GUEST REVIEW-SALMON REVIEWS PRESTON'S 'UNEARTHED'!

BURIED TREASURE

A Review of William Preston's “Unearthed”

by

Andrew Salmon

     “Unearthed” by William Preston (Asimov's, Sept. 2012, in stores now) is the third story to feature his “Old Man” character. The first two: “Helping Them Take The Old Man Down” and “Clockworks” also appeared in Asimov's (the pair are now available as an ebook) and are already New Pulp classics.       

     This third tale is the best yet.

     As the first two took place in the modern day and the 1960s respectively, “Unearthed” is set in 1925 – right in the meat of pulp's Golden Age. It begins with a Mohawk woman in South America studying a local people who are working a mine for an unnamed owner. When a cave-in occurs, the men stagger out suffering from phantom ailments, and one man is missing. The woman, nicknamed “Qwerty” by her people, must call the mine's owner for help. The owner's simple reply is that he is sending his son, “Little Boss”, to deal with the situation.

     For those of you fresh to Preston's work, now might be a good time to mention that the “Little Boss” here and the “Old Man” of the first two tales is one and the same person.

     That person, in no uncertain terms, is Doc Savage.

     Walking a razor's edge of legality, Preston has given us three new Doc Savage stories – the best Doc tales of the New Pulp era – and the character is never mentioned by name.

     Yes, you did read the above statement correctly. And I know what you're thinking: “Hey, isn't Will Murray doing Doc?” Mr. Murray's Doc Savage novels are great reads and each can easily be tacked onto the existing canon of tales, which ended in 1949, and not be out of place. He is to be commended for his ability to channel Lester Dent and provide us rabid New Pulp fans with more classic Doc adventures.

     However, William Preston is giving us a Doc Savage for the 21^st Century. Forget the travesty that was First Wave or the plethora of comics (good and bad) which came before. Preston's Old Man tales are not only great Doc stories, they are also the best New Pulp tales being written today. Period. And I say that with all due respect to my colleagues who, along with myself, are currently crafting heaps of purple prose for the ever growing audience out there.

     In “Unearthed” we meet the “Little Boss” (Doc in his twenties) and Preston captures all of Doc's majesty and imposing presence as soon as he steps onto the stage. In a few lines, he gives Doc more personality than the first 50 Doc novels and this still-learning-the-ropes Doc is as captivating as always. Everything about him is just, well, different than most folks. First we see his medical abilities as he tries to diagnose the strange illness affecting the miners, then he leads Qwerty down into the collapsed mine where they encounter something that will forever shape their destinies. The result is a tale you won't soon forget.

     Amidst the action, there is also a deeper layer. During their encounter with the things in the earth, “Little Boss” gets visions of the future and Preston makes the connection between this first, chronologically-speaking, story and “Helping Them Take The Old Man Down” – the first Old Man tale to see print. With a fourth tale in the works, that tie will no doubt be strengthened. With the course of his life now set, “Little Boss's” odyssey truly begins and we are all along for the ride.

     “Unearthed” is a great read. Action, heart, and literary prose abound. Preston takes us into the hearts of the characters as deeply as they descend into the bowels of the earth and the pages fly by. The story is everything New Pulp should be: a captivating, larger-than-life adventure yet filled with a wealth of characterization and a evocation of setting the greats of yesteryear could never dream of pulling off as they raced deadlines decades ago. Preston's prose is clean and powerful, demanding close reading to truly appreciate the craftsmanship that went into the tale's construction.

     With three unforgettable tales, William Preston has set the standard for New Pulp excellence. Once a publisher rips the stories from the pages of soon-to-be musty magazines and returns them to print in book form, this collection will be the cornerstone of any fan's New Pulp library.

     Until that happens, we get to read them they way the first generation of fandom got their pulp thrills, one at a time in magazine form. Pick up the September 2012 issue of Asimov's, then sit back and enjoy a wonderful adventure. “Unearthed” gets my highest recommendation. Expect it to get serious consideration come award season. It is a gem.

HAVE YOU MET THE DEAD MAN?

Matt Cahill was an ordinary man leading a simple life until a shocking accident changed everything. Now he can see a nightmarish netherworld that exists within our own...
Description.

THE DEAD MAN is an original ebook series of short novels that blends the horror of Stephen King's THE GUNSLINGER with the action/adventure of Don Pendleton's THE EXECUTIONER...

Matthew Cahill is an ordinary man leading a simple life...until a shocking accident changes everything. Now he can see a nightmarish netherworld of unspeakable evil and horrific violence that nobody else does...

For Cahill, each day is a journey into a dark world he knows nothing about...a quest for the answers to who he is and what he has become...and a fight to save us, and his soul, from the clutches of pure evil.

Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin brought an episodic TV approach to The Dead Man novels, which made it possible for them to capitalize on the creativity, experience, and unique voices of a dozen successful authors who represent a wide variety of genres. They created the first book and twelve story-lines--then invited writers they admire, love to read, or who they were dying to work with--to help author the novels. Amazon/47 North publishes a new Dead Man book just about every month...and has ordered a total of 24 novels to date, which will carry the series well into 2013. The books are also available in trade paperback and audio editions.

Learn more about The Dead Man at http://thedeadmanbooks.blogspot.com

JUST ANOTHER DAY ON MONSTER ISLAND

Art: Graham Nolan

As a promotion for the upcoming release of Graham Nolan's MONSTER ISLAND, Pulp 2.0 Press is running the comic strip version of the graphic novel on the Pulp 2.0 Facebook page.

The strip will run until August 15th. During that time you will have the opportunity to pre-order the book for $9.99 postage paid!

The comic strip version of MONSTER ISLAND has never been seen before and is one of the many bonus features you'll find in the new edition. Our 80 page book has over 30 new pages of material including commentary from Graham, an interview, sketches, layouts and a few notes by the Mad Pulp Bastard himself, Bill Cunningham.

Story and Art: Graham Nolan

Later in the year, Pulp 2.0 Press will be following this comic strip promotion up with a brand new strip by Chris Ecker and Steve Skeates featuring Big Bang Comics’ The Knight Watchman.

About Monster Island:

Monster Island is the story of two pilots who crash land and become stranded on a lost island that serves as the holding area for an alien consortium that removes problem monsters from other worlds for a fee. Now our two heroes – Mac, a feisty female with two fists that do her talking for her, and Duke, a macho fighter jock with a soft spot for Mac - must learn not only how to survive in this deadly alien zoo, but escape it before Monster Island is drawn back through time and space to another point in the universe!

Story and Art: Graham Nolan

Monster Island features all of those things you loved about 1950’s classic monster movies – monsters, mysterious islands, aliens, flying saucers, and half-naked alien queens, but in a fresh, new way that piles on the fun with the fantastic! This comic is Graham Nolan’s love letter to 12¢ comic books, Aurora model kits, BUZ SAWYER comic strips, 1950’s monster movies, Ray Harryhausen and FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine. Self-published 15 years ago, Monster Island is one of those books that you can hand anyone of any age and they will immediately “get it.” Those are the kinds of projects we adore here at Pulp 2.0 – and we know you will too!

BULLOCK TALKS NEW PULP CHARACTER DEBUTED IN 'TALES OF THE ROOK' FROM PRO SE!

Noted Comic Writer  Mike Bullock contributed as one of the authors to TALES OF THE ROOK, the first ever anthology set in veteran New Pulp Author Barry Reese's universe and featuring his best known character, The Rook!

The Anthology debuted in May under the Reese Unlimited imprint from Pro Se Productions and features works by Reese, Ron Fortier, Bobby Nash, Percival Constantine, Tommy Hancock, and Bullock.  Best known for his work on Moonstone's THE PHANTOM and his own LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS, Bullock has jumped feet first into New Pulp as an active member of the New Pulp Movement.  His Runemaster Studios is quickly becoming a fantastic source of New Pulp stories and characters, including his latest creation which saw life first in his TALES OF THE ROOK contribution.  Bullock joins All Pulp for an interview about the mysterious XANDER!

ALL PULP:   Who and/or what is Xander?

MIKE BULLOCK: He is the Guardian of Worlds, a man, a spirit and a legend. Over two thousand years ago, the first Xander stumbled on an ancient tomb in Capernaum. Inside he found a scroll, staff and armband lying in a sarcophagus. When he read the scroll, a transformation took place anointing him as the first Guardian of Worlds, charged with locating and closing the nether-portals opened from worlds below into our own.

Mentored by the spirit of his dead Grandfather, Xander employs a variety of martial and mystical arts to complete his tasks and prevent those who dwell in darkness from wreaking havoc on Earth.

AP:  What characters/ideas/creators influenced you in the creation of Xander?

MB: I had just finished reading a few of the Rook novels and had sat down with my beautiful wife to watch Fringe when a feeling of incredible creative inspiration came over me. As the show went on, I recall suddenly picturing Xander in my mind, and his totems of power (the armband and staff). I continued to watch the show but something triggered a memory and I recalled a story I’d seen as a child, where a boy’s shadow had a mind of its own, but was attached to the boy’s feet so they were forever linked. While the shadow wanted to do one thing, the boy wanted something else, which created an interesting tension with the character. I took that and molded it into the ‘legacy hero’ model from Phantom, painted all that on my original bit of inspiration and within 45 minutes had what would finally be named Xander: Guardian of Worlds.

AP:  What about this opportunity to be a part of the Tales of the Rook appealed to you enough to introduce Xander into it?

MB: It made perfect sense, since Xander was born out of a moment of inspiration catalyzed by Barry Reese’s work. It’s an honor to have Barry give me the keys to his character and I hope he’s as happy with the outcome as I am.

