View Full Version : Pulp Novels
MattPetersen
12/20/2007, 15:19
Is Anyone into Pulp Novels?!?
Doc Savage
The Shadow
The Spider
G-8
Arsen Lupin
The Avenger
Conan
Solomon Kane
And more!!
Right now, as I said in the post asking for this forum, I am reading Conan and LOVING every freaking minute of it!!
Anyone have suggestions? Or have something they want to praise from this era?? Maybe there is a NEW book out that takes place in this era of heroes, if you know about it share ;)
A number of these are also radio series.
MattPetersen
12/20/2007, 15:36
A number of these are also radio series.
Yep, some of them were radio play characters before making the transition to pulp form. Absolutely correct. But once in the novels is where a lot of these characters actually got to shine because stories were not mandated and picked a part as they were on radio (especially by the sponsors).
Have you ever read:
Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics and Radio: How Technology Changed Popular Fiction in America.
pbdeberry
12/20/2007, 16:08
Yeah, our very own Tim Deforest wrote that... aka Kalel.
I have a website called pulpplanet.com it's still in the early stages but it'll be dedicated site to this sorta stuff.
There is a story called Invisible Death by Lin Carter.... I highly recommend you check it out.
Maniac_nmt
12/20/2007, 16:12
I've recently read the 3 collections of REH's Conan; Comming of Conan, Bloody Crown of Conan, and Conan the Cimmerian. Also the collections of his Kull works.
I've read all the Martian Chronicle books by Burroughs, and several of his Tarzan works.
All good stuff, and I'd recommend them to most people.
For OTR, The Shadow, Tarzan, Superman (especially this one), Escape, and Suspense are all good. Lone Ranger could be good at times, but reused to many of the same voice actors. When certain guys spoke you always knew he was the villain, because he'd been one for the past 5-6 episodes.
I've recently read the 3 collections of REH's Conan; Comming of Conan, Bloody Crown of Conan, and Conan the Cimmerian. Also the collections of his Kull works.
I've read all the Martian Chronicle books by Burroughs, and several of his Tarzan works.
All good stuff, and I'd recommend them to most people.
For OTR, The Shadow, Tarzan, Superman (especially this one), Escape, and Suspense are all good. Lone Ranger could be good at times, but reused to many of the same voice actors. When certain guys spoke you always knew he was the villain, because he'd been one for the past 5-6 episodes.
The Green Hornet was the same way for a while. You'd think they had the same writer or something. ;)
readyeddy?
12/21/2007, 06:25
I had a lot of fun reading Robert E. Howard books in the Seventies and Eighties (Solomon Kane and Kull were especially fun).
I loved to read Tarzan and Doc Savage (Man I swear, the art for Doc Savage made him look like he could break rocks with his eyelids. He looked that mean!)
I've got some James Bond and Shadow books somewhere. I recently found some Lensman novels. (The template for the Green Lantern Corp.)
MattPetersen
12/21/2007, 08:50
I had a lot of fun reading Robert E. Howard books in the Seventies and Eighties (Solomon Kane and Kull were especially fun).
I loved to read Tarzan and Doc Savage (Man I swear, the art for Doc Savage made him look like he could break rocks with his eyelids. He looked that mean!)
I've got some James Bond and Shadow books somewhere. I recently found some Lensman novels. (The template for the Green Lantern Corp.)
I have all the Lensmen novels (being a huge Green Lantern fan I had to read them to see where the ideas came from), and they are all a great read.
Triplanetary starts out very slow, as it is the origins of the universe and the Guardians, etc. But First Lensman REALLY kicks it up a notch!!!
CustomCreator
12/21/2007, 13:45
I'm a BIG fan of the pulps, have been as long as I can remember!
For newer stories, you might try the Tales of Masks & Mayhem series; three paperback anthologies of new stories with the pulp feel. (I actually wrote one of the stories in Volume III.)
http://www.buysomebooks.com/store/9781598243994&refer=googlebase
I'm a fan of all the classic pulp series you mentioned, as well as Captain Future, The Mysterious Wu Fang, Moon Man, Domino Lady, and all the others!
(Matt, for a pulp story take on one of your favorite characters, read Fredric Brown's "The New One", available in the recent anthology collection From These Ashes!)
MattPetersen
12/21/2007, 15:05
I'm a BIG fan of the pulps, have been as long as I can remember!
