Pulp Books

CARRY TIGER TO MOUNTAIN: THE TAO OF ACTIVISM AND LEADERSHIP pairs a modern interpretation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching to Western leadership goals and values, considering how these principles can be applied in a new era of spirituality in activism. Experiences of present leaders of social causes blend with the author's own decades of experience as a social and political activist: from mistakes to ego in organizational management, everything is covered.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is a fascinating book about carrying the Tao of Lao Tzu to leadership in social issues and activist movements in Western Civil society. It is a timely book about the role of spirituality in activism that covers the left side of the social and political spectrum. It is a relief to see that the whold world hasn't been converted to the fundamentalist Christian conservative side.

Steph Legault offers an unusual perspective on activism in his new, thought-provoking book. It is a highly personal take on the spiritual, passionate nature of taking part in the world in a positive way. While I think it's a great book for "professional" activists to read, I also think the person who lives life actively will get something out of too. Highly recommended!

(I should also disclose that Steph interviewed me for the book, but I'd like it even if he didn't!)

The new collection from Canada's Arsenal Pulp Press not only takes you on a virtual trip around the world, it also features some of the most exciting erotica around (I should know, since I read and review quite a bit of it). These are tales of sex with saints and strangers, in saunas and subways. These authors took their task of bringing a city to life seriously, and have crafted stories which richly describe locales such as Vancouver, Sydney, San Francisco and Berlin, as well as famous landmarks such as the U.S. Mint (Andi Mathis's "Penny Candy" is not to be missed!), and the Sistine Chapel. Featuring some of the most prominent writers in the field,the main attraction of these stories, besides the erotic aspect, is that they are proudly set in a city -- be it England, India or my very own New York City.

Mecca Normal's Jean Smith contributes The Pink City, an evocative tale of a traveler to Jaipur who finds much more than a colorful landscape, while Thomas Roche tells an amusingly hot story about climbing St.Stephansdom in Vienna, to receive a special treat from his girlfriend at the top. Lawrence Schimel takes us to New York City's Cloisters for some naughty sex in the bushes, and Ina Proeber offers a sauna visit to remember.

"She Was A Mountain of a Woman" is a delightful tale of a sexy female bodybuilder, which will leave you cheering for its athletic heroine and the woman who wants her.

One of my favorite stories, and one that I will not soon forget, is Nell Carberry's "Night Train." I don't want to give too much away, so let me just say that I'll never look at the New York subways that I ride each and every day in quite the same way after reading this story! Whether you ride public transportation or not,this story is hot!

Major kudos also must go to Janice J. Heiss for "Dr. Holl's Adventures in Wonderland," a brilliantly hilarious tale (and yes, a takeoff on the infamous Alice's adventures) about a sex researcher who learns how to relax and enjoy herself. Humor and erotica should mix more often!

All of the contributors took care to craft detailed stories that have as much to say about the characters as the locations. Exhibitions takes you on many journeys to farflung reaches of the world, and to tales of sex that are anything but ordinary.

Reviewed by Rachel Kramer Bussel of VenusorVixen

Given our current cultural climate, it'll probably be a while until you'll be able to read a book of erotica in public and have passersby think you're reading literature. It's a shame, really, since good erotic writing actually has more in common with short stories than with the "Forum" section of Penthouse. Such is the case with Exhibitions, a collection of stories about people having sex in public places, some of which may be true. Many of the pieces, including Ron Smith's "Desire" and Lawrence Schimel's "Frighten The Unicorns," use the kind of detailed imagery and pacing found in good fiction, while the former piece, in fact, doesn't even have any scenes of sexual contact. This is not to say that some of these pieces aren't arousing. "Night Train" by Nell Carberry, for example, has many of the hallmarks of a "Forum" letter, including a confessional tone, a woman seduced by a confident younger man, and lines such as, "I didn't feel safe around him." But when things get hot and heavy, Carberry avoids such Penthouse-ian tricks as using every euphemism for penis known to man, or making the guy sound like a super-human love machine. Of course, you'll probably still want to avoid reading this book in public--some people will never understand, no matter how convincing the evidence might be. But if you do, don't worry, you'll have nothing to be ashamed of.

--Paul Semel

This is the first erotica anthology I've read for a looonnngg time that is well-balanced between literary sexual arousal stories and good old retire to the bedroom sexy stories. These erotic stories are different than other anthologies because the stories have a fantastic twist -- they're set in public! I found the stories did what they were supposed to do for me, the reader. Plus, there are straight, lesbian, and gay stories all in one book. Seems like most anthologies are just one or the other, which is very boring. Exhibitions is far from boring -- I totally recommend it! Women and men (straight or not) will enjoy it. Good gift.

Wonderful. Strong writing, great characterizations. You could feel the settings and identify with quite a few of the characters.

I live backwards and love it. Read Volume II before Volume I. This has something for everyone and I am ever so thankful it was brought to my attention. Contains Bardic Tales, subtle romance and the downfalls of bad choices and greed even when second chance blows the "hero's" way. Excellent writes from all authors involved. Bravo!

