PULP EMPIRE MAKES OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Since 2010, Pulp Empire publishing has created quarterly anthologies featuring dozens of stories by new pulp authors. The success of the recent Pirates & Swashbucklers anthology leads in to Pulp Empire’s publishing initiative for 2012: new anthologies backed by a cohesive theme!

First, Pulp Empire introduces the world to Heroes of Mars. The new anthology offers writers a chance to tell tales in the world of Barsoom, the now public domain world originally created by writer Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. Stories will tell tales from all over Burroughs’ sword and science saga. Submissions are due on December 31, 2011.

Modern Pulp Heroes has a concept as straight forward as its title. The anthology will feature stories of true blue pulp heroes but placed in a modern 21st century setting. Characters don’t have to be masked, but Pulp Empire wants to see a real high adventure setting with heroes in a contemporary setting. Submissions are due on March 15, 2012.

Today we also announce our third anthology, Aliens Among Us. This anthology will feature tales of humans in any non-future setting as they learn that aliens exist and very well walk among us. This can take the form of alien invasion scenarios, abductions, friendships or whatever an author sees their human/alien relationship to be. Submissions are due on April 30, 2012.

For details on all these anthologies, please visit Pulp Empire’s submissions page.  http://pulpempire.com/submissions/

Paul Mannering's TANKBREAD Now Available

Paul Mannering's new novel, TANKBREAD is now available now in Kindle format at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006F820M2
Paperback edition coming soon.

About Tankbread, a novel by Paul Mannering.

Ten years ago humanity lost the war for survival against a spreading plague that brought the dead back to life as flesh eating monsters.

Now intelligent zombies rule the world. Feeding the undead a steady diet of cloned people called Tankbread, the survivors live in a dangerous world on the brink of final extinction.

One outlaw courier must go on a journey through the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Australia. Fighting his way into the very heart of the apocalypse in the desperate search for a way to save the last humans and destroy the undead threat.

His only companion is a girl with an extraordinary secret. Her name is Else and she's Tankbread.

Praise for Tankbread:
Paul Mannering's TANKBREAD is a guts and glory joyride into very dark territory. Very nasty and lots of fun!"
~ Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of DEAD OF NIGHT and DUST & DECAY

Mannering's take on the post-zombie apocalypse is scarifyingly real. Baked dog while you take orders from your zombie master anyone? Sink your teeth into an Australia where the zombies are in charge - you
won't be disappointed.
~ Rocky Wood, author of STEPHEN KING: A LITERARY COMPANION and HORRORS! GREAT STORIES OF FEAR AND THEIR CREATORS

"Tankbread reads like a tick-list of genre staples: tens of thousands of zombies, a brave, wise-cracking warrior hero, a beautiful woman who might just hold the key to everything, mad scientists, and even a knight in shining armour and a helicopter-piloting mother superior thrown into the mix! And yet the whole is far greater than the sum of its disparate parts. Tankbread is a blast from start to finish. A breathless, country-crossing zombie epic - kind of like Mad Max colliding head on with Dawn of the Dead. Mixing great action scenes, laugh-out loud moments, copious amounts of horror and lead characters you really grow to give a damn about, Tankbread is a unique and very entertaining entry in the over-saturated zombie genre. Read it and enjoy it - I did."
~ David Moody, author of the AUTUMN and HATER series.

For more on Paul Mannering's Tankbread, visit http://tankbread.blogspot.com/
Paul Mannering's Tankbread is now available for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006F820M2

New Pulp’s Table Talk - Researching the Voices in our Heads

This week, Barry Reese, Bobby Nash, and Mike Bullock discuss working on obscure characters, particularly for the upcoming Pulp Obscura anthology line and then toss out their bucket list anthology dreams for everyone to share.

New Pulp’s Table Talk - Researching the Voices in our Heads is now available at http://www.newpulpfiction.com/ or at the direct link: http://www.newpulpfiction.com/2011/11/table-talk-researching-voices-in-our.html

Join the conversation. Leave us a comment on the blog and let us know your thoughts on this topic. We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions.

Dynamite Entertainment Releases an Extended Preview of QUEEN SONJA #25

Cover: Chasen Grieshop

Dynamite Entertainment has released a preview of the upcoming QUEEN SONJA #25, which debuts November 30^th wherever you buy your favorite comic book entertainment.
Click on images for a larger view.

Cover: Lucio Parrillo

QUEEN SONJA #25
32 pages FC • $4.99 • Teen +
Written by LUKE LIEBERMAN
Art by FRITZ CASAS
Covers by LUCIO PARRILLO (50%), CHASEN GRIESHOP (50%)

An over-sized anniversary issue! The final battle for the throne, the fate of an empire hangs in the balance! All loyalties tested and schemes lain bare in the final showdown between Queen Sonja and Emperor Antonious!

To learn more about Dynamite Entertainment, please visit http://www.dynamite.net/.
Look for QUEEN SONJA #25 in stores November 30^th.

Dynamite Entertainment Releases an Extended Preview of WARLORD OF MARS: FALL OF BARSOOM #4

Cover: Francesco Francavilla

Dynamite Entertainment has released a preview of the upcoming WARLORD OF MARS: FALL OF
BARSOOM #4, which debuts November 30^th wherever you buy your favorite comic book entertainment.
Click on images for a larger view.

