Tagged: review

THE SHADOW FAN DONS A MASK

The Shadow Fan Podcast returns for another thrilling episode devoted to the greatest pulp hero of them all, The Shadow! This time around, host Barry Reese talks about Loren Estleman’s essay “Was Sherlock Holmes the Shadow?”, the radio episode “Death House Rescue,” The Shadow’s # 1 scout (Hawkeye) and the debut issue of Masks from Dynamite Comics!

Join the conversation about pulp’s greatest hero today at http://theshadowfan.libsyn.com/masks.

AMAZING STORIES-CLASSIC TITLE PRESENTED IN ALL NEW WAY!

  • News
  • December 13, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMAZING STORIES are just one click away!

Amazing Stories, the world’s first science fiction magazine, opens for Beta Testing of Phase 1 on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013.

Fifty+ Bloggers Sign On to provide oodles of genre-related content!

The Experimenter Publishing Company is pleased to announce the reintroduction of the world’s most recognizable science fiction magazine – AMAZING STORIES!

Set to relaunch with a Beta Test of its new Social Magazine Platform, Amazing Stories will feature content from 50+ bloggers, covering an enormous array of subjects of interest to genre fans.

“We’ve got authors and agents, bloggers and editors, podcasters and broadcasters; we’ve got gamers and game designers; artists and art collectors; pulpsters and indie authors; we’ve got Hugo winners, John W. Campbell Memorial Award winners, John W. Campbell Best New Writer winners, Nebula and Hugo Award nominees and winners and nominees of other awards; people who review films, people who make films; we’ve got fanboys and fangirls; we’ve got former editors of Amazing Stories, writers who’ve become synonymous with the field and writers who are just getting started; comic artists, book reviewers; traditionally published authors, self-pubbed authors and authors who’ve done it all. The response to my request for participation was phenomenal – it couldn’t be more perfect if I had set out with a list of must-haves!” said Steve Davidson, publisher. 

Amazing Stories’ Social Magazine platform is designed to create an interactive environment that will be familiar to fans – especially those who attend conventions or enjoy club activities – with blog content designed to encourage discussion and take things beyond the usual user-generated content model for social networks.

The Amazing Stories Blog Team will cover (for now – more coming!) fourteen popular topics – Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Literature, Film, Television, Gaming, Comics and Graphic Works, the Visual Arts, the Pulps, Audio Works, Anime, the Business of Publishing, Science and Fandom itself. 

At this year’s Worldcon (Chicon 7, Chicago), Toastmaster John Scalzi offered up these words during the convention’s opening ceremonies:

…who are we as a community?
This year at least, we are bloody fantasy, we are epic-scale space opera, we are an intimate picture of growing up geeky, we are ready to take on the zombie apocalypse.
We speak in alien tongues, we are super heroes and we are on the spectrum.
We cry like children and we cradle our awards.
We sing, we write, we draw, we edit. We talk on every subject science fictional or fantastical.
We’re men and we’re women. We’re gay and straight. Cis gender and trans. Majority and minority. Left and right. First time nominees and old hands.
We are diverse – and we are all in this together. 

“We are diverse – and we are all in this together”, a sentiment that captures the heart and soul of what it means to be a fan. Amazing Stories aims to be the vehicle through which the diversity of fandom can come together. 

Amazing Stories’ relaunch will take place in two phases. Those interested in participating in the Beta Test of Phase 1 should contact the publisher atsteve.davidson33@comcast.net. Phase 2 will introduce additional interactivity and user-customization to the site. Following the completion and testing of Phase 2, the magazine, featuring both new and reprint fiction, essays, photo galleries, reviews and more will begin publication. Readers who are interested in what the magazine will look like can read two Relaunch Prelaunch issues on line, or download them from the Amazing Stories store. (Additional Amazing Stories themed product is also available here.)

The Amazing Stories Blog Team:

Cenobyte, Mike Brotherton, Ricky L. Brown, Michael A Burstein, 

Catherine Coker, Johne Cook, Paul Cook, Gary Dalkin, Jane Frank, 

Jim Freund, Adam Gaffen, Chris Garcia, Chris Gerwel, Tommy Hancock,

Liz Henderson, Samantha Henry, M. D. Jackson, Monique Jacob, 

Geoffrey James, J. J. Jones, Peggy Kolm, Justin Landon, Andrew Liptak, 

Melissa Lowery, Barry Malzberg, C. E. Martin, Farrell J. McGovern, 

Steve Miller, Matt Mitrovich, Aidan Moher, Diane Severson Mori, 

Kevin Murray, Ken Neth, Astrid Nielsch, D. Nicklin-Dunbar, John 

Purcell, James Rogers, Doug Smith, Lesley Smith, Bill Spangler, 

Duane Spurlock, Michael J. Sullivan, G. W. Thomas, Erin Underwood, 

Stephan Van Velzen, Cynthia Ward, Michael Webb, Keith West, 

John M. Whalen, Ann Wilkes, Leah Zeldez

Originally launched in 1926 by the father of science fiction, Hugo Gernsback, Amazing Stories helped to launch both the science fiction genre and its most enduring feature, science fiction fandom. The magazine is well known for its Frank R. Paul covers and for publishing the first stories by many iconic authors such as Isaac Asimov, Jack Williamson and Ursula Le Guin. Published continuously from 1926 until 1995, followed by two brief resurrections from 1998 till 2000 and from 2004 thru 2005. In 2008 Hasbro, the then current owner, allowed its trademarks to lapse and publisher Steve Davidson applied for and eventually received them in 2011.

For additional information, to find out how to join the Amazing Stories Blog Team or to request an invite to the Beta Test of Phase 1, please email the publisher, Steve Davidson.

DOUBLE FIGHT CARD-SALMON GETS IN THE RING WITH TWO!

  • News
  • December 13, 2012


PLUCKING SOME WEEDS AROUND THE FAMILY TREE

A Review of Irish Dukes

Andrew Salmon


This Fight Card installment kicks off in 1950’s Berlin where Sergeant Kevin Crowley is duking it out with a Russian boxer. Crowley has something to fight for beside unit pride. He’s  due a 30-day leave before transferring to Japan and during the fight he’s told those will be off the table should he not prevail.



