day of labor when the Earth is invaded by aliens.  But Matt’s Earth is protected by superheroes who valiantly throw themselves into the defense of their planet.  Not all of them survive and Matt himself is captured by the aliens.  He manages to escape and in the process, acquires some of the equipment and powers of the slain superheroes.  Now it’s all up to Matt to take on the invaders.
That’s it.  But considering that it’s an origin story, how much more do you need?  Mr. Byers sets up his character and the premise of the series in a neat, tight bundle that I found highly enjoyable Old School superheroics with a fine Silver Age DC feel to it.  While reading the story I was visualizing the action as if it were drawn by the 60’s Gil Kane.  I dunno if that was the vibe Mr. Byers was going for but that’s the one I got.  And I liked it.
Should you read THE IMPOSTOR #0: “Suiting Up”?  I don’t see why not.  Certainly the price is right.  You can find it here for free.  That’s right, I said, free.  And at 23 pages it makes for a quick, exciting read, just the way all good pulp should go down.  Mr. Byers has promised further adventures of his hero and I’m looking forward to them.

Derrick Ferguson Takes A Trip To The DIRE PLANET

  • News
  • July 22, 2011

·  Paperback: 248 pages
·  Publisher: PulpWork Press; 1St Edition edition (September 15, 2009)
·  Language: English
·  ISBN-10: 0979732948
·  ISBN-13: 978-0979732942
Not being an historian I’m not sure if Edgar Rice Burroughs created the Planetary Romance genre.  But I am certain that he refined it into something so unique and special that all anybody has to do is say “John Carter” or “Dejah Thoris” or “Barsoom” and most everybody even remotely acquainted with Pulp will know what you’re talking about.  Planetary Romance or Sword and Planet as some like to call it is a wildly popular genre in its own right.  Burroughs having struck great success with his Mars books pulled off the same trick with his Carson of Venus books.   In the 1980’s I discovered other books/series in the genre written by Lin Carter, Michael Moorcock, Alan Burke Akers and even…sigh, the “Gor” books written by John Norman.
Suffice it to say without going into detail that some of them I enjoyed and others I shook my head in downright disbelief that they ever got published.  I can happily say that DIRE PLANET by Joel Jenkins is one that I’m glad got published as it’s a wonderful example of what New Pulp is about.  Joel embraces the conventions of Burroughsian Planetary Romance but it does it with a modern day eye.  As a result it’s a book that at once feels familiar and fresh.  Just when you think you know which way the plot is going to go, Joel manages to find another fork in the road that takes you someplace else.
The Earthman taken from his native world to the planet Mars this time around is Garvey Dire and he doesn’t get there by mystical means.  He gets there by spaceship, the NASA Mars Orbiter.  Garvey Dire’s mission is not just one of exploration and discovery.  His mission is one of vital importance to the continued security and safety of The United States.  China wants to establish their own base on Mars.  And so the race is on.
It’s a race that ends in disaster when Garvey’s ship crash lands on Mars.  With his leg broken, losing air and blood, it seems as if Garvey’s story is over.  But that all changes when he sees the image of a gorgeous green skinned swordswoman in armor.  And it’s because of that image his life is saved as he’s transported 50,000 years back into the past and to a Mars unlike any he’s ever dreamed of.
It’s all here; flashing swords against ancient super science.  Hideous beasts and their even more hideous masters.  Noble warriors battling against grotesque humanoid creatures of astounding cruelty.  Captures.  Chases.  Escapes.  Fates worse than death.  And romance.  Garvey Dire finds it all on ancient Mars.
But what really makes DIRE PLANET a cut above other Burroughs inspired Sword and Planet stories is the political element.  Once Garvey gets hurtled back to ancient Mars, Joel doesn’t forget the U.S./China conflict and indeed, the way he cuts back and forth between the two time periods is in true Burroughs tradition as he was expert at juggling two sets of characters, leaving one set in a nail-biting cliffhanger at the end of a chapter then bouncing over to the other set of characters for a chapter then leaving them in a inescapable trap then going back and-
Well, you get the idea.  It’s a good technique that never failed to work for Burroughs because it’s a surefire way of keeping the story going.  Joel even manages to resolve the conflicts in both time periods in a manner that while it’s clever it also involved just a little too much bouncing back and forth through time for my taste.  Not that I’m opposed to time travel, mind you.  But I think that Joel figured that the only way out was to pinball various characters back and forth between the two time periods.  It’s a little bit dizzying but hey, if you’ve hung on with Garvey Dire all that way, you’re going to go on to the end and you won’t be disappointed.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning two of my favorite bits in the book; Number one is the revelation of who The President of The United States. And number two is that Joel apparently is psychic because he predicted one of the most popular devices in use today way back in 2005 when this book was first published.
So should you read DIRE PLANET?  You certainly should.  If you’ve never read anything by Joel Jenkins this is the perfect place to start.  Joel has been writing what we’re now calling New Pulp as long as I’ve known him and we’re talking roughly around 15 years.  And in all that time he’s built up quite the respectable amount of work.  DIRE PLANET is one of his best.
For more information about Joel Jenkins please visit:
The Vaults of Caladrex  http://www.joeljenkins.com/
Pulpwork Press   http://www.pulpwork.com/