WARLORD OF MARS: FALL OF BARSOOM #4
32 pages FC • $3.99 • Teen +
Written by ROBERT PLACE NAPTON
Art by ROBERTO CASTRO
Covers by JOE JUSKO (main), FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (1-in-10)
"Black & White" Retailer incentive cover by JOE JUSKO
"Virgin Art" Retailer incentive cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

Cover: Joe Jusko

100,000 YEARS BEFORE THE TIME OF JOHN CARTER! A tribe of Red Martians attacks the Atmosphere Plant just as it's about to go operational. Meanwhile, the savage Warhoon march on the last stronghold of the Orovar -- the city of Horz--determined to wipe the White Martians from the face Mars.
This is the penultimate chapter in the Fall of Barsoom!

To learn more about Dynamite Entertainment, please visit http://www.dynamite.net/.

Look for WARLORD OF MARS: FALL OF BARSOOM #4 in stores November 30^th.

Dynamite Entertainment Releases an Extended Preview of FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1

Wraparound Cover Art: Francesco Francavilla

Cover: Alex Ross

Dynamite Entertainment has released a preview of the upcoming FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1, which debuts November 30^th wherever you buy your favorite comic book entertainment.

Click on images for a larger view.

Cover: Francesco Francavilla

FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1
32 pages FC • Full issue introductory price $1.00 • Teen +
Written by ERIC TRAUTMANN
Plot and Art Direction by ALEX ROSS
Art by DANIEL INDRO
Covers by ALEX ROSS (75%), PAUL RENAUD (25%), FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (1-in-10), WAGNER REIS (1-in-25)
"Negative Effect Art" Retailer Incentive cover by ALEX ROSS
"Retro Original Art" Retailer Incentive cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
"Black & White" Retailer Incentive cover by PAUL RENAUD

Cover: Wagner Reis

"Sketch Art" Retailer Incentive cover by ALEX ROSS
The year is 1934, a time of two-fisted swashbuckling, of fearsome threats and wild adventure—and of ever-growing threats on the horizon.

Three valiant humans -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov -- are plucked from the Earth, traveling to the distant planet Mongo. Their exploits are legendary, battling the machinations and terror schemes of the dreaded emperor Ming, the All-Seeing Ruler of Mongo. But they did not fight alone…

Written by Eric Trautmann (Vampirella, Red Sonja), from a story and designs by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Project Superpowers), and illustrated by Daniel Lindro (Sherlock Holmes: Year One).

To learn more about Dynamite Entertainment, please visit http://www.dynamite.net/.

Cover: Paul Renaud

Look for FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1 in stores November 30^th.

PULP 2.0'S DECEMBER RELEASE GETS PRESS!

FROM PULP 2.O PRESS
Our December release gets mentioned in The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandra-holzer/dark-horse-comics-and-imp_b_1113203.html


A 25th Anniversary Edition of your Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula graphic novel, Scarlet in Gaslight, is being published in December. How does that make you feel?

Very lucky! Scarlet in Gaslight has been, in many ways, my most significant book since it was the start of everything for me. This was during the Black and White Glut of the 1980s, as it was called, and I never ever thought the book would survive beyond that time. This will be its seventh printing. Miraculously, it's never been out of print, and continues to enjoy a new life. The Washington Post recently gave the book a very flattering review. Sherlock Holmes has been very good to me.

HEY! I'LL TAKE IT!

Coming to you in December via Pulp 2.0 Press. The graphic novel The Washington Post said is, " ...more satisfyingly cinematic than many of the movies"

WHITE ROCKET BOOKS' BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS EXPLODES ONTO KINDLE

Cover Art: James Burns

Just in time for Cyber Monday, the Kindle Edition of White Rocket Books’ new anthology series,
Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars is now available for purchase at Amazon for the low, low price of $2.99.
Direct link: http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Thunder-on-Mars-ebook/dp/B006FBRHG8
Print editions will follow in about two weeks.

ABOUT BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS:
Betrayed and left for dead on the battlefield, US Army General John Blackthorn awakens many thousands of years later to find himself trapped amidst the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Mars, his only companions a savage Mock-Man and a mysterious sorceress.

Their war to free this strange new world from oppression won’t be easy: Arrayed against them are the four tyrannical First Men--masters of magic and technology alike--the dreaded Sorcerers of Mars!

BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS is a post-apocalyptic adventure saga in the spirit of "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "John Carter of Mars," featuring original stories by New Pulp luminaries Mark Bousquet, Joe Crowe, Bobby Nash, James Palmer, Van Allen Plexico, Sean Taylor, and I. A. Watson, and illustrated by Chris Kohler.

"Original, entertaining, action-packed!" --Wayne Reinagel, author of the Pulp Heroes and Modern Marvels novels.

BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS
Cover by James Burns
Interior art by Chris Kohler
Stories by Mark Bousquet, Bobby Nash, James Palmer, Van Allen Plexico, Sean Taylor, and I.A. Watson. Bonus e-book stories by Mark Beaulieu and Danny Wall.
Created and edited by Van Allen Plexico.

In the spirit of "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "John Carter of Mars," it's action and adventure as General Blackthorn and his companions battle the tyrannical Sorcerers of Mars!

Art: Chris Kohler

The Kindle Edition of White Rocket Books’ new anthology series, Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars is now available for purchase at Amazon for the low, low price of $2.99.
Direct link: http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Thunder-on-Mars-ebook/dp/B006FBRHG8

Print editions will follow in about two weeks.