AP: For you, what is it about New Pulp that draws you in as a creator and inspires you to add characters and tales to it?

MB: I fell madly in love with pulp fiction the first time I laid eyes on A Princess of Mars back in the 70s. Since I have this compulsion/need to write and be creative, it seems only natural that I would do so in the New Pulp field. I love what others are doing in the field and just thank God I get to be part of that.

AP:  Any future plans/teasers about what we'll see from Xander down the road?

MB: Right now I’ve laid the groundwork for his first novel, a series of short stories coming soon from Pro Se. In that, Xander will travel to Texas, New York and abroad hunting down demons, devils and the like in an effort to banish them once more to the hells they crawled from. We’ll learn more about who currently wears the totem, what it means to bear the strain of being the Guardian and maybe get a glimpse of his love life. Oh, and there will be lots and lots of action and adventure.

TALES OF THE ROOK is available at www.amazon.com and www.prosepulp.com in both print and ebook!

BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS-- Novel Continues the Apocalyptic Saga!

White Rocket Books proudly announces the release in trade paperback and Kindle e-book formats of I. A. Watson’s BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS, a new novel that reveals the shocking secrets of Princess Aria while continuing the bold and exciting adventures of John Blackthorn, PulpArk Award winner for “Best New Character of the Year.”

Eldest child of her world’s ruling dynasty, Aria is also the daughter of the evil Black Sorcerer—one of the dreaded First Men of Mars—and has been imbued with his sorcerous might. Rebelling against her father’s tyranny, Princess Aria has joined forces with a human soldier and a savage Mock-Man, and now dares to challenge the First Men’s rule. Will Aria’s power be enough to tip the balance in John Blackthorn’s favor, and free her world—or will she betray the rebels to her father—or worse—and bring all they have fought for crashing down?

BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS, by award-winning author I. A. Watson (Robin Hood; Sherlock Holmes) and with a spectacular cover painted by Adam Diller, takes the saga of John Blackthorn and his brave companions to the next level—and beyond—with a grand adventure stretching down the centuries and across the war-torn face of post-apocalyptic Mars!

Created by Van Allen Plexico (Sentinels, Lucian) in the spirit of “Thundarr the Barbarian” and “John Carter of Mars,” the Blackthorn Saga has already been nominated for seven PulpArk Awards and one Pulp Factory Award.  Now, says Plexico, “ Ian Watson has pulled back the curtain and given readers the chance to dig into the rich history of future Mars, and to witness the rise of Princess Aria from pampered aristocrat to powerful leader of a planet-wide rebellion—along with a couple of guys named Blackthorn and Oglok. If you thought you knew the Blackthorn story, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

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 Vice-President Tom Brevoort to Kirkus Reviews.

On sale as of July 28, 2012, BLACKTHORN: DYNASTY OF MARS is a 250-page, $15.95, 6x9 format trade paperback from White Rocket Books, and a $2.99 e-book for Kindle.

ISBN-13: 978-0-61567-654-8  (paperback)

ASIN: B008NYCVLQ  (Kindle)

On Amazon.com:
Trade Paperback : http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Dynasty-I-A-Watson/dp/0615676545

Kindle edition:  http://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Dynasty-Mars-ebook/dp/B008NYCVLQ

JOLSON, RAPID FIRE RADIO, THE SPIDER, THREE PLANETEERS, AND MORE FROM RADIO ARCHIVES!

 

July 27, 2012

 

NEW 20 CD Radio Set: Jolson on the Radio

 

The World's Greatest Entertainer!

 

Al Jolson was and remains a towering figure of the musical theatre - unquestionably the most exciting stage star of his generation, and a profound influence on the generations to follow. He was the first breakthrough star of talking pictures. He was a recording artist of long standing. Although radio stardom eluded him most of his career, it was during Jolson’s dramatic resurgence in popularity after the Second World War that radio truly captured something of the dynamism Jolson brought to his live performances.

 

Jolson took over the venerable “Kraft Music Hall” in 1947 - a series he had headlined briefly in the early 1930s. The program was a masterpiece of careful planning and careful understanding of how to package a performer like Jolson to his best advantage. This 20 CD collection from Radio Archives features the ten programs contained in the original Kraft Music Hall collection from Radio Archives as well as 20 more Jolson hosted episodes, all newly restored to the highest audio quality using equipment that was not available when the first collection was produced nine years ago. In addition, this volume features other classic Jolson radio appearances, including three Lux Radio Theater episodes, two episodes from The Al Jolson Show from 1938, and 1943, and A Salute to Al Jolson.

 

Jolson on the Radio from Radio Archives, a 20 CD collection, is the most comprehensive, best sounding collection of this fantastic performer’s classic radio appearances, showing clearly why Al Jolson deserves every single accolade given him.