Afterwards, Crowley begins his much-deserved leave (did you really think he’d lose the opening bout of the tale?) and heads to Ireland looking for his roots. Well, it turns out those roots are being choked by weeds and Crowley is thrust into a battle of wills with a black-hearted, gouging landlord looking to keep the entire neighborhood under his boot heel.



The pace of this one is very brisk and, when you consider the plot elements, that’s no easy feat. Not only are some top-notch fight scenes needed here but also Crowley’s family history and surviving members are all very neatly drawn. And just enough of details of post-war Berlin and narrow Irish streets flesh out the settings. Don’t let the length fool you, this is a full tale. Sure, it can be read quickly, but that’s a must during this busy age we live in. And it satisfies. You’ve got fists a-flying, a budding love interest, standing up to bullies, cowardly scare tactics and a lead character who doesn’t take any bunk from anyone.



I’ve read a handful of the Fight Card series to date and each one has been a winner. If you’re already a fan and are looking for the next tale to read, then this is a great place to continue. If you’re new to the Fight Card line, then Irish Dukes will scratch you right where you itch. I enjoyed it and I recommend it. Check it out!


THIS KO IS A-OK!

A Review of Robert J. Randisi’s The Knockout

by Andrew Salmon

Robert J. Randisi takes on the identity of Jack Tunney for this installment in the stellar Fight Card line. The Knockout introduces us to Frank Corleone. Once a contender, an injury has knocked him out of the ring and into the PI game. With gumshoe work not paying all of his bills, Corleone also works as a part-time sparring partner at his friend’s gym.



But when that friend turns up dead and it looks like murder, Corleone has to hit the streets, and a few lowlifes, to get to the truth.



Part hardboiled mystery, part sports tale, The Knockout has got something for everyone. Corleone’s single-minded pursuit of the truth leads him down some dark alleys and into a fight or two whether its with his fists, his wits or his conscience. The end result is an engaging mystery that doesn’t skimp on the fisticuffs. You’ve got organized crime, shifty lawyers, hard line cops and Corleone’s dead friend is in the middle. A great mix.



This one is also something of a change of pace as fighting does not save the day. Sure, there’s plenty of it and the fight sequences are well written, but the reason Corleone fights, although integral to the plot, do not resolve the plot in and of themselves as is sometimes the case with fight stories. It’s the combination of fighting and gumshoe work that bring this fun ride to a rollicking conclusion.



I enjoyed The Knockout and recommend it to any fan of fight fiction, detective yarns or action junkies of all stripes. This one is a knockout!


REVIEW: Dick Tracy

Today, comic book fans may recall Warren Beatty’s adaptation of Dick Tracy as a memorable misfire. When it was released in 1990, it was met with, at best, mixed reviews and while it performed respectably at the box office, missed Walt Disney’s estimates so the hoped for franchise was stillborn. Blame could be squarely placed at Beatty’s feet since he had a strangle hold on the film as its director, producer, and star. It got so crazy that poor Kyle Baker had to use only three approved head shots for the 64-page comics adaptation, which stretched even his considerable skills.

We have a great opportunity to reconsider this film now that Disney is releasing it tomorrow on Blu-ray.  One of the things about the production is that Beatty wanted to recreate Chester Gould’s strip as faithfully as possible, which meant he limited the color palette to a mere seven colors, predominantly red, blue, yellow, and green – all the same shade. Surrounding himself with a veteran crew consisting of production designer Richard Sylbert, set decorator Rick Simpson, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, visual effects supervisors Michael Lloyd and Harrison Ellenshaw, and costume designer Milena Canonero, Beatty got the best looking film possible. The translation was so faithful that mainstream audiences took issue with the look.

What Beatty seemed to forget is that adapting from one medium to another requires certain accommodations and this experiment just didn’t work. In vibrant Blu-ray, after a digital restoration, its sharply garish and not necessarily for the better. What did adapt better were the makeup designs that replicated the grotesque Gould rogues gallery thanks to the ministrations of prosthetic makeup designers John Caglione, Jr. and Doug Drexler.

Only someone as major as Beatty could have corralled the roster of stars to don the latex, including Dustin Hoffman (Mumbles), William Forsythe (Flattop), James Tolkan (Numbers), Mandy Patinkin (88 Keys), R. G. Armstrong (Pruneface), Henry Silva (Influence), Paul Sorvino (Lips Manlis), James Caan (Spuds Spaldoni), Catherine O’Hara (Texie Garcia), and Robert Beecher as (Ribs Mocca). In fact, there are probably half-a-dozen too many of Gould’s creations in the mix, diluting the impact of any one foe especially when they were all under the influence of Al Pacino’s Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice.

On the side of good there’s Glenne Headly as Tracy’s longtime love, Tess Trueheart; Charlie Korsmo as The Kid, Charles Durning as Chief Brandon, and Dick Van Dyke as District Attorney John Fletcher. Headly’s little girl voice has always annoyed me and she really didn’t have much to do, which meant she was easily eclipsed by the film’s real femme fatale: Madonna as Breathless Mahoney.

The script from Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr. is remarkably faithful to the golden era of the strip, with the blood-soaked streets of the big city, and a cops and robbers vibe. The main story involves the Kid witnessing a mob hit from some of Big Boy’s enforcers and the crime lord wants him silenced before a possible trial. And Breathless is the only witness to a kidnapping so Tracy spends quality time with her, where she does her best to seduce the square-jawed hero. And pulling the strings from the shadows is a criminal known only as The Blank, whose true identity is revealed late in the film and may surprise a handful of viewers.

The movie crackles along but even in the rewatching, just lacks a vital spark to make us care or cheer. The story and performances almost take themselves too seriously and when set against the uniquely colorful setting is more jarring than anything else. It’s not a bad film in the end, just not a very exciting one.

The digital restoration needs to be seen to be appreciated and Disney did a lovely job, The Blu-ray comes with a digital copy but neglects to include any extras to strongly recommend its acquisition.

FORTIER TAKES ON SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT-COLLINS STYLE!