UPDATED TO ADD OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE.

Press Release – For Immediate Release

BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS debuts first on Kindle!

General Blackthorn and his Companions Battle Evil-- on Amazon’s Popular e-Reader
(November 28, 2011)  White Rocket Books proudly announces the release
in Kindle format of BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS, a science fiction
action-adventure anthology set on far-future post-apocalyptic Mars.

Created by Van Allen Plexico (Sentinels, Lucian), the book features
stories by New Pulp luminaries Mark Bousquet, Joe Crowe, Bobby Nash,
James Palmer, Sean Taylor, I. A. Watson, and Plexico, along with six
full-page illustrations by Chris Kohler (Sentinels).  In addition, the
Kindle edition includes two bonus stories not included in the upcoming
trade paperback edition, by Mark Beaulieu and Danny Wall.  Cover art
and design are by James Burns (Lance Star: One Shot).

The book will debut in trade paperback format later in December of this year.
In the spirit of “Thundarr the Barbarian” and “John Carter of Mars”
comes the gripping saga of US General John Blackthorn.  Betrayed and
left for dead on the battlefield, Blackthorn awakens many thousands of
years later to find himself trapped amidst the ruins of a
post-apocalyptic Mars, his only companions a savage Mock-Man and a
mysterious sorceress.  They battle to free this strange new world from
oppression, but it won’t be easy, for arrayed against them are the
tyrannical First Men:  the Black Sorcerer, the Sorcerer of Fatal
Laughter, Lord Ruin, and the Sorcerer of Night—masters of magic and
technology alike—the dreaded Sorcerers of Mars!

“The awesome array of talent assembled on this book really speaks for
itself, and guarantees a fun time will be had by all,” promises Editor
Van Allen Plexico.  “Each of the writers jumped on the project with
huge enthusiasm and each brought something unique and very exciting to
the table.  And there’s no question Chris Kohler, who is also interior
artist on my Sentinels superhero novels, has done some of the best
work of his career here with BLACKTHORN.”

Says noted New Pulp author Wayne Reinagel, “BLACKTHORN is one of the
best sword-and-sorcery spaceman anthologies to arrive on Earth, or
Mars, in the last century or more.  Clearly inspired by an equal
combination of Hanna-Barbera’s ‘Thundarr the Barbarian,’ DC Comics’
‘Kamandi,’ and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ ‘John Carter of Mars,’ BLACKTHORN
is an original, entertaining, action-packed saga.”

The Kindle edition presents all seven core stories in their entirety,
including the double-length origin, along with two bonus stories not
included in the upcoming trade paperback, plus Chris Kohler’s
artwork—and all at the incredibly low price of only $2.99.

White Rocket Books is a leader in the New Pulp movement, publishing
exciting action and adventure novels and anthologies since 2005, in
both traditional and electronic formats.   White Rocket books have hit
the Amazon.com Top 15-by-Genre and have garnered praise from everyone
from Marvel Comics Editor Tom Brevoort to Kirkus Reviews.

On sale as of November 28, 2011, BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS is a
$2.99 e-book from White Rocket Books.
http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/

On Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Thunder-on-Mars-ebook/dp/B006FBRHG8

Promo video clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRvtgCzEY6s

Front cover image:
http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/blackthorn/blackthorn_front_mock.jpg

JENKINS RELEASES A 'GREATEST HITS'! AND IT'S ON SALE TODAY!

From Joel Jenkins-

One day only (that's 11/28 until the morning of 11/29), get 30% off my just-released book, The Gantlet Brothers Greatest Hits. Normally,
you're looking at $11.95 (still a bargain in my completely biased
estimation), but if you follow this link (
https://www.createspace.com/3621701 ) and use the discount code 5YRZ6A8W you get 30% off the cover price.

So what's the book about? Here's the back cover blurb:

"From the broken and dusty terrain of Egypt's Qattara Depression to
the grimy underbelly of New York City, erstwhile rock musicians and
guns for hire, the Gantlet Brothers, use charm, blades, bullets, and
fists to plow a path through amorous starlets with ill intentions,
bounty hunters, a deranged serial killer and terrorists hell-bent on
bringing down nuclear annihilation.

These are the Gantlet Brothers' greatest hits collected for the first
time and including two never before published stories."

This book is just released so there are no reviews out yet. However,
the inestimable Ron Fortier wrote a piece on the previous Gantlet
Brother novel, The Nuclear Suitcase which you can still find at the
Pulp Fiction Review Website.
http://pulpfictionreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/nuclear-suitcase.html

Conan The Barbarian (1982) Movie Review

1982

Universal Pictures

Directed by John Milius

Produced by Buzz Feitshans and Raffaella De Laurentiis

Written by John Milius and Oliver Stone

Based on the character/stories created and written by Robert E. Howard

I knew that director John Milius and his screenplay co-writer Oliver Stone got the character of Conan five minutes into the movie.  During the opening credits we see Conan’s father (William Smith) forging a mighty sword.  He then takes the young Conan (Jorge Sanz) to the top of a mountain.  He explains how The Riddle of Steel was stolen from Crom, the god of Cimmeria and that Conan must learn The Riddle of Steel for himself because as his dad succinctly sums up: “For no one in the world can you trust.  Not men, not women, not beasts.  But this-“ and he holds up the gleaming sword.  “-this you can trust.”