For newer stories, you might try the Tales of Masks & Mayhem series; three paperback anthologies of new stories with the pulp feel. (I actually wrote one of the stories in Volume III.)
http://www.buysomebooks.com/store/9781598243994&refer=googlebase
I'm a fan of all the classic pulp series you mentioned, as well as Captain Future, The Mysterious Wu Fang, Moon Man, Domino Lady, and all the others!
(Matt, for a pulp story take on one of your favorite characters, read Fredric Brown's "The New One", available in the recent anthology collection From These Ashes!)
Hmmmm never head of the Masks and Mayhem series.......excellent!!
I will also look into acquiring "From These Ashes" as you suggested!!
Thanks a bundle!!!
Have you ever read:
Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics and Radio: How Technology Changed Popular Fiction in America.
A brilliant book. I can't recommend it too highly.
You guys have already mentioned a lot of the best stuff. Tarzan has been mentioned--Burroughs' Martian series and Pellucidor series are both excellent. "The Land that Time Forgot" trilogy is arguably his most exciting work. This was reprinted in a single volume recently.
By the way, the original Shadow and Doc Savage novels are being reprinted right now in their own respective monthly magazines. Each issue is a little exspensive ($12.95 each) but each one includes two novels. You can get 'em through your local comic book shop.
CustomCreator
02/26/2008, 16:29
Each issue is a little ex#####ive ($12.95 each) but each one includes two novels.
That is just too frickin' funny. Did you mistype the word and put the "i" before the "s"?
That is just too frickin' funny. Did you mistype the word and put the "i" before the "s"?
That has to be it. I'll edit the post and correct it.
readyeddy?
02/26/2008, 17:06
A brilliant book. I can't recommend it too highly.
You guys have already mentioned a lot of the best stuff. Tarzan has been mentioned--Burroughs' Martian series and Pellucidor series are both excellent. "The Land that Time Forgot" trilogy is arguably his most exciting work. This was reprinted in a single volume recently.
By the way, the original Shadow and Doc Savage novels are being reprinted right now in their own respective monthly magazines. Each issue is a little exspensive ($12.95 each) but each one includes two novels. You can get 'em through your local comic book shop.
Wow Kalel21, it sure took you long enough to find these book threads. Glad to have you involved.
Wow Kalel21, it sure took you long enough to find these book threads. Glad to have you involved.
I just plain didn't notice the Books forum for a long time. :ermm:
readyeddy?
02/26/2008, 17:23
I just plain didn't notice the Books forum for a long time. :ermm:
Well, thirty lashes with a wet noodle for you then. Just keep in mind that your vast knowledge is invaluable in threads like these.
By the way, you wouldn't happen to have the NAME of the author of that book you recommend would you?;) It might make it easier should I order it from Borders.
You mean Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics and Radio? The name of the author of that book is so awesome that I can't type it out without blowing up the Internet.
You mean Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics and Radio? The name of the author of that book is so awesome that I can't type it out without blowing up the Internet.
Its available through BooksaMillion.
There's an online documentary on the Shadow available to download:
The Shadow Knows (http://www.dialbforburbank.com/)
I've only had a chance to see a few minutes of it, but it looks pretty good.
Maniac_nmt
04/02/2008, 17:57
I don't think I'd call James Bond 'pulp' novels though (gardner and benson's work yes, Flemmings no. Oh, and I did not forget to capatalize their names).
James Bond is pretty much just Ian Flemming getting out on more missions.
Flemming did basically everything his character does, and I find it has a much more realistic tone then other pulp novels. Less sensational and more gritty really. Maybe that's just me though.
He was a womanizer with many affairs, he drank (vodka martinnis), smoked, had his own 'Q' branch, fought the Russians, hunted down former Nazis, had a home in Jamaica, etc.
I've read all the Martian Chronicle books by Burroughs, and several of his Tarzan works.
I read the Martian Chronicle books when I was younger and loved them. I'd really like to find a set so I could read them again!
Maniac_nmt
04/04/2008, 17:08
I read the Martian Chronicle books when I was younger and loved them. I'd really like to find a set so I could read them again!
They've reprinted the first three into one volume recently. Similar to the REH collections they've been doing. It binds up the first three of Burrough's Martian Chronicles. If you look around a Barnes and Noble or Borders you might find it, that or ask them about it.
They've reprinted the first three into one volume recently. Similar to the REH collections they've been doing. It binds up the first three of Burrough's Martian Chronicles. If you look around a Barnes and Noble or Borders you might find it, that or ask them about it.
Actually, I just bought a set of all 12 on Ebay for $30. Can't wait til they get here so I can start reading them on the bus on my way to work. :)
A number of them can be found on the Project Gutenberg site, some of them in audio.