  • News
  • December 9, 2012

ALL PULP REVIEWS-by Ron Fortier
SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT
By Max Allan Collins
Illustrations by Terry Beatty
Available 19 Feb. 2013
Hard Case Crime
260 pages
What better book to review following our look at a Modesty Blaise strip collection then one that uses the 1950s anti-comic book witch hunt as its thinly disguised narrative skeleton.  “Seduction of the Innocent,” is the third in a series starring former stripper and newspaper syndicate owner, Maggie Starr and her World War II veteran stepson, Jack Starr.  Both appeared in two earlier comics themed mysteries, “A Killing in Comics,” 2007 and “Strip for Murder,” 2008.  Now Collins wraps up the trilogy with a look at the events that nearly destroyed the American comics industry via the publication of the original, “Seduction of the Innocent,” by Dr. Fredric Wertham.
For the uninitiated, Wertham (March 20,1895 – November 18, 1981) was a German born American psychiatrist who made a name for himself by denouncing comics books as a corrupting influence on the children of that era.  Targeting such publishers as E.C. Comics, he posited the theory that the crime, sex and violence depicted in those comics were the principle cause of delinquency among juvenile boys.  Of course he failed to point out that the titles he singled out were clearly intended for an adult audience though no such labeling existed at the time.  His best known book was “Seduction of the Innocent,” and his criticisms of comic books launched a U.S. Congressional inquiry into the industry and the creation of the Comics Code.
Of course the book is a sham using only the most gruesome examples of graphic art to prove a theory that was never corroborated with traditional scientific sampling.  But the public, already molded by McCarthyism was only too eager to start comic book burning events in their noble defense of America’s naïve youth. 
Author Collins has no difficult task in imagining a scenario in which the hated fictional doctor is murdered and then he lines up a half dozen very plausible suspects, each based loosely on past comic industry personalities from publishers to writers and artists.  And therein lies the fun of this tale for any diehard comic book fan; guessing who it is Collins is rifting off of as Jack Starr investigates.  As ever, Collins plays fair and the clues are laid out within the context of the story for all to see and interpret, mystery fans; the challenge being can we solve it before Jack and Maggie do?
This new “Seduction of the Innocent,” is by far a whole lot more entertaining than its predecessors and has the distinction of being Hard Case Crime’s first ever illustrated novel.  Through out the book there are wonderful spot illustrations provided by the super talented Terry Beatty; all done in the marvelous retro golden age style of art.  They add a really nice visual element to what is already a fun read.  It is hoped that Collins’ legion of fans will demand yet more of these delicious murder mysteries starring Maggie & Jack Starr.  In a literary environment overly saturated with dark, somber and depressing cautionary tales these are truly a breath of fresh air.

THE MCGEES, JOHNNY DOLLAR, THE SPIDER AND MORE FROM RADIO ARCHIVES!

  • News
  • December 7, 2012

 
December 7, 2012
 
Merry Christmas from Radio Archives!
 
 
 
The Old Timer. Myrt the Operator. The Great Gildersleeve. Beulah. Mayor La Trivia. These names all share one common thread. They were first heard on one of the greatest radio comedies ever to play on the airwaves. And a season of that show, restored to the highest quality possible, is collected in The Fibber McGee and Molly Show, The 1945/1946 Season.
 
Sponsored by Johnson’s Wax, Fibber McGee and Molly moved from the Blue Network to NBC in March, 1938. Already well established before the move, most experts agree that Fibber McGee and Molly hit its stride not long after the network change.
 
Even though it wasn’t yet the legend it would become, the building blocks were in place in the late 1930s. Fibber was a teller of tales, blustery and boastful, until reproached by the long suffering, tolerant Molly. The door of their home at 79 Wistful Vista must have been revolving as an assortment of characters flitted in and out of it every week. Established Chicago actors like Isabel Randolph, Harold Peary, Bill Thompson, and even announcer Harlow Wilcox peopled The McGee’s fictional address with over the top, hilarious performances. Peary proved so memorable and effective that he went on to another show considered classic by many, The Great Gildersleeve.
 
The Fibber McGee and Molly Show, The 1945/1946 Season collects a full season of shows, restored to Sparkling audio quality. Listen as the characters everyone loves come to life in this collection. Fibber McGee and Mollyexpert Karl Pearson is the Series Contributor for this set. Enjoy 18 hours, 36 shows of pure fun. $53.98 Audio CDs / $26.99 Download.
 
 
The classic radio program featuring Johnny Dollar, America’s Action Packed Insurance Investigator, remains one of the most popular shows among OTR fans and collectors. And by far, the most popular actor to play the role of two fisted, witty Dollar was Bob Bailey. In Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, Volume 4, you’ll discover Bailey and the show at their equal best. This 10 hour collection features ten five-part stories first aired in 1956. Bailey as Dollar painstakingly pursues each case to its conclusion and each script brims with tension and authenticity. Combine that with Bailey’s charm and delivery and these episodes represent the best of Old Time Radio. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar with Bob Bailey. Regular Price $29.98 – Christmas Special priced until December 13th for $14.99 Audio CDs / $7.49 Download.
 
 
Return to radio’s Golden Age with Radio Classics, a 20-hour collection featuring forty of the greatest shows ever to hit the airwaves.
 
Radio Classics is our second best seller, but we normally don’t sell it on RadioArchives.com. We sell it on Amazon where it is a best seller. The reason we don’t normally offer it onRadioArchives.com is simple. Created by Nostalgia Ventures in 2004, Radio Classics was not restored by Radio Archives  and the audio quality is not up to our usual standards. Many of our customers have said that the audio quality is just like other national Old Time Radio companies, which is true. Radio Classics is a great collection of radio shows and makes a wonderful Christmas gift.
 
The 20 different Old Time Radio series that are in the set are; The Aldrich Family, Amos ‘n’ Andy,Boston Blackie, Casey, Crime Photographer, Dimension X, Father Knows Best, Fibber McGee & Molly, The Fred Allen Show, The FBI in Peace and War, The Great Gildersleeve, The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Mr. & Mrs. North, Murder at Midnight, Mystery in the Air, Pete Kelly’s Blues, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Philo Vance, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Vic & Sade, and X Minus One. $39.98 Audio CDs.
 
 
 
Old Time Radio Christmas Gift Ideas!
 