It’s not long after this that Conan’s parents, along with all the other adults in his village are slaughtered by the servants of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) a powerful sorcerer who is also the leader of a cult that worships the snake god Set.  Conan, along with other children are taken as slaves and chained to The Wheel of Pain, a gigantic mill which they push night and day, through weather fair and foul.  It’s torturous work but it has its benefits.  The young Conan grows up into Arnold Schwarzenegger as pushing that damn thing has built up muscles of Herculean proportions.  He’s bought by The Hyborian Age’s version of a fight promoter and wins fame as a gladiator.  He’s freed by his master and after meeting up with the master thief and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez) takes up a career as a thief himself.

It’s during their attempt to infiltrate The Tower of The Serpent and steal The Eye of The Serpent that Conan meets swordswoman and thief Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) who will become the great love of his life.  It’s their successful and daring theft that brings them to the attention of King Osric (Max von Sydow) who hires the trio to rescue his daughter from The Cult of Set.  While Valeria and Subotai see this as a chance for a really big payday, Conan has his sights on taking the head of Thulsa Doom.

Now, you can say whatever you want about CONAN THE BARBARIAN but it won’t faze me because if nothing else, John Milius and Oliver Stone respected Robert E. Howard’s enough that they obviously not only read his stories but incorporated elements of some of those stories into the movie including what is probably the most famous scene in any Conan story; his crucifixion and his killing of a vulture pecking at his flesh with nothing but his bare teeth. 

This movie, along with “The Terminator” launched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career and it’s easy to see why.  Schwarzenegger at that time looked like he was designed by Frank Frazetta and he inhabits the role as well as Sean Connery did with James Bond or Michael Keaton did with Batman.  For those who claim that Schwarzenegger can’t act, I point out a terrific scene where Conan, Valeria and Subotai plan their assault on Doom’s stronghold.  While Bergman and Lopez have all the dialog, Schwarzenegger says far more than they do in the way he’s sharpening his sword.  And even though Schwarzenegger gets a lot of mocking for his dialog and accent in this movie, I like it.  I mean, the guy does sound like a barbarian from pre-history.   In fact, I like it that 90% of the characters have accents in this movie as they do sound as if they come from another age rather than modern day Californians playing dress up.

The supporting cast is outstanding.  James Earl Jones infuses Thulsa Doom with enormous presence and a true sense of not being entirely human.  His henchmen, played by Sven-Ole Thorson and Ben Davison are suitably impressive.   Bergman and Lopez back up Schwarzenegger well and create their own characters in some really wonderful intimate moments such as the one where Subotai tells the wizard Akiro (Mako) that since Conan, as a Cimmerian will not cry to show grief, Subotai must do it for him.  Mako contributes comedy relief without being buffoonish or degrading his own character.  But that’s to be expected because Mako is epic in everything he does.

And speaking of epic, the musical score by Basil Poledouris has become respected as one of the finest musical scores ever and rightly so.  A large part of the enjoyment of watching CONAN THE BARBARIAN comes from the sheer power of the score.  Poledouris also has done the scores for “Quigley Down Under” and “Lonesome Dove” that are easily as epic as the one for this movie.

So should you see CONAN THE BARBARIAN? No doubt you already have.  It’s one of those movies that everybody and their mother has seen, it seems.  Even chicks who normally shun this type of movie like it was the Ebola virus have seen CONAN THE BARBARIAN.  It’s violent, it’s raw, it’s sexy, and it’s fun.   There’s an excellent reason why CONAN THE BARBARIAN is rightly regarded as a classic.  It truly is inspired by the spirit of Robert E. Howard in a way that the recent remake never even comes close to.  If you’ve seen it, what the hell…watch it again.  And if you haven’t, I envy you discovering it for the first time.  Enjoy.

129 minutes

Rated R

New Babel Books Opens New eStore

Press Release:

New Babel opens their eStore at http://www.newbabelbooks.com/estore.

Awesome books at awesome prices!
All without battling the mall mobs!

New Babel welcomes Black Friday with an eStore! Debuting on the virtual shelves are Sara M. Harvey’s romantic tale, Seven Times a Woman, in the new release line-up alongside Ian T. Healy’s superhero novel, Just Cause. For more superhero pathos, check out Frank Fradella’s new release of Swan Song, the first full-length novel in the award-winning iHero Universe.

The highly-anticipated zombie book, The Apocalypse of Enoch by Shane Moore will also be available for pre-order at a price so low you’ll think the zombies ate our brains.

We’ll also have Frank Fradella’s The Power Within and Sean Taylor’s Show Me a Hero, two iHero omnibuses, and Elizabeth Donald’s short story collection, Setting Suns.

And here's the best part — from now through Monday, November 28, 2011 plug in the code "NBB-Black" at checkout and they'll get 25% off everything in the store (except shipping). This sale also includes the already low-priced ebooks.

The coupon expires on Monday, so poke your audience with something hot and sharp and get them moving!

Visit the New Babel eStore at http://www.newbabelbooks.com/estore.

FORTIER TAKES ON THE MERKABAH RIDER A SECOND TIME!