 

Due to this being an enhanced version of a previous Radio Archives collection, previous customers purchasing the original Kraft Music Hall featuring Al Jolson collection can upgrade to this enhanced collection for only $45.00 for the next two weeks! This Special Upgrade offer will be available to all customers for the next two weeks! Regularly $59.98, Jolson on the Radio can be a part of your collection for only $45.00 for the next two weeks!

 

Rapid Fire Radio

A Column by Tommy Hancock

 

Reviews!

Frontier Town - Westerns in all mediums continue to be popular among fans. One of the best little known examples of a classic radio western is Frontier Town. Featuring Jeff Chandler (and Reed Hadley in later episodes), this show follows frontier lawyer Chad Remington as he uses his knowledge and fists to bring justice to the wild town of Dos Rios. The dialogue as written by Paul Franklin is terse and delivered by Chandler and company in a way that makes Frontier Town a joy to listen to. And you can enjoy it as well for only $29.98 from Radio Archives.

 

Dr. Christian - Not only is Dr. Christian one of the best examples of family programming from classic radio, it was based loosely on the work of a real physician. Week after week, the action of the series focused more on the daily problems and issues of the patients who came through Christian's office than the actual medical issues and that was the real charm of this personal endearing program. Get a taste of what so many loved about Dr. Christian with this 6 hour collection featuring the first 12 episodes for $17.98 from Radio Archives.

 

The Whistler, Volume 1 -  The anthology was a staple of classic radio throughout its heyday. One of the most popular and consistently thrilling and chilling series to ever air was The Whistler. Even though it never successfully went nationwide, this West Coast series is extremely popular among fans and collectors, due in large part to the eerie, haunting narration of the title character. Every episode opens with The Whistler leading listeners into the fears and horrors that plague everyday citizens and closes with those citizens suffering fates that kept audiences on the edges of their seats. Each and every episode in this collection is a winner and you can find out for only $29.98 at Radio Archives.

 

Character Spotlight!

Although he played multiple characters, the lead actor on "Mr. President" deserves attention. Featuring the voice work of Edward Arnold in the lead each week, this extremely interesting program brought history to its listeners in a rather unique way. Spotlighting a different President each week, 'Mr. President' dramatized some event in their lives, usually carrying through and ending on a patriotic note each week. Supported by a stunning cast of veteran radio actors, Arnold brings a strong and distinct feel to the program, making it stand out as a wonderful product of the era it first aired in! Available from Radio Archives for $29.98!

 

Hancock's Favorite Episodes!

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, Volume 2 "Red Wind"

Not only is this a favorite episode of mine, but the story it's based on by Raymond Chandler is one of my all time favorite examples of detective fiction. The words spoken by Gerald Mohr and penned by Chandler set a haunting stage for the fantastic episode: "It was one of those hot, dry Santa Ana's that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair, make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that, every booze party ends up in a fight. And meek little housewives feel the edge of a carving knife and study their husband's necks. Anything can happen when the Santa Ana blows in from the desert." Enjoy this wonderful episode and nineteen others for $29.98 from Radio Archives!

 

 

NEW Pulp Audiobook: The Three Planeteers

 

During the Golden Age of Science Fiction, one writer towered over all others. The legendary Edmond Hamilton was the pulp pioneer who took over where Jules Verne and H. G. Wells left off. Hamilton wrote on a scale that dwarfed anything that had come before. Where other writer’s imaginations saw only expeditions to the Moon and Mars, Hamilton envisioned a future filled with an interplanetary police force, space pirates and fearsome weapons capable of destroying whole planets. Among readers of his early fiction in magazines ranging from Amazing Stories to Weird Tales, this penchant for galaxy-spanning space opera soon earned him the nickname of “World-Wrecker” Hamilton.

 

Although NASA has all but debunked the possibility of humanoid life on Mars and Venus—not to mention the frigid, inhospitable outer planets—21st century readers still thrill to Hamilton’s infectiously enthusiastic yarns, which influenced both Star Trek and Star Wars.

 

One of the most intriguing is The Three Planeteers, which ran in the January, 1940 issue of Startling Stories. Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ classic adventure tale, The Three Musketeers, Hamilton’s reinterpretation of the concept brings together an Earthman, John Thorn, allied a pair of friendly aliens, Sual Av of Venus and hulking Mercurian, Gunner Welk, who are out to stop a sinister despot from shifting the balance of power from the peace-loving Alliance of Inner Planets to the planet-hungry League of Cold Worlds. When the resourceful trio are branded interplanetary outlaws, their only hope is to ally themselves with the renegade Companions of Space, led by the bewitching pirate princess, Lana Cain.