The Complete Cinnamon Bear – Make Old Time Radio a Christmas tradition with The Cinnamon Bear! A 26 episode adventure, The Cinnamon Bear relates the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, The Barton Twins, in Maybeland. On a hunt for the silver star to top their tree, the twins meet Paddy O’Cinnamon, the Cinnamon Bear. The Cinnamon Bear appeals to listeners of all ages, sparking nostalgia of a simpler time for some, carrying hints of childhood stories for others. For all, The Complete Cinnamon Bear is a must. 7 hours. $20.98 Audio CDs / $10.49 Download.
 
Casey, Crime Photographer, Volume 2 – Mystery, humor and a night at the Blue Note await you in this classic collection. A mix of lightheartedness, newspaper drama, and crime thrown in for good measure, Casey is one of the most fondly remembered shows of Radio’s Golden Age. Follow Casey and Annie as they track down the mystery in each episode in search of a great story and then all gather with fan favorite Ethelbert to wrap it up. Casey, Crime Photographer, Volume 2 is pure fun. 10 hours. $29.98 Audio CDs / $14.99 Download.
 
Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors, Volume 2 – Take a trip back to a time when music was memorable! The country was suffering through the greatest depression in history, a worried and overwhelmed population was desperately in need of morale-building entertainment, and a young and still-developing medium called radio brought welcome doses of musical entertainment into millions of homes throughout the country. Chock full of shows dating from 1932 through 1934 recorded live at the Cocoanut Grove, this collection is a journey you’ll want to take again and again. 10 hours. $29.98 Audio CDs / $14.99 Download.
 
Screen Director’s Playhouse – Relive Classic Hollywood films as heard on Golden Age Radio where Hollywood meets Radio. Featuring radio adaptations of such memorable films as Spellbound, Dark Victory, Stairway to Heaven and more, these hour long broadcasts bring together top names in both film and radio. Listen as Tallulah Bankhead, Joseph Cotton, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and others share microphones with radio legends like Howard McNear and Herb Butterfield. 10 hours. $29.98 Audio CDs / $14.99 Download.
 
 
Fibber McGee and Molly: The Lost Episodes, Volume 1 – Old Time Radio Fans always love returning to 79 Wistful Vista and this holiday season you can, too. Laugh along with the McGees in these fifteen minute episodes. All of the great lines and over the top characters in and out Fibber’s front door are here and the shows are some of the best of Fibber and Molly ever! Molly’s polite, only slightly acerbic wit and Fibber’s tall tale telling and knack for turning any situation into humorous trouble make these shows comedy gold. 10 hours. $29.98 Audio CDs / $14.99 Download.
 
 
Read by Nick Santa Maria and Robin Riker
 

During his ferocious first year fighting crime, The Spider faced the most amazing array of supercriminals ever spawned. The Black Death. The Red Mask. The Tarantula. The Fly. Few were as memorable as the 20th Century corsair called Captain Kidd. She—yes, she!—embarked on a campaign of cruelty unmatched in pulp history.
 
It began with the torture-killing of a innocent young boy—a loyal member of the Spider Club. The weapon employed was a knife with eerie electrical properties. Discovering the hapless body, Richard Wentworth vowed to avenge this insult to The Spider’s power.
 
But Captain Kidd struck first! When a train roars into Grand Central Station, out of control and crashing to a brutal halt, authorities discover that everyone aboard, from the engineer and crew to the passengers, are cold corpses—electrified by a weird new weapon called the Green Fire!
 
Out of this rolling charnel house come the first clues to the Pirates—a roving band of modern-day buccaneers out to pillage greater New York. At their head, the deadly woman who has taken the feared name of Captain Kidd.
 
Once again, RadioArchives.com has selected one of the most electrifying Spider novels ever written for an equally-electrifying audiobook. Nick Santa Maria again takes on the dual role of Richard Wentworth, aka TheSpider, Master of Men, for this powerful new entry in the Will Murray Pulp Classics series. Robin Riker enchants as Nita van Sloan and gives a powerful performance as the wiley Captain Kidd. Producer Roger Rittner brings his superb directorial expertise to the proceedings, which are enhanced by sound effects and a full musical score. So far, our audience tells us that each Spider audiobook has outdone the one before. The Corpse Cargo is no exception.
 

This Total Pulp Experience audiobook contains all three stories from the tenth issue issue of The Spider Magazine, July 1934. $27.98 Audio CDs / $13.99 Download.

 
 
 
 
Pulp’s Master of Men, The Spider weaves a web of danger and intrigue in the Will Murray Pulp Classics audiobook Wings of the Black Death! Masterfully performed by Nick Santa Maria and Robin Riker and beautifully produced by Roger Rittner, this audiobook features the first story of The Spider as written by Norvell Page! Fight along The Spider as he struggles to save New York from horrifying death at the hands of a manmade plague! This tale is Page at his murderous, two fisted Pulpy best. Full sound effects and a period musical score make Wings of the Black Death a must have! 6 Hours of Classic Pulp Hero Action. Regular Price $23.98 – Christmas Special priced until December 13 for $11.99 Audio CDs / $5.99 Download.
 
Great Audiobooks for Christmas
 
Doc Savage The Jade Ogre – Doc Savage blazes yet another adventurous trail of action as written by Will Murray. Follow the Man of Bronze and his trusty companions as they encounter the sinister Jade Fever, instant death for those who face it! Thrill to Doc fighting alongside his beautiful cousin, Pat Savage, in this rollicking, fast paced two fisted romp! Performed by Michael McConnohie and produced by Roger Rittner,The Jade Ogre is an experience you must have! 12 hours. $47.98 Audio CDs / $23.99 Download.
 
Doctor Death The Gray Creatures – The maddest of Pulp Villains lives again! The maniacal scientist who relies on magic in his attempts to destroy civilization returns on a quest to Egypt for the secrets of Anubis. Pursued by Jimmy Holm and The Secret Twelve, Death seeks power that will make him the king of the undead and insure his victory over mankind. Doctor Death terrifies as read by Joey D’Auria in Doctor Death The Gray Creatures! 6 hours. $23.98 CD / $11.99 Download.
 