ALL PULP REVIEWS by Ron Fortier

MERKABAH RIDER

The Mensch With No Name

By Edward M. Erdelac

Damanation Books, LLC

218 pages

Perhaps the most popular sub-genre in the resurgence of new pulp fiction is that of the weird western. It seems everywhere one turns these days; another publisher is coming out with another anthology which combines the cowboy classic setting with all manner of bizarre and horrible trappings.  None is more effective and original than Edward M. Erdelac’s Merkabh Rider series.  In his first book, “Tales of a High Plains Drifter” we were introduced to the Rider, last of an order of Jewish mystics searching a demon infested west on the trail of his teacher, who betrayed and massacred the order known as the Sons of Essenes.  In this second volume, the Rider’s travails continue through four new adventures.

In “The Infernal Napoleon”, the Rider finds himself in an out of the way watering hole used by freight haulers.  Here, in this desolate way station he’s set upon by a vengeance seeking demonic dwarf who controls a satanic canon and is willing to destroy dozens of innocent lives to achieve his ends.  But in all things, there is a balance and the aid of a young Samson-like strongman may tilt the odds in the Rider’s favor.  The action is fast and brutal and sets the tone for the entire book.

Next is “The Damned Dingus.” During a train robbery by a group of dim witted varmints, the Rider’s unique Volcanic pistol is stolen. With the aid of the famous gunfighter, Doc Holiday, and an experienced deputy marshal, the Rider travels to an abandoned mine in the high country and encounters the savage menace of an invisible monster capable of ripping men and horses to pieces.  What is it the creature is protecting and what is its connection to his old teacher’s twisted plans?

Leaving Arizona, the Rider learns he has been labeled a wanted outlaw with a bounty on his head.  Fleeing into New Mexico, he encounters a band of Apaches battling an age old horror that dwells beneath the earth.  Here Erdelac takes a page from H. P. Lovecrafts’ canon in using the evil Old Ones from beyond the stars as the threat and only the Rider and his arcane skills can free the territory of the vile and corrupted She-Demon in the episode called appropriately, “The Outlaw Gods.” Before it is finished, the Rider will have led an army of Spanish ghosts in an epic battle across the astral plane.

Finally, still assailed by Queen Lilith’s invisible sprites that are draining away his life essence, the Rider is found by Kabede; a Merkabah Rider from a secret Ethiopian sect of the Sons of Essenes.  Kabede convinces the Rider that the answers to Adon’s diabolical plan, the meaning behind the so called Hour of Incursion, can only be answered by the Prince of Hell, Satan and they must travel to Hell in astral form.  Erdelac’s depiction of the various levels of Gehena are as evocative as Milton’s own “Paradise Lost” and deftly combine Judeo/Christian tradition with other prehistoric myths.  In the end, he weaves a complicated but amazing tapestry of mankind’s ongoing quest to explain the meaning of creation and the eternal conflict between faith and hopelessness.  By the end of this final chapter, the Rider and his new companion have set into motion actions which will either lead to their defeat at the hands of Adon and his minions, or a miraculous victory against the forces of alien damnation.  Calling this finale a cliffhanger is a major understatement.

“MERKABAH RIDER – The Mensch With No Name” is a terrific continuation of an exciting saga this reviewer imagines will culminate in a third and final volume.  This is easily some of the finest western/horror/action writing on the market today and comes highly recommended.  The Merkabah Rider is truly a pulp hero like no other.

NEW DOC AUDIO BOOK, MORE PULP BOOK GOODNESS, HARRY LIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ALL AT RADIO ARCHIVES!

November 25, 2011

Our Gift to You! Christmas Treasure Chest Deals!

The Treasure Chest overflows at Christmastime! It's busting at the seams with DVDs! Radio Archives has put all of our DVDs in the chest and priced at a 50% discount! Just in time for the Holidays!

 

Dig deep into our Treasure Chest Today! Many of these great DVDs will sell out quickly at this tremendous discount! When they're gone, they're gone! Thrill to vintage movies starring classic Hollywood stars! Enjoy classic Television Programs! Give the gift of memories of yesteryear this Holiday Season!

 

 

We have two very special items in the Treasure Chest waiting for you!

 

'A Classic Christmas' with Ed Sullivan on DVD for only 99 cents and the Famous Guest Stars two hour CD set for only Ten Cents. There's enough of these two products for everyone to enjoy them this Holiday Season.

 

Merry Christmas from Radio Archives!

 

NEW Radio Set: The Lives of Harry Lime, Volume 4

Zither music. A gun shot. And a haunting baritone voice. "That was the shot that killed Harry Lime. He died in a sewer beneath Vienna, as those of you know who saw the movie "The Third Man". Yes, that was the end of Harry Lime - but it was not the beginning. Harry Lime had many lives - and I can recount all of them. How do I know? Very simple: because my name is Harry Lime." This opening, considered one of the classic introductions of old time radio, along with the exquisite talent of Orson Welles makes The Lives of Harry Lime one of the richest, most intriguing programs ever produced in Radio's heyday.

 

Orson Welles played Harry Lime in the 1949 film The Third Man and in The Lives of Harry Lime. Welles had a unique and distinctive talent for radio; he had learned a great deal about dramatic production during his time as "The Shadow" in the 1930s and while creating and starring in "The Mercury Theatre on the Air" and "The Campbell Playhouse" and he brought many of radio's production techniques to his films.