 

This swashbuckling space opera was the type of pulp Hamilton did best, and set the stage for his legendary Captain Future series, also from the publisher of Startling Stories. In that series, as in The Three Planeteers, Hamilton postulated a future Solar System inhabited by distinct races of aliens, each with their own characteristics and cultures. Against this backdrop, the non-stop action races from the inner worlds to the outer regions, with atom-pistols and ray-blasters frying combatants on both sides.

 

Joey D’Auria voices The Three Planeteers’ stellar cast of heroes and despicable space pirates. This is vintage space opera at its most arresting and audacious! Only $20.98 in a deluxe Six Audio CD set.

 

 

Mark Squirek Reviews "The Flame Master" for Scoop Magazine

 

On the next long trip you owe it to yourself, whether you are a fan of comics, movies or just good storytelling, to give one of Will Murray’s Pulp Classic Audiobooks a try. With well over a dozen adaptations already available for download or on CD sets, Radio Archives http://www.radioarchives.com is now offering what may be their best work yet in the series, The Spider: The Flame Master.

 

With a full musical score and complete sound effects, this Audiobook is the closet thing to the thrill of a great radio drama that modern technology can create. Masterfully produced by Roger Rittner, the set explodes across your speakers with all the thrills that good storytelling can give a listener. He places you right at the center of a movie that your ears are hearing but your mind creates. The reality of what he accomplished this time out makes The Flame Thrower his best work yet in the series. He may have even topped his earlier work on the Doc Savage stories Python Isle and The Jade Ogre as well as the pulp classic Doctor Death, that is saying quite a lot.

 

What sets this apart from the earlier works is not the addition of the musical score or sound effects, for Rittner has skillfully employed those on previous Spider volumes in the series, it is the non-stop breathless action delivered by author Norvell Page’s original story. Working directly from the original story as it first appeared in March 1935, Rittner and his crew give the listener a full take on what Page brought to the page. Noted for his unbelievable actions sequences, Page’s reputation as a writer also rests on his highly imaginative plots.

 

In The Flame Thrower Richard Wentworth, known to many only as The Spider, faces Aronk Dong, the self-proclaimed Man from Mars, who unleashes the wrath of the heavens to subjugate Earth. But what is his real purpose? And hiding behind his deadly French Apaches is Toussaints Louvaine, a mysterious dealer in death who may be on Wentworth’s side … or may not. It is a story filled with possible betrayal, countless battles and some of the most amazing escapes ever found in a Spider story.

 

Listening to the story unravel on CD as I drove, I almost forgot my destination. Actor Nick Santa Maria has truly captured The Spider in the same way that Orson Wells captured The Shadow all those years ago. A veteran of television film and a noted voice over actor in video games as well as advertising, Santa Maria takes The Spider, Master of Men, seriously and his dedication to the character shows in his performance. He pulls you right into the story.

 

Working with Santa Maria is noted voice over actress Robin Riker. She plays Wentworth’s girlfriend and partner, Nita Van Sloan. Her delivery and intonation provides the perfect balance to the work of Santa Maria. It is a thrill to hear the two professionals bounce off of each other as skillfully as they do.

 

The popularity of books on tape and CDs testifies to how many people enjoy their favorite authors in their home and in their car. Having the capability to pause the action is just like setting a good book down to take a breather. Radio Archives Audiobooks series is one of the most exciting entertainment series out there today.

 

Everyone I have heard so far, and I have listened to Doc Savage, G-Man and The Green Lama in their releases, makes me want to hear more.

 

Audiobook Reviews - Operator #5 “#1 The Masked Invasion”

by Derrick Ferguson

 

The more I delve into classic pulp adventure fiction, particularly the characters and series that take place in America I have to wonder why foreign invaders and supercriminals and fiendish dictators didn't just go and try to overthrow some other country that didn't have masked avengers or guys like Jimmy Christopher aka Operator #5 protecting it. Don't these guys network or have a union hall where they meet to discuss why their plots to take over the country never work?

 

But with Jimmy Christopher on the job, it's no wonder why the United States of America stays safe. Known by his official designation of Operator #5, Jimmy Christopher is virtually a one-man strike force, answerable only to The President of The United States and charged with the defense of the country against any and all aggressors to national security whether they be domestic or external.

 

Operator #5: The Masked Invasion is an interesting audiobook to listen to for a number of reasons. First of all is Jimmy Christopher himself. He's not as flamboyant or as much of a lone wolf as say, Secret Agent X but he's equally as effective and as deadly. Jimmy is an excellent magician and there are a couple of times during the story where he takes the time to explain how he pulled off a trick to his daring young sidekick, Tim Donovan. Operator #5 is regarded as a forerunner of 1960's spies and I can see that in the outlandish villains, wild gimmicks and headlong, non-stop action. So if you're a fan of the spy novels and movies of that period, this audiobook was made for you.