Nightbeat: Night Stories – New Stories based on a Classic Radio Show! Six stories in this collection feature Randy Stone, a reporter who covered the night beat for the Chicago Star. From murder to mystery, gunplay to climactic chases, from heartache to hardboiled, every night brought a new story to Randy Stone. This nostalgic collection of new tales comes alive courtesy of noted actor Michael C. Gwynne. Walk the streets of 1950s Chicago when the sun sets in Nightbeat: Night Stories. 6 hours. $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.
 
The Octopus February-March 1939 – One of Pulp’s most unique villains, Norvell Page’s The Octopus is a lunatic intent on terrorizing America’s greatest city, passing sentence on it as ‘The City Condemned to Hell’! And when there’s an audacious villain, the hero must be equally over the top! The Skull Killer, a hero with three identities, challenges The Octopus in this Pulp Classic, the lead story and all back ups wonderfully read by Doug and Glen Stone! 6 hours. $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.
 
Operator #5 #1 The Masked Invasion – Before Bond, Pulp gave America its best Secret Agent and Will Murray’s Pulp Classics Audiobooks brings Operator #5 screaming to life as read by Richard Epcar. Handsome and rugged, Jimmy Christopher had everything a man of espionage needed- two fists, skills aplenty, a team of his own ready to help whenever and the determination to protect America at all costs! Follow Operator #5 as he stands between America and the Thirteenth Darkness! 6 hours. $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.
 

 

The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge eBooks! Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator #5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and more, Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday’s Pulp today!
 
Behind his iron mask, Professor Mephisto decreed death for men who stood on the threshold of fame and fortune. The strongest crumpled in wordless terror, their palsied trigger fingers crooking at the dread command from this sinister chairman of Satan’s Suicide Club. Why did men and women give up their lives rather than reveal the masked one’s secret? To shatter those evil shackles, Richard Wentworth turns again to the Spider’s cloak and guns — and follows strange bypaths to meet the most cruel and dangerous antagonist of his peril-shot career! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.
 

A dead man on the dock at sailing time — a bullet for the star passenger — an empire’s ransom in the hold! This was the ship that was to carry Richard Wentworth and Nita van Sloan to Europe for their honeymoon! Trapped by Baron Otuna’s Oriental guile, consigned to the brig as a pirate, Wentworth dons the Spider’s cloak, and shoots his way toward the heart of a bloody mystery that rallies the fighting ships of two navies as death stalks a stricken liner! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks.
 

Relentless, unhindered, that eerie, green mist advanced slowly up the Lower Bay like a formless nightmare monster. Deep-bellied vessels which sailed nearby were engulfed in its nebulous depths, and emerged in flames! A wide, devastated path marked its progress across New York City… Etoria, powerful and greedy, the snarling war-dog of the Mediterranean, was striking to cripple America’s defenses, preparing ruthlessly to establish the most magnificent empire in history… Operator 5, Ace of the Intelligence, known in private life as Jimmy Christopher, makes the gravest decision of his life. Hampered by cowardly, official red-tape, he resigns from the Service. Marked as the enemy’s first victim, he carries the battle, single-handed, across the ocean and into the Etorian dictator’s own guarded stronghold!Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks.

 
Terror Tales Arthur Leo Zagat, Book 2

In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Talesmagazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, all written by Arthur Leo Zagat, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format.
 

“With the secret of the plague of Suicide Tomb, I shall control all men and their destinies. I have arranged my bargain with death and the devil; now men shall do my bidding.” Thus spoke Wu Fang, secure in his Dragon’s Lair, surrounded by his ministry of murder!… Not far away, innocent of the Yellow Fiend’s purpose, was the only man who dare combat him — Val Kildare, watching and waiting; ready for the Crime Beast to show his hand!

 
Inspired by the Asian menace of Fu Manchu, Harry Steeger, publisher of Popular Publications, decided to publish a villain-centered pulp magazine series. And so, The Mysterious Wu Fang was born.  The series was written by Robert J. Hogan, who also wrote for G-8 and his Battle Aces and The Secret Six.  But after seven stories, the series was ended.  An eighth story “The Case of the Living Poison” was planned, but never was printed.
 
 
Captain Future… the Ace of Space! Born and raised on the moon, Curt Newton survived the murder of his scientist parents to become the protector of the galaxy known as Captain Future. With his Futuremen, Grag the giant robot, Otho, the shape-shifting android and Simon Wright, the Living Brain, he patrols the solar system in the fastest space ship ever constructed, the Comet, pursuing human monsters and alien threats to Earth and her neighbor planets. This is one of the legendary “final seven” Captain Future tales. After a run of twenty pulp issues, the quarterly magazine closed. But that was not the end of Captain Future. He returned in a series of short stories published in Startling Stories magazine, beginning with the January 1950 issue. Edmond Hamilton, creator of Captain Future and author of the majority of the full-length novels, returned to pen seven more Captain Future stories. His style had matured, as had his original audience, and these final seven Captain Future stories are considered to be some of his best. Captain Future left the pages of Startling Stories with the May 1951 issue, but editors left open the possibility that Captain Future might return some day. True fans are still waiting. Until then, Captain Future returns in these vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format.
 
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
 
Find these legendary Pulp tales and more in Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, now available in the Kindle store, Barnes and Noble Nook store, and RadioArchives.com! Search for RadioArchives.com in iTunes.
 
 

Classic Science Fiction adventure awaits Pulp Fans in Captain Future #7 The Magician of Mars! A daring prison break led by Ul Quorn, the mastermind known as The Magician of Mars, unleashes vile criminals from nine worlds on the universe! They have one goal, seeking lost treasure, and there’s only one force in the universe that can stop them! Captain Future! A mysterious hero, Captain Future and his three companions, an android, a brain, and a robot, known as the Futuremen set off across the universe and beyond to defeat The Magician and his minions! Thrill to this book length adventure by Edmond Hamilton this Christmas presented as a beautifully formatted eBook! Regular price $3.99. Christmas Special priced until December 13 for $1.99.
 
 
 
FREE Spider eBook!

Receive an exciting original Spider adventure FREE! Part of the Will Murray Pulp Classics line, The Spider #11, Prince of the Red Looters first saw print in 1934 and features his momentous battle with The Fly and his armies of crazed criminal killers.
 