 

The character of Harry Lime is a somewhat difficult one to describe. Lime is a rogue, a scoundrel, and an opportunist - an amoral character whose main interest in life is making money and living well, no matter what underhanded activity is required. A criminal? Yes. A thief? Most certainly. And, of course, a man who is not to be trusted under any circumstances. But, for all of this, Harry Lime is a fascinating character that listeners have always found undeniably attractive - an anti-hero whose life, in some ways, bears a close resemblance to that of Welles himself, who was not above a bit of chicanery or performing a disappearing act to avoid responsibility. Harry is, above all, a survivor - and, to his credit, he has a habit of taking advantage of those who would readily be taking advantage of him if they had the chance.

 

In this final volume from Radio Archives, all of the nuances in the programs can be heard in sparkling high fidelity sound - an important consideration for a program chock full of plot details, overlapping conversations, and multi-layered sound patterns. The Lives of Harry Lime, Volume 4 is the perfect closing chapter for a classic program that deserves exactly what it gave listeners-the best of everything. The five hour collection is $14.98 for the Audio CD version and $9.98 for the Digital Download version!

 

Radio Reviews - Christmas Gift Ideas!

by Tommy Hancock

 

Christmas is a time of many things. A time of remembering. A joyous celebration for children. And most definitely a time of tradition. Radio Archives brings you a timeless tale that is fondly remembered, speaks to children of all ages, and is a part of Christmas tradition in families all over the world. Looking for a Christmas adventure to enjoy with your family? Then look no further than Radio Archives' The Complete Cinnamon Bear.

 

A 26 episode adventure that originally played six nights a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, The Cinnamon Bear relates the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, The Barton Twins, in Maybeland, a world they discover while hunting for decorations in their attic. On a hunt for the silver star to top their tree, the twins meet Paddy O'Cinnamon, the 'Cinnamon Bear'. With shoe-button eyes and a growl that would make any bear envious, Paddy guides Judy and Jimmy through the fantastical realm of Maybeland in pursuit of their silver star. Along the way they confront the Crazy Quilt Dragon who has stolen the star as well as characters like Fe Fo The Giant, Captain Tin Top, Mr. Presto, and of course Santa Claus himself.

 

The Cinnamon Bear appeals to listeners of all ages. For some it will spark nostalgia of a simpler time, for others it carries hints of tales and stories they read as children, and for all, The Cinnamon Bear is an excellent example of what can be done with a good story in an audio format. Some of the best voices of the period participated in this program and that, combined with the wonderful musical score and the sparkling audio quality to which its been restored makes The Cinnamon Bear a must have. It's available now for $20.98 on Audio CDs and $13.98 as a digital download.

 

 

And if you're already a Cinnamon Bear fan and looking for great serials to add to your Christmastime collection, then Radio Archives has two other fantastic shows to offer! Jump Jump and the Ice Queen follows the adventures of an orphan named Tim determined to find Santa and make sure that he visits the orphanage. Lost in the woods, Tim encounters a three inch tall elf named Jump Jump, very appropriate indeed. The two set out on a quest to find Santa and save Christmas! Also available is Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas on the Moon. Elves on a moonbeam enter six year old Jonathan's room, causing his teddy bear Guz to give chase. Jonathan follows right up the moonbeam after them and straight into a mission to save Santa Claus, held captive in the land of Squeebobble. Teaming up with the Man in the Moon and others, Jonathan races through one wild land after another trying to rescue Santa and save Christmas! Each collection is $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 as a digital download.

 

Christmas is also of course a time of giving! Here's a handful of Audio gems that would make great presents for your favorite audio fan!

 

Thrill to ten fantastic hours of the hard boiled adventures of 'America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator," in Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Volume 1 for $29.98 on Audio CDs and $19.98 for digital download!

 

Enjoy quality family entertainment and a slice of small town life with Dr. Christian only $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 for digital download!

 

Cheer for a classic Comic strip character as he fights his way to success in and out of the boxing ring! Pick up Joe Palooka on CD for $14.98 or as a digital download for $9.98!

 

Ride into Yesteryear with one of the West's best known heroes-It's O'Henry's frontier Robin Hood in The Cisco Kid, Volume 1! On CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!

 

Blast off this Holiday Season with classic Sci Fi Camp! Listen to great galactic adventures on The Planet Man, Volume 1, on CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!

 

Pack all these great Audio classics and more onto your sleigh this Christmas from Radio Archives!

 

 

New Pulp Audiobook: Doc Savage 'The Jade Ogre'

 

The Jade Ogre Is Doc Savage's Epic Adventure

 

Will Murray's monumental Doc Savage adventure The Jade Ogre is now available in a 12-hour audiobook from RadioArchives.com.

 

Based on an outline by Lester Dent, The Jade Ogre tells the story of one of Doc Savage's most exciting and exotic adventures. Accompanied by his five aides, his cousin Pat Savage, and a cast of unique characters, Doc races to unlock the secret of the Jade Ogre, a fantastic Oriental villain who unleashes death in the form of disembodied flying arms, capable of disintegrating its victims in a flash of fire. But the lethal flying arms are merely the cover for a more deadly menace – the mysterious Jade Fever, which strikes down its victims with a deadly virus that turns its victims green as jade.

 

"In this tale of mistaken identity, Oriental mysticism, and high adventure, Doc faces one of his most formidable and mysterious foes," says Producer/Director Roger Rittner. "More than 11 hours in length, this tale never flags in excitement, mystery, and thrills."

