Pulp of the Week - Doc Savage #6

August, 1933 - The Red Skull

This is the first Doc Savage Western, in that the villains are all cowboys. An unknown person is trying to stop construction of a hydroelectric damn in Arizona - Red Skull Canyon to be specific. One of the partners tries to contact Doc Savage to get his assistance, but his agent is stopped and Monk's gorgeous secretary is kidnapped. Doc and the fabulous 5 must track down the men and rescue Lea Aster.

This is very much a free-standing adventure. In the Bantam paperpack, at least, there is no reference to any other adventure previous or subsequent.

There are a few new gadgets and character bits in this book. Monk and Lea speak from Monk's private laboratory to the 86th floor via Televisiphone. Lea Aster herself is a never before seen character. She is described as blonde, tall, beautiful, and athletically fit. Monk boasts he had the, "prettiest secretary in New York."

It is mentioned specifically that Doc is not emotional. Previously, Doc was jovial, wry, and spoke with occasional humor. Doc is working at controlling his emotions.

Johnny's left eye is now said to be useless from a war injury. Previously it was diminished in use.

Dent uses the phrase, "Top hats and claw-hammer coats." I hadn't head this bit of slang for a tuxedo before and I quite like it. While the writing is good in this adventure it is a bit of lesser effort after the last two books. I don't think this will make many Top 10 Doc adventure lists, but it is no dog either. I was pretty sure of the identity of the villain, but there were just enough red herrings thrown in that I wasn't certain.

I'll give this book a 6 out of 10. Last time I was boasting 5 Docs in 3 months. That was in April, and now I am at a one a month average... This could take 15 years...



For this review I read my copy of the Bantam Paperback #17, 2nd Printing May 1967.

The Bantam cover is by James Bama. The Pulp cover is by Walter Baumhofer.


© 2009 W. Peter Miller

Just Released - Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Vol. 1

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Vol. 1
Published by Cornerstone Books
Produced by Ron Fortier, Airship 27 Productions

This volume contains five new classic mysteries starring the world's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion, Dr.Watson. Writers Aaron Smith, Andrew Salmon, Van Allen Plexico and I.A. Watson put forth clever, twisted puzzles that only the Baker Street sleuth can unravel. Edited by Ron Fortier, interior illustrations and design by Rob Davis with a stunning cover by Mark Maddox. Once again, the game is afoot!

Pulp of the Week - G-8 and his Battle Aces #2

November 1933 - Purple Aces

In the second issue of G-8 our heroes go up against the mysterious Purple Aces, a squadron of pilots that have turned against their homeland and will fight to the death with no fear for their own lives.

The novel takes G-8 deep into German folklore to uncover the secrets of the purple staffel. Once again G-8 is fighting a bizarre menace, once again a mad genius is fighting for the Kaiser to defeat the allies and conquer Europe.

The story begins with a pilot crashing a Fokker into an allied airfield. The pilot is pulled from the wreckage, still alive, but with a purple spade on his forehead. The purple spreads, covering his entire face and the pilot expires after giving a warning. The Germans are coming to bomb the airbase. The Purple Aces are coming and will gladly die to complete their mission. Just as the pilot is going to give the location of the Purple Aces airfield, he expires.

G-8 is brought in to solve the mystery of the purple faces. It's another great yarn from Robert J. Hogan. I really like these books. I'm glad I have a few more of the Vintage New Media reprints. They also have selected issues available as PDFs. For this review I read my Berkley paperback dated May 1970.

Once again I would like to thank Bill Mann for compiling his awesome G-8 and his Battle Aces Cover Gallery. Bill also publishes a nice line of Air War pulp reprints under his Age of Aces Books imprint.


The paperback cover is by Jim Steranko and the Pulp cover is, of course, by Frederick Blakeslee, who did all the pulp covers.


© 2009 W. Peter Miller

Pulp Factory Awards Announced

ANNOUNCING THE PULP FACTORY AWARDS


For the past two years, pulp writer and editor Ron Fortier has been moderating a Yahoo group known as the Pulp Factory, dedicated to the creation of new pulp stories. It is currently made up of thirty-six members, among them writers, artists and devoted pulp fans. Recently the group decided it was high time to shine a bright light on the resurgence of new pulp fiction and art that has exploded across the literary field.

With the advent of companies such as Moonstone Books, Age of Adventure, Black Coat Press, Airship 27, Wild Cat Books, and Altus Press, there have been hundreds of new pulp short stories and dozens of original pulp novels released in the past few years. This resurgence warrants serious attention and support. The established pulp groups and organizations, and their awards, continue to recognize only past creators and ignore the talented newcomers who are revitalizing the entire pulp community. The Pulp Factory Awards were inaugurated to publicly support, encourage and applaud the creation of new pulp fiction and art.

There will be four separate awards handed out annually; Best New Pulp Short Story, Best New Pulp Novel, Best New Pulp Interior Illustrations, and Best New Pulp Cover Art. Starting in January of 2010, the Pulp Factory members will nominate candidates in the four categories and then, after a final ballot is determined, cast their vote. Winners will be notified and public announcements made. Windy City Pulp & Paper Convention promoter, Doug Ellis, was thrilled and delighted to offer the 2010 Windy City show as the venue for the first ever Pulp Factory Awards presentation. The physical award is a small statue in the shape of interconnecting gears with a pen embedded into them; the pen symbolizing both a writing quill and drawing pencil. (See accompanying sketch.)

In making this announcement, Fortier wanted it made absolutely clear that the Pulp Factory group is not affiliated with any one publishing company and all its members are freelancers who have been published by multiple outfits. All new pulp fiction and art published in 2009, regardless of the source, will be eligible for these awards. "All of our members are extremely excited about this program and anxious to get it under way," he said happily in a recent interview. "We think this is a good thing for all of pulpdom."

Any person or group wanting more information on The Pulp Factory Awards is asked to contact Fortier directly at (Airship27@comcast.net). They are very receptive to any positive support in this new venture.

Privateer Press Game Announcement

Privateer Press Announces Scrappers

From the press release:

Bellevue WA. May 26, 2009—Following the success of their critically acclaimed family card game Infernal Contraption, Privateer Press is pleased to announce Scrappers, a family board game for 2–4 players ages 9 and up. In Scrappers players take on the role of lively goblin mechanics as they race around a factory trying to pull parts off a constantly moving conveyor belt in order to complete their contraptions. Featuring stunning full-color artwork from Privateer Press artist Chris Walton, Scrappers is scheduled for worldwide release in September 2009, and will feature English, Italian, German, Spanish, and French translations.

“The game features fast, intuitive game play that takes only minutes to learn, but presents a strategic depth that will challenge both new young players and seasoned veterans alike,” said Privateer Press Chief Creative Officer Matt Wilson when asked about the new Bodgers game, “Add to that the maniacal and zany cast of the Bodgers goblin mechanics and Scrappers is a game everyone will want to play again and again.”

For more information on Scrappers and the Bodgers game line visit the Privateer Web Site.

Okko - Revised Red Algae Card

In the Okko: Yakuza Hazu Akai set there is a typo in the Red Algae card. I have made a fixed card that you can slip in a sleeve with the real card.


Okko and all related images are trademarks of Hazgaard Editions and Asmodée Editions and HUB © Hazgaard Editions and Asmodée Editions and HUB. All Rights Reserved.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Is on Hiatus

Due to a number of issues I need to spend time on (including a writing project I will discuss later) I will not be able to post my usual Tannhäuser feature for the next few weeks. I will still be putting up a few Pulp of the Week, etc.