For those who have been unsure about digging into the wonderful world of pulps, this is a perfect chance to give one of these fantastic yarns a real test run. With a full introduction to the Spider written by famed pulp historian and author Will Murray, The Spider #11 was written by one of pulp’s most respected authors, Norvell W. Page. Writing as Grant Stockbridge, Page’s stories included some of the most bizarre and fun takes on heroes and crime fighting in the history of escapist fiction.
 
Even today Page’s scenarios and his edge-of-the-seat writing style are still thrilling both new and old fans everywhere. For those who have never read one of these rollercoaster adventures, you are in for a thrill. If you already know how much fun a classic pulp is, make sure you get a copy of this classic.
 
See what the Total Pulp Experience is for yourself. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.
 
Send an eMail to eBooks@RadioArchives.com and start reading your FREE copy of  the Spider #11 within seconds! Experience The Best Pulps the Past has to offer in the most modern way possible!
 

One of the top crime-fighters from the golden age of pulp fiction, The Spider returns in two thrill-packed adventures written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “The Spider and the Jewels Of Hell” (1940), Tough, dauntless miners, accustomed to hardship and danger, paled in helpless terror as their homes were destroyed, their loved ones slaughtered! No one was safe, above ground or below, when The Killer walked among them. Only the Spider dared challenge the strangle-hold of fear that held an entire town in its deadly grip! Then, in “Recruit For the Spider Legion” (1943), Staunch supporter of justice and champion of the law Stanley Kirkpatrick, finds himself about to gain unexpected insights into the workings of the system when he himself is faced with the electric chair! Can the very man who has forever branded the Spider a criminal for his vigilante efforts join with his old enemy to battle the forces of Kali? These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. Buy it today for $14.95!
 
 

The Knight of Darkness crushes crime in the classic pulp novels that inspired Hollywood’s first two Shadow feature films! First, the bizarre terms of a dead man’s will lead to a series of murders that will condemn an innocent man unless The Shadow can unmask the true killer in Walter Gibson’s “The Ghost of the Manor,” the inspiration for the 1937 film, “The Shadow Strikes.” Then, the Dark Avenger hunts a sadistic blonde murderess and the masked supervillain known as “Foxhound” in Theodore Tinsley’s violent novel that was filmed in 1938 as “International Crime.” BONUS: Film historian Ed Hulse unearths rare secrets behind the making of the first Shadow feature films! This instant collector’s item showcases the original pulp covers by George Rozen and the classic interior illustrations by Tom Lovell, with historical commentary by Will Murray. Buy it today for $14.95.
 
The Pulps’ original “Man of Steel” returns in three action-packed tales by Paul Ernst and Emile Tepperman writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, The Avenger enters a “House of Death” to unravel the mysterious murders befalling the owners of strange gold medallions! Then, the fate of the nation hangs in the balance as Dick Benson attempts to prevent “The Hate Master” from win ning the presidential election! Finally, a single misstep could result in “A Coffin for The Avenger” in an exciting novelette by Spider-wordsmith Emile Tepperman. BONUS: a Nick Carter mystery by Bruce Elliott! This classic pulp reprint leads off with a knockout color cover by Graves Gladney, and also features Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and commentary by pulp historian Will Murray. Buy it today for $14.95.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Richard Wentworth, the Spider, swings into Pulpy action once more in The Spider #11 – #15 Double Novel reprints. Race alongside the Master of Men and his beloved Nita Van Sloan and trusted companions Ram Singh and Jackson as they risk life, limb, and sanity to keep New York safe from madmen and lunatics! Find out why the Spider is considered one of the top three classic Pulp characters still today! Each reprint contains two exciting pulp adventures that have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. The Spider Volumes #11 to #15, regular price $14.95 – Christmas Special priced until December 13 for $7.47.

 
The Man of Bronze leaves his mark on Pulp once again in classic stories reprinted in Doc Savage #11 – #15 from Radio Archives! Follow Doc and his trusted friends and aides –  Monk, Ham, Long Tom, Renny, and Johnny – as they take on supervillains, would be tyrants, and strange villains of all kinds! Read Lester Dent at his best as Doc uses both brain and brawn to fight for justice and save the world once more! Each reprint contains two full-length Pulp novels reformatted for easy reading and also includes articles, illustrations, and other Doc related information to make the experience more exciting! Doc Savage Volumes #11 to #15, regular price $12.95 – Christmas Special priced until December 13 for $6.47.

 
Find out Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men in The Shadow #11 – #15 from Radio Archives! These classic tales beautifully reprinted and formatted for easy reading feature Pulp’s most mysterious hero as created by Walter Gibson. Each reprint features two full length Shadow Pulp novels as well as original covers and a multitude of extra material for the true fan! Follow The Shadow and his team of agents as they delve into the darkness of the city and fight the evil that hides in the night! Who is The Shadow? Wealthy playboy Lamont Cranston? Pilot Kent Allard? Or someone else! Join the mystery with The Shadow Volumes #11 to #15, regular price $12.95 – Christmas Special priced until December 13 for $6.47!
 
 

Last Week for Stories From The Golden Age! Galaxy Press presents Stories from the Golden Age, a line of reprints and audio books by L. Ron Hubbard, at one time a prolific writer of Pulp fiction. These tales, including original pulp art and illustrations from the period, run the gamut of genres, including six shootin’ westerns, rollicking high adventures, chilling crime tales, and more! Along with the reprints, Stories from the Golden Age also features its tales as audiobooks, taking Pulp storytelling to another level. Thrill to classic tales of cowboys, pirates, heroes, villains and a whole multitude of other characters as written by Hubbard. Specially priced at 50% off until December 13. Get your copy of these books and audiobooks this week before they’re gone! Click here to see all the books that are available.
 
 
 

The shattering sequel to Fortress of Solitude.
 
The Doc Savage exploit that went untold for 74 years—Death’s Dark Domain!
 
In the aftermath of the evil John Sunlight’s pillaging of the secret Fortress of Solitude, a dreadful super-weapon has fallen the hands of a Balkan dictator intent upon seizing control of the vampire-haunted zone of desolation known as Ultra-Stygia. War is imminent. Monsters are loose in the disputed region. A strange darkness falls over the sinister landscape. Only Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, understands the terrible threat to humanity. And only he can prevent the terror from spreading…
 
There are unknown Things prowling the darkest patch of land on the planet. Haunted by creatures that might have emerged from the Hell’s lowest regions, ancient Ultra-Stygia has turned into a cauldron of conflict between rival countries. Monster bats careen through the night sky. Invisible Cyclopes patrol the scorched battleground. And a power beyond understanding robs men of their vision.
 