 

The choice of Richard Epcar to narrate this audiobook is a good one as he does so in a firm, no-nonsense style that matches that of the character of Jimmy Christopher who is a pretty no-nonsense guy himself in his determined pursuit of Loo Kong and his method of blacking out the electrical power of entire cities, thereby plunging them into total darkness and chaos. Radio Archives again gets my thanks for such a quality product that as always gives the Movie Theater of My Mind an excellent and thoroughly entertaining workout.

 

Five New Will Murray's Pulp Classics eBooks

 

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 E-Reader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator 5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like Doctor Death and more, Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday's Pulp today!

 

Five new golden age Pulp tales exquisitely reformatted into visually stunning E-books!

 

The Spider #9 Satan's Death Blast

How fight a menace which strikes without warning — which disintegrates flesh and blood and stone to mere chemical atoms! Men fled in blind panic from the merest rumor of a new attack, and even the Spider — dodging the death blasts — can find at first no weapon with which to combat this new and devastating evil which obliterates its victims in the fraction of time between two heart-beats! Another epic exploit of America's best-loved pulp-fiction character of the 1930s and 1940s: The Spider — Master of Men! As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction: “Meet the Spider” especially for this series of eBooks.

 

The Spider #10 The Corpse Cargo

Thundering far beneath Manhattan's thronging streets came the Death Express — a crack New York Central train bearing a gruesome cargo of lifeless men, women and children — their bodies stripped of valuables, naked and mutilated! A grim warning of the terror-reign that threatened America — at the hands of Twentieth Century land-pirates, whose weapon was neither gun nor sword, but the stunning, body-shivering force which lies in electricity! Can the Spider, using mortal weapons, fight the numbing power of the thunderbolt — and survive? Another epic exploit of America's best-loved pulp-fiction character of the 1930s and 1940s: The Spider — Master of Men! As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction: “Meet the Spider” especially for this series of eBooks.

 

Operator 5 #11 The League of War-Monsters

A group of bitter men — a secret League of War — was ready to plunge the world into a new, earth-wide conflict. They issued orders, and bloody organized murder was loosed in the heart of Europe! And behind this carnage, a single man was scheming to make himself the Dictator of the World! Never before had a single person conceived such a colossal plan for profiting from the slaughter of humans. He had overcome all obstacles — except one lone avenger, Operator 5, America’s secret service ace. Can Jimmy Christopher, keep the nations of the world from hurling themselves into a war which can bring nothing but universal defeat, misery, and slavery?

 

Jimmy Christopher, clean-cut, square-jawed and clear-eyed, was the star of the most audacious pulp magazines ever conceived — Operator #5. Savage would-be conquerors, creepy cults, weird weather-controllers and famine-creating menaces to our mid-western breadbasket... these were but a few of the fiendish horrors that Jimmy Christopher was forced to confront. Operator #5 returns in vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of Operator #5 eBooks.

 

Captain Future #16 Magic Moon

A cruel plot to seize the satellite Styx, third moon of Pluto, and enslave peaceful natives, sends Captain Future and his loyal aides out on the most dangerous adventure of their careers! 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.

 

The Mysterious Wu Fang #2 The Case of the Scarlet Feather

“When I know the secret of the five casks, I will be all powerful. Find the one who can tell me this secret. I will wait — but not for long.” This was the command Wu Fang gave to his agents deep in New York’s Chinatown. And only two white men guessed his plans, could dare hope to pit their wits and detective skill against the murder scheme of the most dangerous crime master in the world!

 

“Mr. Kildare? This is Wu Fang speaking. I phoned to tell you that a man is going to be murdered. Also, that no attempt will he made on your life until midnight.” ...Until midnight. Three hours! But before those three hours were up Kildare knew he was entered upon the most sinister mystery he had ever tackled — the case of the scarlet feather.

 

When you purchase these beautifully reformatted eBooks from RadioArchives.com you receive all three formats in one ZIP file: PDF for PC or Mac computer; Mobi for Kindle and ePub for iPad/IPhone, Android, Sony eReader, and Nook. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook novels 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 and the Barnes and Noble Nook store! The best Pulp eBooks now available for only $2.99 each from Radio Archives!

 

1 cent Spider eBook!

 

For a limited time you can now download an exciting original Spider adventure for just one thin penny! 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. Their motto? Why "KILL THE SPIDER!" of course.

 

For those who have been unsure about digging into the wonderful world of pulps this is a perfect opportunity 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 download this bargain.

 

All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you purchase this eBook from RadioArchives.com you receive all three formats in one ZIP file. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your Spider novels to your new device without the need to purchase anything new. Use the PDF version when reading on your PC or Mac computer. If you have a Kindle, the Mobi version is what you want. If you have an iPad/iPhone, Android, Sony eReader or Nook, then the ePub version is what you want.

 

 

Review of “The Hooded Circle” from The Shadow, Volume 22

By John Olsen

 

Within a Druid Glen, men clad in grayish robes perform a strange ritual. For they are the Hooded Circle, one of the most bizarre gangs of cutthroats The Shadow has ever encountered.