NEW PULP PARTNERS WITH STAN LEE FOUNDATION

  • News
  • July 21, 2011

NEW PULP ANNOUNCES ROUND ROBIN TO BENEFIT STAN LEE FOUNDATION

New Pulp, a recently organized Branding Movement to unite creators and publishers of modern Pulp fiction under a collective banner, announces today its first collective New Pulp publication. According to New Pulp founder Tommy Hancock, this project is a twenty chapter novel currently being written in a round robin style, that meaning each chapter is written by a different author. This multiple author narrative, entitled PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE, is the inaugural project of writers and publishers under the New Pulp Banner.

“New Pulp,” according to Hancock, “is a designation that applies to creators and publishers who, having found their inspiration in the stories and style established by the writers of classic Pulp stories in the early Twentieth Century, are continuing to write, draw, and publish tales of action and adventure in that tradition. New characters, new stories, new ideas, all owing a debt to the Pulp greats, but also written to be the two fisted, high octane adventure stories of today and the New Pulp classics of tomorrow.”

“This current project,” Hancock states, “actually sprouted out of the first New Pulp convention, Pulp Ark, held this past May in Arkansas. Possibly the single largest gathering of New Pulp creators to date, more than 25 creators representing at least nine publishers attended this convention and, of course, many ideas and concepts were discussed and debated. One of those discussions centered around how this collection of writers, artists, and publishers, now standing together under the banner of New Pulp could not only present and produce a unified product, a work representative of all the variety that New Pulp has to offer, but also a way that we could contribute something worthwhile, not just great stories. That desire quickly became an idea for a novel, round robin style.”

PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE is a novel in progress that started with a bare bones minimalist plot suggested by Hancock. Twenty authors were invited to participate in this project, their names being written individually on single strips of paper. As these names were drawn, each writer was assigned a chapter in the order their name was selected, the first writer getting Chapter 1 and so forth. Each writer gets a month to complete their chapter, although Hancock reports that the fourth writer is nearly done with Chapter Four and the project is just over a month along. “We are all taking this very seriously,” Hancock reports, “not only because we want the world to see what New Pulp is about, but also we are excited about the opportunity to give of ourselves, our time and effort and whatever money this novel might raise to not only a worthy cause, but toward something we all have a stake in-Improving education and literacy.”

All proceeds resulting from the sale of PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE will go to The Stan Lee Foundation. Founded to carry on the legacy of Stan Lee, the creative genius behind Marvel Comics and creator of a literal universe of iconic characters, the Stan Lee Foundation’s primary goal is to make literacy, education, and involvement in the arts accessible across America. A non-profit organization, The Stan Lee Foundation develops, designs, and sponsors programs and events with the singular purpose of bringing literacy, knowledge, and artistic enrichment to Americans from coast to coast.

“It is an honor,” Hancock states, “for each and every writer and creator involved in this project to be a part of giving something to an organization started by a man that has given us as fans and the world itself so much. The chance to contribute to The Stan Lee Foundation, to help this group further the fantastic efforts into education it has already initiated, to be just a little part of the progress and success that its various endeavors will see, is the best payday any of us could receive. With the opportunity of New Pulp working with the Stan Lee Foundation in other ways in the future also being possible, we truly want to give our best to this novel project and intend for this work to benefit future artists, learners, and readers everywhere.”

PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE will be published by Pro Se Press, the New Pulp publisher Hancock is a partner in. The writers contributing a chapter each to the novel include Hancock, Joshua Reynolds, Ron Fortier, Barry Reese, Thomas McNulty, Megan Smith, Wayne Skiver, Terry Alexander, Sean Ellis, Van Allen Plexico, Derrick Ferguson, Nancy Hansen, Adam Garcia, Wayne Reinagel, Mike Bullock, Andrew Salmon, Jim Beard, Bill Craig, Rich Steeves, and Tim Byrd. Collectively, these writers represent work in nearly every genre imaginable, from western to science fiction to crime to horror and beyond within New Pulp and as a group have worked with multiple prose and comic publishers producing the finest New Pulp has to offer.

For more information concerning New Pulp or the round robin novel PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE, contact Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net and follow New Pulp on http://www.newpulpfiction.com/.

Reviews from the 86th Floor: Barry Reese Looks At the Chinatown Death Cloud Peril

  • News
  • July 20, 2011


THE CHINATOWN DEATH CLOUD PERIL
Paul Malmont
ISBN 978-0-7432-8785-2

I realize that I’m coming rather late to this novel, which was published in 2006 and set the pulp world on fire. I’d heard many good things about it but I’d never gotten around to grabbing a copy for myself until now. This book takes the real-life figures of Lester Dent, Walter Gibson, L Ron Hubbard and others and puts them into an adventure that could have been straight out of the pulps they made their living in. The mystery starts with the death of H.P. Lovecraft and soon throws its net a good deal wider than that.

The novel crackles with its scenes that describe the pulp industry of the time, showing the hard life led by the men who were paid pennies per word. Honestly, I could have read an entire book of Gibson, Dent and Hubbard arguing over the proper way to write pulp.

But this isn’t a nonfiction work — there’s fictional elements aplenty at play here and the story ultimately must be judged as both historical fiction and an adventure novel. It’s in that last regard that I feel the book falls a bit flat. Malmont does a wonderful job describing the main characters and their neuroses but the action sequences didn’t have the crackle of old-time pulp and the central villain stopped the narrative every time he appeared. I really could have cared less about him or his motivations.

Special word must be given to the epilogue, which is narrated by a special character that made me smile. I was somewhat surprised by the “revelation” that Lester Dent retired to La Plata to write Doc Savage and Avenger novels “for many years.” Though The Avenger was always credited to Kenneth Robeson (the same pen name that Dent and others used on Doc), The Avenger novels were NOT written by Lester Dent. They were the work of Paul Ernst, a wonderful pulp writer who never seems to get the proper amount of respect.

There are many who will tell you that this book is the best that New Pulp has to offer. I disagree. It is very good and I think it does an admirable job of reaching out to the non-pulp audience, informing them of the field’s past and those who worked in it. But I found myself comparing it to Wayne Reinegal’s books, which also mix real-life figures with adventurous settings. If forced to choose, I’d go with Reinegal, who manages to both inform the reader and create genuinely thrilling action-oriented plots, to boot. Still, this book is well worth your time and if you’re a pulp aficionado, you should look for it ASAP.

I give 3.5 out of 5 stars.

GUEST REVIEW AND INTERVIEW-MYSTERY MEN FROM MARVEL COMICS!

  • News
  • July 12, 2011
ALL PULP thanks Peter Miller – docsavagetales.blogspot.com – very much for providing this Guest Review AND a Creator Interview to go with It!
Mystery Men #1 and #2 of 5
Written by David Liss
Art by Patrick Zircher
Published by Marvel Comics

 
 
DC comics made a big splash when the First Wave Universe premiered. They were making pulp comics in a new way. Not set in the past, not set in the DC Universe, but set in their own universe. They hyped it as cel phones and airships. What they created, combining pieces of the past—Doc Savage, the Avenger, The Spirit—with non-super-powered DC characters like Batman and the Blackhawks, was a failed mess. In most of the books the world seemed just like our own except for an extra airship or two. The best book was the Spirit, but even Spirit fans didn’t seem to love it.

Now Marvel has taken a stab at New Pulp and I think they are on to something great. Mystery Men takes place in New York in the regular Marvel Universe in 1932. As far as I know, this is the earliest a series has been set in the MU. The heroes (thus far) are not super-powered. The villain, however, is another story. He exudes occult mystical powers.

Mystery Men follows a millionaire playboy with a Robin Hood complex. He puts on a mask and calls himself the Operative. The Operative is trying to unravel a criminal conspiracy among the New York elite that is led by a frightening occult powered character called the General. The Operative is trying to find a killer.