Satisfies the hunger for more traditional fantasy, especially for those who are tired of Vampires in NYC, what-if sci-fi/fantasy mutant blends, and other such nonsense. Lots of solid "dark" fantasy here as well, with particularly strong contributions from Wagner and Heath-- just like in Volume I. Considering all the junk getting published today, Grimoire is a big-time bargain.

Walcott's poetry sweeps you along on a series of vivid and memorable images that leave you breathless.

Walcott's photograph on the back of the 1st edition sums up the feeling of Bounty- Sorrow, the grief of the death of friends and loved ones, faith in God seen "as through a glass darkly", the exhaustion of a sensitive man aware of his own mortality. Yet, through it all is the great sense of gratitude for the folk culture of the country that has nurtured him. And if he will not make great declarations of religious faith, he is thankful for the sun on the leaves, the ocean outside his door, the songs of Sessenne the folk singer of St. Lucia. Like Crusoe and Odysseus, this fortunate traveller has returned to his bench on the edge of the sea under the breadfruit leaves, "where stars and fireflies breed." This poet is past posturing. "The only art left is the preparation of grace", and even now, ever the bright eyed poet (behind the tears of the aging sage), he is "going down to the shallow edge to begin again." Walcott's only vocation has been poetry, his universe that of letters. In this he has never lost his faith.

READING THIS IS LIKE PAINTING A PORTRAIT . IT GLIMMER LIKE THE JEWEL OF THE CARRIBEANBLUE TONE IS A DEEP PATHOSOF PERSONAL EMOTION THAT COME ONLY COME FROM THE PEN OF ONE WHO LOVES HIS HOMELAMD AND WRITE ABOUT IT

A great collection of stories of the old pulp character, Anyone with an interest in the old pulps of the thirties and forties will enjoy this book. I'm glad to see a resurgeance of interest in these characters, A new series of reprints of the Spider is also on the way. Well worth the price. Buy it!

I have not gotten my copy yet, but feel I should make some comments on this book. It is great to see a resurgence in interest in the pulps. I hope we see new stories with The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Phantom Detective, G8 and His Battle Aces. These were great action packed series. Great escapism. Love it!!!

As long as there are those who still recall and love the glory days of the hero Pulp Magazine, the heroes will never die! Reprints were our only contact with the Master of Men, the Violent Avenger, until the release of this action-packed trade paperback! Pulp authorities such as Will Murry, Joe Gentile, and C.J. Henderson have cooked up a brand new batch of two-fisted tales that will make the true pulp fan slaver and drool. The earth-shaking artwork is a more realistic version of the Spider as described in the old magazines, but as he seldom appeared on the covers. This collection is a Royal Flush. You can't beat it. It leaves the true pulp fan longing for other hero collections: Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Avenger, G-8, The Green Lama, etc. Now if I went story by story, I might ding a few authors, but as a cillection, solid pulp! Quote the Raven...

I am amazed this book is not in the top echelon of Amazon's sales. It is obviously because of the price the publisher has placed on it. But I assure you it is worth the price. Reading this book not only brought back memories of old comic strips and radio drama's but drove me to the internet to check some of this out. Tim is an engaging writer. He isn't just writing history. He is making it interesting and exciting. You will discover facts about old forms of media and specific programs that you didn't know before. There is not a boring paragraph in the book. If the publisher is reading this - lower the price and with a little promotion you have a best seller.

A wonderful and engagingly written overview of the origins of iconic heroes and TV/movie dramas looking back at their genesis in the pulp, radio and comic strip forms of the early twentieth century. Many suprises such as the radio versions of Dragnet and Gunsmoke long before the TV series. Great overviews of all of the major genres of storytelling (detective, western, action, mystery/horror, sci-fi, jungle) with revelations on every page. Serial storytelling in comicbooks and TV owe a huge debt to the decades of stories already explored in the pulp and radio serials. This book is a terrific intro to these somewhat forgotten forms. It is too bad this slim paperback is SO expensive, but if you bite the bullit it is a genuinely rewarding read.

"Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics, and Radio" is an easy-reading, fun romp through the history of popular storytelling in America. You can feel DeForest's enthusiasm for his subject on every page-he has obviously read everything he writes about and has no qualms about expressing his critical feelings about what he has read. While reading I found myself wanting to hunt down copies of the stories under discussion to see if I felt they were as great or as rotten as the author believed they were. Did I hunt them down? Well, that's another story.

"Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics, and Radio" is an excellent survey of how storytelling has thrived in America through the various media that were popular at different times in our history. DeForest believes everybody loves a good story whatever its form of delivery, be it written, oral, or visual. Coverage includes dime novels, adventure stories, crime and detective stories, science fiction and strange stories, radio drama, and story based comics. An emphasis is placed on the role that changes in technology and economics played in the survival or demise of particular media. Particularly interesting is how many of America's greatest writers were involved, and how many, if not most, of America's favorite TV and movie heroes and heroines were born in the pulps, comics and radio shows of decades ago.

This book is probably best for those with little to average knowledge of the subject. Diehard pulp, comics and radio story fans, like DeForest, would probably not learn much here. They know it all already.