Another great E.R.B. series is The Land That Time Forgot and its two sequels: The People That Time Forgot & Out of Time's Abyss. Great action/adventure storytelling and another example of Burroughs' skill at building unique civilizations in which to set his stories.
I did a more detailed entry on this series on my blog today, if anyone wants to take a look.
AlienFlanders
06/05/2008, 20:16
I recently downloaded two Arsene Lupin talking books from librivox.org, great listens.
Spideyrules99
03/31/2010, 15:07
I went to a half price book sotre a couple days ago and found a whole stack of old Shadow and doc savage books. I am really enjoying them. Havnt read all the ones I got but I have a couple days off comming up so I hope to this weekend.
some more modern pulp books worth a look...agent 13=by flint dille
strange tales of the nile empire=by greg gorden..runespear=by victor milan..also indiana jones series= by rob mcgegor...
Spideyrules99
03/31/2010, 19:10
For people who enjoy pulp there is a great rpg called Spirt of the Century. It is really good, the heroes and villains have a great pulp feel and a couple sample adventures. And it gives a breif history of the events of the time to give people ideas for stories. If you have a good gaming group it a very fun way to spend a night.
readyeddy?
04/27/2010, 23:22
I just finished reading Tarzan and the Jewels Of Opar the other day.
I'd read it when I was a kid but I barely remembered it.
MattPetersen
04/28/2010, 01:23
So has anyone read any of the First Wave comics yet?
DC is now writing stories on a "Pulp" Earth. No Super Powers, just Pulp Heroes.
Doc Savage, The Spirit and The Batman are all there!!
readyeddy?
04/28/2010, 01:29
So has anyone read any of the First Wave comics yet?
DC is now writing stories on a "Pulp" Earth. No Super Powers, just Pulp Heroes.
Doc Savage, The Spirit and The Batman are all there!!
I've got that one but Doc Savage is clearly super powered if he's manhandling an adult male lion without any injury to himself. These guys need to get real writers for these things.
MaxFortune
04/28/2010, 09:10
So has anyone read any of the First Wave comics yet?
DC is now writing stories on a "Pulp" Earth. No Super Powers, just Pulp Heroes.
Doc Savage, The Spirit and The Batman are all there!!
I've read everything so far (including the one-shot several months ago) and I've found it all to be pretty "meh". The setting seems to be a weird mix of 1930's and present day, which tells me that the creative team just couldn't be bothered to do the research. They threw out everything related to Justice Inc. except for the character names and started completely from scratch. I'll grant that the Doc Savage story from the first issue was fun, but everything else so far has been pretty lackluster.
AlienFlanders
04/28/2010, 09:44
I liked Denny O'Neil's story in the Spirit.
MaxFortune
04/28/2010, 09:51
I liked Denny O'Neil's story in the Spirit.
The story was fine. The art was da suk -- I used to drive an old beater with a scratched paintjob that looked better.
I agree.
I was very excited Denny O'Neil wrote it, but the art work was so ugly I wanted to gouge my eyes out.
The story was fine. The art was da suk -- I used to drive an old beater with a scratched paintjob that looked better.
MattPetersen
04/29/2010, 13:02
It's pretty disheartening to hear that for the most part the First Wave stuff isn't very good.
That troubles me as I want it to succeed.
I haven't picked up any of my books yet so I haven't read them which is why I asked.
I have high hopes that it will find its footing and get better!!
I was also turned off by the amorphous sort-of modern time setting in the "First Wave" books. I liked the selection of characters they picked to inhabit the universe. A firm late 1940s setting might have worked--that would have allowed them to include the original Blackhawks--rather than the 2nd generation team they ended up using.
Even better, have a 1930s setting, using the original Blackhawks with an alternate pre-WWII origin. (Joined together to fight the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War, perhaps?).
MaxFortune
04/29/2010, 13:31
that would have allowed them to include the original Blackhawks--rather than the 2nd generation team they ended up using.
...who may actually be villains (judging by the wording in the previews of upcoming issues). :disappointed::angry:
My "new comic" reading days may be numbered. Judging by a recent Alex Ross interview I think they just made a fundamental mistake in the plotting of Project Superpowers. Power Girl is losing the creative team which made the book so good, the new JSA books have been OK but not spectacular, and First Wave's mainly been just bad. That's pretty much everything I'm reading these days, so I may wind up just sticking with DC reprints and the Marvel "40 Years of _____" DVDs I purchased a couple of years ago.
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