Can the 20th century’s premier scientist and superman untangle this Gordian knot of carnage before neighboring nations are drawn into an apocalyptic new world war? Or will the Man of Bronze succumb to an unstoppable power he himself has unleashed upon mankind?
 
From the frozen Arctic to the war-torn Balkans, Doc Savage and his fighting five follow a winding trail of terror to a blood-freezing climax.
 
Death’s Dark Domain features a fantastic cover painted by Joe DeVito! Buy it today for only $24.95 from Radio Archives.
 

Back in print after 20 years! The rare Lester Dent-Will Murray collaboration resurrecting the original pulp superman…
 
Also available is the first Altus Press edition of Will Murray’s 1993 Doc Savage adventure, The Forgotten Realm. Deep in the heart of the African Congo lies a secret unsuspected for thousands of years. Doc Savage and his men embark on a quest to discover the secret of the strange individual known only as X Man, X for unknown. Before they come to the end of the trail, they find themselves fighting for their lives like gladiators of old!
 
No one knows who—or what—the strange being who calls himself “X Man” truly is. He was found wandering the ruins of a crumbling Roman fort, dressed in a toga, speaking classical Latin—and clutching a handful of unearthly black seeds.
 
Declared insane, the X Man patiently tends his weird plants until the day, impelled by a nameless terror, he flees Wyndmoor Asylum to unleash a cyclone of violence that is destined to suck the mighty Man of Bronze into the blackest, most unbelievable mystery of his entire career. For far from Scotland lies a domain of death unknown to the world and called by the ancient Latin name of Novum Eboracum—New York!
 
From the wild Scottish moors to the unexplored heart of darkest Africa, Doc Savage and his indomitable men embarked upon a desperate quest for the Forgotten Realm….
 
The Forgotten Realm features a spectacular cover painted by Joe DeVito! Buy it today for only $24.95 from Radio Archives.

By Dr. Art Sippo
 
Doc Savage is overpowered and kidnapped by a gang working for a thug named Santini. A mysterious old man named Dan Thunden has come to Miami looking for someone named Kel Avery. Santini is trying to keep Thunden from contacting Doc Savage, but as usual, Doc turns tables on him and escapes.
 
An investigation reveals that Dan Thunden claims to have been a sailor on a ship that was lost in the Caribbean a century ago. That would make him 131 years old! Santini and his mob had rescued Thunden from the island known as Fear Cay. They had brought something with them that they think is worth millions but Thunden double crossed them and is now out for himself. He is seeking Kel Avery who is his immediate descendant in the hopes that blood is thicker than water and he can share the treasure.
 
By their blundering around, the two factions have gotten Doc Savage involved to their eternal regret. Doc pieces the story together and is shocked at his conclusion. Could Dan Thunden have discovered the Fountain of Youth? What is the mystery to be found on Fear Cay? And what is the ‘crackling death’ that haunts this lost island?
Fear Cay is another classic pulp story from the 1930s. It is full of mysterious menaces, plot twists and turns, and high adventure. This story also features Pat Savage in her second adventure with her famous cousin. This story was serialized by Roger Rittner and Will Murray in the original NPR radio series from the 1980s. It remains one of the most popular stories from the original series and you can enjoy it and another full length Doc Savage tale in Doc Savage Volume 13. Regularly price $12.95, Christmas Special priced through December 13 at $6.47
 
Comments From Our Customers!
 
Barbara Dominguez writes:
In the meanwhile, just wanted to let you know that I have in the past purchased several of your tape sets and they where excelent. I do highly recommend them and look forward to the e-texts which I am sure be must a good since your firm has always offered outstanding products and am delighted to see that you have moved into the electronic word of e-texts etc. even if I do not know how to really use them yet as I am 78 and my eye sight is not what it once was, so please excuse any typos that I did not catch.
 
David Southworth writes:
Thank you! As long as there are newly scanned and edited Operator #5 issues, I’ll keep coming back to buy them!
 
Ian Douglas writes:
I’m a big fan of your website, and especially the ebooks. I have a question. Is there a chance that you’ll be offering some ebooks of another Popular Publications pulp, namely “G-8 and His Battle Aces”? I would certainly be a customer.
 
Trent Reynolds writes:
Love to check this out! Thank you for bringing this great series of the Spider back to print and for e-reader.
 
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
 
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.
 
If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, or if this newsletter has been sent to you in error, please reply to this e-mail with the subject line UN-SUBSCRIBE and your name will immediately be removed from our mailing list.
 
 

GUEST REVIEW-SALMON GETS IN THE RING WITH GOLDEN GATE GLOVES!

  • News
  • December 6, 2012

A FIST Out Of Water Tale

A review of Robert Evans’s Golden Gate Gloves

by  Andrew Salmon

This installment in the great Fight Card series starts off in the reader’s comfort zone. As the goal of recreating the classic pulp fight fiction of yesteryear is the goal of Fight Card, having Golden Gate Gloves begin with part-time fighter, full-time dock worker, Conall O’Quinn working hard at the San Francisco docks is typical of the genre and any fan of this type of fiction could probably finish this story from there: fighting to prove who is the toughest on the dock, trouble with organized crime, a penultimate fight with everything on the line. These are the foundation posts of this type of fiction — any fan knows that going in — and it falls to the writer to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of the formula.


Although Robert Evans, writing as Jack Tunney, begins his tale in this tried and true tradition, with O’Quinn having to fight the dock boss’s son to prove he’s the toughest only to get fired when he meets the challenge, the story then takes a refreshing right hook to the country and the hunt for buried treasure. Yes, you read that right. O’Quinn, in fleeing crooked crime bosses and labor leaders, stumbles upon a treasure map pinpointing buried gold in the abandoned California gold mines.

Only the mines are not abandoned and we are soon treated to a fish (or should I say, fist?) out of water tale with O’Quinn and his partner searching for the lost gold while working for the current owners of the mine. It doesn’t take long for O’Quinn to fall in love with the mine boss’s daughter and it doesn’t take long for the trouble he left in San Francisco to catch up to him while he is left to battle for the hand of the woman he loves.