 

As Will Murray says in his liner notes, "The Jade Ogre is my greatest pulp epic – a wild quest into the darkest heart of Asia to track a malevolent monster."

 

Narrated by Michael McConnohie – whose previous Doc Savage audiobook, Python Isle, was an instant hit with listeners – Michael essays every role in the story with unerring vocal impressions that give life to Murray's distinctive characters.

 

In addition to the 36-chapter story, the 12-CD set includes two bonus audio features: a continuation of Will Murray's discussion of the creation of Doc Savage, and his memory of creating The Jade Ogre from Lester Dent's notes, plus how Pat Savage has contributed to the Doc Savage canon.

 

Listen to a sample of The Jade Ogre. The Jade Ogre is available now from RadioArchives.com at $37.98 for the deluxe 12-CD set, or $25.98 for instant digital download.

 

Listeners Love The Spider

 

Listeners are enthusiastic about Prince of the Red Looters, the first audiobook from RadioArchives.com featuring the pulp hero, The Spider.

 

Bobb Lynes writes:

"Listening to The Spider on audio is as close as you can get to the movie serial version ... and you don't have to use your eyes! Your production is as good as the serials, but with pulp 'blood n' guts' thrown in."

 

Eric Troup writes:

"The narration is perfect for the over-the-top style of The Spider. Nick Santa Maria sweeps you along in an adrenaline-filled, nonstop wave of action and suspense that simply does not let up until the end of the book. Robin Riker's performance complements the narrative well.

 

"The sound effects made the production even more immersive, making me feel like I was watching a narrated movie. And the music! It put the final touch on my 'movie-going' experience. It sounded for all the world as if the sound were bouncing off the back wall of a theater. By the third chapter, I was popping popcorn and grabbing myself a soda, with my earbuds jammed into my ears all the while.

 

"This story has it all – sword fights, escapes, insurmountable odds, nail-biting suspense, unexpected twists, a superb villain, and so much more. This is an audiobook – as well as a great Spider story – that you simply can't afford to miss!"

 

Prince of the Red Looters is available in an 6-CD deluxe set at just $19.98, or as a digital download at just $14.98.

 

RadioArchives.com Is Doc Savage Audio Headquarters

 

Fans are flocking to RadioArchives.com to tune into to the audio tales of Doc Savage!

The full-cast NPR series The Adventures of Doc Savage continues to garner accolades from Doc fans as well as those just discovering the greatest adventure hero of the 1930s. With a full cast of voice actors, and special scripting by Roger Rittner and Will Murray, The Adventures of Doc Savage is non-stop action in 13 exciting installments.

 

In Python Isle, Doc Savage and his iron comrades race to untangle a weird puzzle so deep that the only clues can be found in the Bible! Written by Will Murray and produced and directed by Roger Rittner, Python Isle features dramatic narration by Michael McConnohie, cover art by Joe DeVito, and more!

 

A super-criminal emerges in White Eyes, the second Doc Savage audiobook from RadioArchives.com! From his skyscraper headquarters high above the streets of New York City to the sugarcane fields of Cuba, Doc Savage races to crush gangland's latest uncrowned king! White Eyes features dramatic narration by Richard Epcar, cover art by Joe DeVito, plus fantastic extras!

 

 

Need a unique gift for the Adventure fan in your life? Looking for that surprise for that special someone who loves tales of Heroes and Villains? Want to put a bow on the best Mystery, Horror, Sci Fi Pulp available? Then you're in the right place. The Pulp Book Store is your Christmas Connection for fantastic Classic and New Pulp books and other products!

 

Publisher Spotlight: Girasol Collectables

Girasol Collectables Inc. is one of the world's largest reprinters of classic 1920s through 1940s pulp fiction. There are more than 300 different issues available in their Pulp Replica line, plus their quarterly Spider Pulp Doubles trade paperbacks, in addition to several thousand pages of classic material in various hardcover collections available under their imprint. The primary goal is to produce high quality facsimile page reproductions, scanned directly from the original pages, with no editing or reset text. The Pulp Replica series is assembled pulp-style, on off-white paper, offering not only a complete reprint of the full magazine, but a sense of the original format as well. While other reprints often call themselves replicas, the Girasol line is the only one assembled pulp-style, the others are trade paperback format. The wraparound covers and spine are carefully retouched to be as close to 'new' as possible. The only thing missing is the flaking paper and the smell! They are also one of the few pulp reprint publishers who adhere rigidly to their self-imposed schedules, providing regular output consistently.

 

Girasol began as an offshoot of the pulp collection of brothers Leigh and Neil Mechem. Pulp collectors since the late 1970s, the Mechems decided to expand into buying and selling original pulps on a wider basis in the late 1990s, incorporating the company in 2003. The name is taken from one of their favorite characters, the Shadow, who wears a ring with a Girasol gem; the stone is a type of fire-opal, which changes hue in different lights, and is an identifying feature of the character. The Replica line began in the late 1990s with occasional offerings, which soon went to a twice-a-month schedule, then to three-a-month, which it continues today. Leigh and Neil are involved in all aspects of producing the Replicas, which involve considerable digital work, as well as hand-assembly of the final product. The original concept, which is still their mandate, is to offer high quality facsimile versions of classic issues that are otherwise unaffordable or unobtainable to many collectors, and to continue the spirit of the classic magazines into current times.