The only faults I find with this book are the high price tag (get your local library to buy a copy) and that DeForest blatantly omits the romance genre of his subject. So all of you women out there who might be interested in the history of the romance pulps and comics, you won't find it here. Deforest is too busy swashbuckling to swish you off your feet.

I have to admit that I actually did read this book and that I know the author and that I am one of the uncultured Philistines of Friday Snack Time mentioned on the frontispiece of the book. Therefore you can believe that I wrote this favorable review under threat of an ugly alien monster's death ray (which I didn't) or that it is all absolutely true (which it is).

It's a crying shame that this book was not priced at 10 cents so that everyone could afford to buy a copy.

Allen Novak, Librarian
Ringling School of Art and Design

HA HA! Allright. These are the coolest. If you like all those old covers from 50's, 60's "bad girl" books, you will dig this book. These are all the reefer smokin', heavy drinkin' deceit lovin' women from yesteryear. Girls these days just ain't as bad as they could be. GOOD STUFF!

A great postcard picture collection. i gave them to my girlfriend as a present, since she has wanted a collection of pulp covers for sometime now. She loved them, I loved them, and all of our friends that also saw them got a kick out of them.
All four of the pulp cover art books by Prion are highly recommended,whether you are a fan of pulp art or just like nice pictures in general. if you are a bit of a collector of pulp covers, get em all and add 92 excellent pictures to your collection.

This collection of pulp fiction postcards are both entertaining and provacative. Great conversation pieces! Pin up art at its best!

This is one of the few sources I have found for black and white interior artwork from the old SF magazines. If only there were more places I could find these rocketships, aliens, giant ants, babes with blasters and all the other paraphernalia of good old fashioned space opera.
My rating of "excellent" for this book must be tempered by the recognition that its subject matter isn't of interest to everybody. But for what it is, and for the audience it serves, it's priceless.
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This is a wonderful book.I bought many years ago the original french edition(HIER L'AN 2000,l'illustration de science-fiction des années 30,Denoël,1973)and I also own the british edition, published in 1975, by Souvenir Press(the book was printed in the USA).I met Jacques Sadoul at the 1969 SF Symposium in Rio de Janeiro,BRAZIL.Sadoul really knows the history of american science fiction.And he is a true admirer of the american writers and illustrators.For instance,he was very friendly with the late-and great-Alfred Elton Van Vogt,who wrote the INTRODUCTION of this work.Personally,I love the black&white interior illustrations made by VIRGIL FINLAY and A.LEYDENFROST and the covers by HOWARD V. BROWN and EARLE K. BERGEY.I'm constantly perusing the books reproducing BROWN's and BERGEY's covers for THRILLING WONDER STORIES and STARTLING STORIES.So,I highly recommend "2000 A.D.Illustrations from the Golden Age of Science-Fiction Pulps".It's a well researched and written book.And reproduces dozens of marvelous futuristic images.And,here,my homage to a few of the greatest science fiction illustrators of all time(they are all represented in this book):LEO MOREY,FRANK R.PAUL,WESSO(Hans Waldemar Wessolovski),HANNES BOK,STEPHEN LAWRENCE(Lawrence Stern Stevens&Peter Stevens),ELLIOT DOLD,J.ALLEN ST.JOHN,JULIAN S. KRUPA,WALTER POPP,PAUL ORBAN,ROD RUTH,ALEX SCHOMBURG,ROBERT FUCQUA and EDD CARTIER.

Tyson and Russell, both accomplished song writers in their own right, have taken great care to compile stories from a diverse gathering of song writers, both known and unknown. The chapters, each prefaced by one of the editor's own tales, are divided up by subject, but within each chapter the reader is treated to a wide variety of tales about the birth of songs, the struggles of writing, and the thrill having a song "make it." The mix of writers, from rock to folk to classical, means that there is something for everyone. But the great part about reading through the quotations and stories is discovering a writer you didn't previously know about, and learning something new by reading about their writing process. This is a great book for anyone who has ever written a song, a poem, a book, or even just a report for school. Within the struggle to create music and lyrics are the struggles we all face when create anything of meaning in our lives.

I read the book "And Then I wrote: the Songwriter speks because of the simple reason that I had seen Tom Russell life in my home town before and I was interested what this book was about when I saw it in the library. I had it for 6 weeks and read the whole book of quotes over and over again, and in the end I had the feeling that I could read it ten thousand times more. Yesterday I was at a show of his again, and I talked to him for a while and I got the feeling as if I had understood him much better because of this book.

With literary prowess, Ami Sands Brodoff weaves together a world of unsurpassed complications, that everyone can emphasize
with. A must read of the summer.

Ami Sands Brodoff has created a series of stories which, though disparate in subject matter, share a common theme: connections between people. In each story are quirky characters, some of whom we can relate to easily and others who are more odd than we usually like to admit we can be. These characters feel deeply and live vividly, being born, loving, hating, and dying in technicolour.

Their stories will draw you in and shake you up, and leave you feeling like you've gained something: insight, or perhaps a connection to an emotion you once felt. Read them and weep, or laugh, or just nod in sympathy and understanding.