If it sounds like there’s a lot going on in this stiff jab of a tale, that’s because there is and Evans keeps the pace moving quickly as he introduces us to two distinct settings and casts of characters in 76 pages. The fight scenes are great and you feel every punch as O’Quinn is battling for his life against disreputable opponents. For $2.99 you get your money’s worth in this novella as there’s enough going on here to fill a good size novel. What Evans pulls off so well is to give his tale that full feeling without the needless padding so prevalent in today’s fiction.

Golden Gate Gloves delivers. Check it out.

HANCOCK TIPS HIS HAT TO ‘HUNT AT WORLD’S END’!

  • News
  • December 5, 2012

TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Reviews of All Things Pulp by Tommy Hancock
HUNT AT WORLD’S END
By Nicholas Kaufmann (writing as Gabriel Hunt)
Gabriel Hunt created by Charles Ardai
Published by Leisure Books, 2009
There’s something to be said for archetypes.   We enjoy them, we return to them, many sociologists and psychologists say that they are essential to our survival as individuals and a race.  And being a fan of Heroic Fiction and particularly of Pulp, I am darn glad that writers today believe in archetypes as well and don’t shy away from writing a story around a character who is like some previous creation or reminds readers of that guy in that movie.  Many good tales are written because writers, too, enjoy playing with archetypes.
Enter Gabriel Hunt. 
Created by Charles Ardai, the genius behind the Hard Case Crime books, Gabriel Hunt is one of two brothers whose parents mysteriously disappeared and are believed dead.   The brothers are now entrusted with the operation of the Hunt Foundation, which Gabriel leaves largely to his brother Michael while he travels the globe rescuing lost artifacts from the wrong hands in efforts to give them to museums and, if necessary, saving the world in the process.
Sound a tad familiar?  Yes, there are definite shades of Indiana Jones and other such fortune and glory for museums types in Hunt.  But in this tale that opens with a bar fight in an Explorer’s type club and involves chasing down three jewels and an ancient Hittite device, Hunt definitely steps out as his own character.  This is both a blessing and a curse for the story.
The action is well paced throughout HUNT AT THE WORLD’S END, the third novel in the series, and leaps off the page at the reader.  The characters are engaging, colorful, and run the gamut of beautiful I-Can-Take-Care-of-Myself damsel, over the top villain, and even an ancient cult of scaries with worldwide membership thrown in for good measure.   The build up of and resolution of the adventure is nearly flawless.  And Hunt himself provides a heroic figure that the book revolves around easily.
Mostly.
It seems that many writers feel the need to write characters in Heroic Fiction today that will hopefully have a broader market appeal than typical concepts of Heroes as we see them.  There have to be flaws, there must be angst, there have to be internal complications that give breadth, depth and color to the hero, even in some cases making him seem less than heroic.  This is supposed to, I think, make him appear more heroic when he works his hero mojo.
In HUNT AT THE WORLD’S END, all this sort of characterization, most of it done as internal narration, accomplished was to make Hunt seem insecure, arrogant, and whiny.  The middle of the novel is bogged down with Hunt’s concern over a particular cast member being involved in their hunt, his love or interest or whatever he has in the aforementioned damsel, and there’s even a hint of regret for his chosen life thrown in.  All of this is fine if it’s handled correctly, but the way it’s presented in this book makes Hunt’s subsequent heroic actions seem hollow, false.
Another point about this book- and this is more the writer in me, not the reviewer, complaining- is the fact that it is written under a house name of the lead character.  Gabriel Hunt wrote the book and yet it’s in third person.  It would have been much more affective to have this tale told in first person and would have made some of the above mentioned issues with whininess a little easier for the writer- and the reader- to deal with.
THREE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT- HUNT AT WORLD’S END is a great actioner, wonderfully paced with plenty of derring do and baddies for the good guys to contend with.  I just wish I liked the hero more than I did and that maybe in this instance, the author would have stuck a tad more to the archetype than trying to broaden his reader base (that he was doing that is only my assumption, but still…this is my review).

Review: Little Inferno

The Wii U, released on 11/18, has a good assortment of games available, both in stores and through the Nintendo E-Store.  A happy surprise is the large  number of smaller indie games available on the system, and of them all, the most blissfully wacky is Little Inferno, from the Tomorrow Corporation, makes of World of Goo.  Little Inferno combines the infuriating “What do I DO?” feeling of the open form game, the dark whimsy of a Tim Burton movie, and the purifying warmth of fire, and creates a deceptively simple game that unfolds like an onion in a deep fryer, and is just as delicious.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0TniR3Ghxc]

The game consists of a fireplace, more specifically, the Little Inferno Entertainment Fireplace.  Your job – burn things.  Buy things from a series of catalogs of flammable objects, place them in the furnace, set them aflame, find money contained within, use the money to buy more things to burn.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  As you buy objects, more become available.  As you burn more and more, you begin receiving mail from  the manufacturer, congratulating you on your proficiency.  Letters also begin arriving from another Little Inferno owner who seems to have learned a bit more about the company, and the purpose of the fireplace.

The game is dark, disturbing, and tantalizing.  Exactly WHY does the magnet make the gears in the Fireplace spin faster?  Where did Someone Else’s Credit Card come from, and why can you buy then in almost infinite quantity?  Why is the world getting colder?

For a company as family-friendly as Nintendo to select such a bent little masterpiece for not only a game for its new console, let alone a day-of-release game, is a bold move indeed.  This is a game CLEARLY not for everybody (It’s rated T-for-Teen), but for those who like dark humor, not to mention burning things, it’s a perfect little brain-bender.

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THE SHADOW FAN TAKES ON HITLER’S ASTROLOGER

The Shadow Fan Podcast returns with another action-packed episode! Barry Reese outlines the history of Harry Vincent, reviews Malmordo (1946), Dynamite’s The Shadow # 8, and Marvel’s The Shadow: Hitler’s Astrologer. Listener feedback inspires Barry to go on another rant about the Kent Allard/Shadow identity controversy!

Join the conversation about pulp’s greatest hero today at http://theshadowfan.libsyn.com/hitler-s-astrologer.

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