 

It was a dark and stormy night. And here we go again! In the deeply wooded sections of an exclusive suburb known as Pinewood sat the ruins of the old Grimshaw estate. There was a circle within the ring of stones. A circle of human forms. All were clad in grayish robes, with cloth masks covering their faces. This was the secret meeting place of the Hooded Circle! Can The Shadow thwart the seemingly undefeatable evil? And who is the mysterious cowled leader of the Hooded Circle, those gray-robed outlaws who hold their secret meetings within a ring of Druid stones?

 

Pulling out all the stops, The Shadow calls in his full list of agents. All told, that makes six of The Shadow's agents who are on hand to assist in the round-up of The Hooded Circle, in the action-packed final chapters.

 

There are a few anomalies in this story. All are subtle, but will be noticeable to anyone who has read all three-hundred-twenty-five Shadow pulp novels. There's a "hell" uttered by Joe Cardona. Gibson's characters never swore. Then there's the matter of the female form. Gibson always wrote in vague terms, when describing a scantily clad female. The descriptions in this story are a bit more detailed. And since when does Cranston smile? Never! Maybe his masklike face carries the trace of a smile, but that's the most Gibson ever allowed. Not so in this story. Could someone have ghosted the story, or part of it, for Gibson? Perhaps we'll never know.

 

I found one passage that seemed significant: "It was not surprising that he had passed notice. Cranston had a way of remaining quietly in the background, when he came upon a situation such as this." This describes the same ability to render oneself virtually invisible by remaining motionless, both physically and mentally, that was related to readers three months earlier in "The Golden Master."

 

I enjoyed reading this story. It contained enough unique moments to keep me interested, unlike some other run-of-the-mill stories. This is a well-build Shadow mystery that would probably fall among the better stories of 1940. Maybe not the best, but still well worth reading.
And you can get The Hooded Circle and another full length Shadow Adventure for only $12.95 in The Shadow Volume 22 from Radio Archives!

 

The Shadow, Volume 63

The Knight of Darkness wages battles to the death with two of his greatest superfoes! First, The Shadow becomes "The Devil's Paymaster" to end the sadistic reign of The Prince of Evil in the violent conclusion of Theodore Tinsley's most acclaimed storyline. Then, Lamont Cranston must die to crush a superfiend's evil plots when "The Wasp Returns" in an action-packed thriller by Walter B. Gibson. Foreword by Michael Uslan, executive producer of the Summer Bat-Blockbuster, "The Dark Knight Rises." This instant collector's item leads off with one of Graves Gladney's greatest covers, and also showcases all the original interior illustrations by legendary illustrator Earl Mayan, with historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. BONUS: The Shadow tracks down "The Comic Strip Killer" in a classic adventure from the Golden Age of Radio. Buy it today for $14.95.

 

Doc Savage, Volume 60, James Bama cover

The Man of Bronze returns in two tales of super-science that inspired classic Superman stories. First, a silvery stratospheric craft showers vapors of death upon a Texas town, while Cosmic Rays alter Long Tom’s mental makeup. Doc and Patricia Savage attempt to thwart the deadly plots of a red-hooded mastermind in “He Could Stop the World,” a pulp classic by Laurence Donovan that inspired an early Superman story by Jerry Siegel. Then, “The Laugh of Death” could change the outcome of World War II, in a Lester Dent thriller that introduced Doc’s new Fortress of Solitude that inspired the Man of Steel’s glacier hideaway. This double-novel collector’s edition leads off with a knockout cover by legendary paperback artist James Bama. and also reprints both classic color pulp covers by Robert G. Harris and Emery Clarke, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray. Priced at only $14.95.

 

Doc Savage, Volume 60

The Man of Bronze returns in two tales of super-science that inspired classic Superman stories. First, a silvery stratospheric craft showers vapors of death upon a Texas town, while Cosmic Rays alter Long Tom’s mental makeup. Doc and Patricia Savage attempt to thwart the deadly plots of a red-hooded mastermind in “He Could Stop the World,” a pulp classic by Laurence Donovan that inspired an early Superman story by Jerry Siegel. Then, “The Laugh of Death” could change the outcome of World War II, in a Lester Dent thriller that introduced Doc’s new Fortress of Solitude that inspired the Man of Steel’s glacier hideaway. This double-novel collector’s edition features both classic color pulp covers by Robert G. Harris and Emery Clarke, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of ten Doc Savage novels. Priced at only $14.95 

 

The Spider, Volume 24

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 "Laboratory Of The Damned" (1936), Poisoned! Struck down by a deadly assault from a mad murderer, the Spider finds his friend Stanley Kirkpatrick, Commissioner of Police, doomed to a stupor of living death. Nor is he the only victim... also stricken with the dread malady is Richard Wentworth's fiancee, Nita van Sloan! The Spider battles both the Law and the Underworld to survive! Then, in "Hell's Sales Manager" (1940), The Brand wields a weird new weapon that sucks everything in its path into a vortex of destruction! How can even the Master of Men fight an enemy that seems to simply vanish? While this reign of terror goes unchecked, the Spider finds his every effort hampered by a human bloodhound assigned to track down and eliminate him. 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. Available now for $14.95!

