The Blood 'n' Thunder Guide to Pulp Fiction

The Blood 'n' Thunder Guide to Pulp Fiction provides a comprehensive overview of American pulp magazines from their inception in the late 1800s through their decline in the 1950s. The book documents the evolution of major pulp genres including detective, adventure, western, science fiction, and horror stories. Author Ed Hulse examines the business practices of pulp publishers, offering insights into circulation numbers, payment rates for writers, and the editorial policies that shaped the industry. The text includes profiles of notable pulp writers, artists, and editors who contributed to these magazines during their heyday. The guide features over 100 illustrations of pulp magazine covers and interior artwork, showcasing the visual style that defined the medium. Production methods, printing techniques, and distribution systems are explored in detail. This historical account illuminates how pulp magazines influenced American popular culture and laid the groundwork for many conventions of genre fiction that persist today. The democratization of literature through cheap pulp magazines marked a significant shift in how stories reached mass audiences.

Readers value this book as a detailed reference guide for understanding and collecting pulp magazines. Multiple reviewers note the comprehensive research and documentation of pulp magazine history from 1896-1950s. Likes: - Clear explanations of different pulp genres and sub-genres - High quality reproductions of pulp covers - Extensive bibliographic information - Detailed coverage of major pulp authors and publishers - Useful as both introduction and reference work Dislikes: - Some readers wanted more coverage of later pulp years - Price point considered high by a few reviewers - Limited availability of print copies Ratings: Goodreads: 4.33/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (19 ratings) Notable review quote from Amazon: "The definitive guide to the pulps. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the history of popular fiction in America." - Robert K.

Pulp Fiction: The Villains by John Connor This reference guide catalogs the memorable antagonists from pulp magazines of the 1920s-1950s, with historical context and publishing data for each character.

The Great Pulp Heroes by Don Hutchison The book documents the origins and evolution of pulp magazine characters from The Shadow to Doc Savage, with publication histories and cultural impact.

The Art of the Pulps by Douglas Ellis, Ed Hulse, and Robert Weinberg This volume presents the cover art and illustrations from major pulp magazines with background information on the artists and publishing houses.

Pulp Culture by Frank M. Robinson, Lawrence Davidson The text examines pulp magazines' influence on American pop culture through reproductions of covers, advertisements, and interior artwork from 1896-1955.

The Wild West of Fiction by Ron Goulart The book traces Western pulp magazines' development from dime novels through their golden age with publication data and historical context.

🗞️ The term "pulp fiction" comes from the cheap wood pulp paper used to print these magazines, which was far less expensive than the glossy paper used in "slick" magazines of the era 📚 Author Ed Hulse has been studying and collecting pulp magazines for over 40 years and is considered one of the leading authorities on pulp fiction and film serials 🎬 Many classic Hollywood films were adapted from pulp stories, including "King Kong," "The Maltese Falcon," and "Tarzan of the Apes" 💰 During the peak of pulp magazine publishing in the 1920s and 1930s, writers could earn between one and five cents per word, allowing prolific authors to make a comfortable living 📖 The most successful pulp magazine was "Argosy," which reached a circulation of half a million copies per issue in its heyday and published works by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Max Brand