 

One of the great things about the vintage material is the understanding writers and artists had of the nature of the heroic; while there are certainly followers of flawed and anti- heroes, the pulps offer excitement and adventure with inspiring, clear-cut characters who follow their chosen path admirably. Pulp cover art also continues to be impactful and dynamic, in spite of the changes in styles and mediums over the years. Current pop culture devotees are appreciating not only the place the original magazines hold historically, but also their influence on comic books and movies. With their emphasis on short format, fast-paced, exciting reading, the pulps are ideal for readers looking for immediate thrills.

 

Among the Mechem brothers' personal favorites is the Spider, and they have been particularly excited to tackle bringing this great hero to new audiences through the Pulp Replica line, as well as the Spider Doubles trade paperbacks series. The Replicas offer the originals in chronological order, from #1 on up, with 12 new issues each year. January 2012 will see the start of 1940, with issue #76. The Mechems are looking forward to having the complete run of 118 original issues available in Replica form in a few short years' time. No other major pulp character has ever been completely reprinted in a facsimile edition. The brothers are also especially pleased to have made available the early years of Weird Tales magazine, which was a major influence on horror and weird fantasy as it is today; the 1923, 1924 and 1925 issues are all but impossible to obtain in original form.

 

Girasol Collectables has been concentrating in recent years mostly on maintaining top quality reprints for fans of not only the original pulp material, but the format and style of the physical magazines themselves. Leigh and Neil hope that the Replicas will not only provide existing collectors and enthusiasts with items for their collections, but will also introduce newcomers to a better understanding of these vintage classics via a convenient but faithful reprint medium.

 

New In The Pulp Book Store!

 

Sanctum Press unleashes two new Reprint Volumes of Pulp's Greatest Heroes into the Pulp Book Store!

 

DOC SAVAGE Volume 53!

The Man of Bronze battles the supernatural in classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, Doc Savage follows his stolen dirigible to a magic island and discovers the lost city of Ost, in an expanded novel with never-before-published text from Lester Dent's original manuscript. Then, Renny Renwick awakens in the body of a fugitive gangster after encountering a strange impish man. What is the bizarre connection between the One-Eyed Mystic, a stolen military secret and a Nazi plot? This classic pulp reprint features the original color pulp covers by Robert G. Harris and Modest Stein, Paul Orban's classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of eight Doc Savage novels.

 

THE SHADOW Volume 55!

The Shadow's true identity takes center stage in two classic pulp novels that inspired the classic 1940 Shadow movie serial. First, explorer Kent Allard is invited to join The Green Hoods, a hooded secret society whose true purpose is an enigma. Then, airplanes carrying wealthy passengers disappear over the Rockies, setting The Shadow on the trail of the criminal mastermind called Silver Skull. PLUS "Prelude to Terror," a 1939 radio classic. This instant collector's item showcases both classic pulp covers by George Rozen, the original interior illustrations by Edd Cartier and commentary by popular-culture historians Ed Hulse and Will Murray.

 

Knightraven Studios brings Epic Pulps to the Book Store

 

Radio Archives is proud to welcome Knightraven Studios and Wayne Reinagel to the Pulp Book Store!

 

Pulp Heroes - More Than Mortal

Pulp Heroes - Khan Dynasty

Modern Marvels - Viktoriana

 

 

Review of "The Murder Master" from Doc Savage, Volume 15

By Dr. Art Sippo

The Red Spider is an authentic lost Doc Savage novel that had not been printed in any magazine. It was rediscovered by Will Murray in the late 1970s among Lester Dent's papers. The original title was "In Hell, Madonna" which was a quote from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Scene Five: "I think his soul is in Hell, madonna."

 

It is 1949, and the world is buzzing with this question: "Do the Russians have the atomic bomb?" Doc Savage is sent on a secret mission to the heart of the Soviet Union to discover the answer. He is flown in by a supersonic aircraft and does a high altitude parachute jump into the heart of Mother Russia. Monk Mayfair and Ham Brooks are already there under deep cover. The plan is to infiltrate the heart of the Kremlin and discover the truth.

 

Doc and his aides must make their way through hostile territory where the secret police hold the populace in thrall and everyone is considered a spy until proven innocent. The Bronze man battles with both his wits and fists to carry out his mission.

 

During this adventure he meets a host of intriguing characters: Zardnov, the Russian spymaster, Seryi Mitroff, a beautiful female Russian agent whom Doc Savage starts to fall for, the mysterious Frunzoff who holds all of Russia's secrets and Josef Stalin, the mad dictator of the Soviet Union whom Doc Savage confronts face to face. This is a cold war spy novel that presaged the work of Ian Fleming, John le Carre, and Len Deighton. Don't miss it! Available now for $12.95 from Radio Archives!

 

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Comments From Our Customers!

 

Fred Bacon:

Great quality and great programs. At 76 I have many fine memories of what is called Old Time Radio. I heard my dad tell my mom, years ago..."I know he has that radio on under his blankets"

 

Jim Gaudet:

Now that you are carrying the Altus books, among others, I plan to make a series of very large orders. Let me offer my congratulations on your audio productions! They are terrific. Also, congratulations on your expanded line of pulp reprints! I was requesting this back at the start of this year, and apparently I am not the only one doing so. I have been buying Shadow, Doc Savage, and Spider reprints from you for about a year now, and look forward to enjoying your expanded selection. Many thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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!

 

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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.

 

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