Also involved in the case is another masked hero, the Revenant. He looks a bit like Moonknight and acts like the Shadow. He seems to have gotten the corrupt NYPD on his case and after crossing paths with the Operative, he decides they should work together.

The Operative doesn’t want the help and the fact that the Revenant is black doesn’t make it any easier, but we know they’re getting together. Issue #2 introduces the Rockettrix (not her real name, but the best description) with ties to the murder.

David Liss has nicely tied together a trio of pulp characters that I want to see more of. The story is good so far and the characters are charming, crude, tough, fascinating, and believable. I like the book a lot so far. Hopefully sales will be good enough to have the title continue.

I haven’t mentioned the art yet. The art is GREAT. Patrick Zircher’s style feels right for the period, but is modern at the same time. The entire first issue is done with horizontal panels, giving it a very cinematic style. The art is clear and direct and reminds me a little bit of Steve Bryant (Athena Voltaire). That is a compliment, by the way.

The second issue continues with the horizontal panels, but does break them up a bit. The colors by Andy Troy are also excellent, clean and subdued, but with color motifs to help define locations.

The final page of each issue so far has been an essay. Issue One’s article is by the writer, David Liss, and he discusses the thrill of adding to the beginning of the Marvel canon. He relates how he decided that the social issues of the 1930s would not be glossed over—that racism, sexism, poverty, and worker’s rights would play a part in the narrative. They do, and I think he has used them in his story well.

In the second issue, artist Patrick Zircher discusses the design path of the character’s looks.

I really hope these essays continue.

Go out and buy this great bit of New Pulp, you won’t be disappointed.

Interview with David Liss

The first two issues of Mystery Men are out and they are terrific. The essay at the back of the first issue tells a bit about the genesis of the project, but I was wondering about your background with pulp and the history of the 1930s. Had you studied the era or was this an excuse to do just that?

It really was more of an excuse to learn about the 1930s. Over the years I’ve read various things from and about the period, and, of course, there are films. Like anyone who enjoys comics, I have always found a lot to love in the pulp era, but this was my first serious creative engagement with the period.

Have you read much original pulp of the era? If so, what titles or characters are you familiar with?

I’ve read a lot of pulp crime over the years, and I’ve read most of Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories. I have not actually read that much of the primary heroic pulp, though I have read the original stories of some characters like Doc Savage and the Spider. And then, of course, many of these characters have ongoing legacies in comics and other media that I’ve read.

Are you aware of the “New Pulp” movement – contemporary authors writing new stories set in the classic pulp era?

Yes, I have several friends who have contributed to some of these new pulp anthologies, and I have another new pulp project of my own in the works, though I can’t yet talk about it. I love the revival.

So far it seems that the 3 main characters – The Operative, The Revenant, and Sarah Starr have no innate super-powers. The villains do. Will we be seeing super-powered heroes in Mystery Men?

Hmm. Best to stay away from spoilers, but I will say that the amulet the General is after is packed with all kinds of surprises.

How did you go from writing historical mystery novels to comics?

I was asked! Marvel editor, and pulp-enthusiast, Bill Rosemann read one of my books and contacted me to ask if I liked comics and would I be interested in writing them. The answer was yes & yes. My first project for Marvel featured the pulp hero, the Phantom Reporter.

Are you a long time comics reader or are you new to the genre?

I was away from comics for the period of time I was in graduate school, when I lacked the time and money for comics — or just about any leisure activity — but otherwise I’m a lifelong fan.

What titles or characters are your favorites?

Some of my long-time faves include Daredevil, Spider-Man, Punisher, Captain America, Batman, Superman, Legion of Super-Heroes & Martian Manhunter, but I’ve always followed the story more than the character. My investment has always been less in titles and individual heroes than which creators are putting together good comics, so I’ll read just about anything with a cool story.

What writers or artists excite you?


On the writing side, these days my favorite creators are probably Robert Kirkman, Mark Millar, Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker. I feel like I’ve been very lucky, because in my projects at Marvel I’ve been paired with some of the best artists out there. Francesco Francavilla and Jefte Palo, who have been doing the art for Black Panther, are both fantastic. And then, of course, there’s Patrick Zircher’s phenomenal work on Mystery Men. In terms of detail and beauty, as well as art that advances character and story, Patrick’s work on this book is about as good as it gets.

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