 

 

Will Murray's New Doc Savage Novel: The Infernal Buddha!

Altus Press is proud to announce the release of the third volume in its acclaimed Wild Adventures of Doc Savage series, written by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson.

 

Set in the Fall of 1936, The Infernal Buddha tells the epic story of Doc Savage’s desperate quest to control the Buddha of Ice, a relic of unknown origin—and what may become the most dangerous object on Earth!

 

When a mummy arrives at Doc Savage’s New York headquarters wearing the clothes of his missing assistant, engineer Renny Renwick, Doc, Monk, and Ham rush to Singapore where they get on the trail of a swashbuckling pirate who calls himself the Scourge of the South China Sea, in whose hands a piece of the infernal Buddha has fallen. The trail leads to Pirate Island, the fate of Renny, and a mysterious box containing a terrible, unstoppable power.

 

But that is only the beginning of the quest into which the Man of Bronze plunges—one that will take him to the upper reaches of the Yellow Sea and a series a wild ocean battles against the vicious factions fighting for control on the infernal Buddha.

 

Before it is all over, every human life on Earth will tremble on the brink of eternity, and Doc Savage will face his greatest test.

 

“This may be my wildest Doc novel to date,” says author Will Murray. “The Infernal Buddha is a fantasy epic full of corsairs, criminals and other culprits. The menace is planetary. The threat, extinction. Doc Savage has a reputation for saving the world. This time he does it on the greatest scale possible. I began this book back in 1992, working from an opening situation Lester Dent started in 1935. Together, we have produced a true Doc Savage epic. And it only took about 75 years….”

 

The Infernal Buddha features a startling cover painted by Joe DeVito, depicting Doc Savage as the Buccaneer of Bronze! This cover was painted from a still taken in 1964 of legendary model Steve Holland, and is a variant pose shot for famed illustrator James Bama’s classic cover to The Man of Bronze. There has never been a Doc cover like it! Buy it today for only $24.95 from Radio Archives.

 

Comments From Our Customers!

 

Brad Bennett writes:

When are you going to do a Vol 4 of the Railroad Hour? The first tree volumes are terrific. Just keep up the good work.

 

Charles Bourassa writes:

Wow!  Great place to shop.  I started by buying some Spider Ebooks from Amazon, and then found my way here. I'm mainly interested in the Spider magazines right now. My wish list has 28 Norvel Page novels that I'd like to read.

 

Eric Troup writes:

Thanks. I've certainly loved the other two Spiders. Ten stars just aren't enough!

 

Rodger Johnson writes:

Dan Fowler: G-Man is my favorite audiobook, Richard Epcar is a fantasic reader, give him more to do. Thanks for all the good audio books.

 

Doctor Panic reviews the Kindle edition on Amazon:

The Spider #3 Wings of the Black Death. All I can say is WOW!!. This was the first story by Norvel Page when he stepped in for Scott after the first two issues. This book shows instantly why Page was the master hands down for the Spider. The book is non stop action as you expect, but delves into some of the personal feeling between the characters, not to mention a mastermind villain who right up to the end matches Dick wit for wit. The book is done in nice bold print that is so inviting to read. The book is masterfully redone and better than reading the original because of the layout. 5 happy stars

 

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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PRO SE PRESENTS ENDS FIRST YEAR WITH BROTHER BONES AND MORE!

Pro Se Productions, a leading New Pulp Publisher, proudly announces the latest issue of its award winning magazine, PRO SE PRESENTS #12!

Keeping its promise of 'Puttin' The Monthly Back Into Pulp', Pro Se Presents finishes out its first year with two fisted action, strange mystery, science fiction terror, and the return of a classic New Pulp Character! Ron Fortier's Brother Bones leads off this month's issue in a brand new story entitled 'The Butcher From Bavaria!' Kevin Rodgers introduces readers to the mystery and horror of 'Energy Siphon' and Don Thomas rounds out the issue with the introduction of Nathaniel Dante, a stranger who visited 'The Town That Demanded Recompense'! Featuring Art, Design, and Formatting By Sean Ali, PRO SE PRESENTS TWELVE is the crowning achievement on the magazine's first year! Pro Se Presents- Puttin' The Monthly Back Into Pulp!

PRO SE PRESENTS #12 is now available at http://tinyurl.com/d3r2wd7 for only $6.00 and coming soon as an ebook in all available platforms!

Pro Se Productions- www.prosepulp.com