Reviews for Encyclopedia of pulp fiction writers

The average rating for Encyclopedia of pulp fiction writers based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-04-21 00:00:00 Peter Collins A most useful work of reference and a superb read, 'Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers' has more than 200 entries for writers of this type of fiction. Obviously there are hundreds more but identifying them and getting information on them, who by the nature of their work and their use of pseudonyms were probably less well-known than many writers. (It has made me consider going through my shelves and identifying what I feel is pulp fiction and listing names of other authors of the genre ... what for I am not sure, amusement perhaps!) An excellent historical introduction begins with the senational literature of the 19th century and works its way through the Edwardian era to the heyday of the pulps, the 1920s and 1930s, when such as 'Black Mask' and 'Amazing Stories' were at their zenith. The author then points out that although in the 1970s and 1980s pundits decried the death of the novel and the "new illiteracy", pulp fiction continued to find its way onto the market. Then comes the author entries, all most fascinating and it is a delight to find some names therein that match pulp fiction on one's shelves. Everyone will have their own interpretation of pulp fiction and its writers but there are some unusual entries in the list of authors. Is Ian Fleming really a pulp fiction writer? I appreciate that James Bond was not immediately successful but whether the novels fit into the pulp fiction category is debatable. Others that raise eyebrows are such as Grace Metalious of 'Peyton Place' fame, and, whatever one thinks of Jackie Collins's novels, is she truly a pulp fiction writer in the true meaning of the genre? Debatable perhaps. This does not detract from the book which is a must for collectors of this field and an invaluable reference work to be dipped into at any time.

Review # 2 was written on 2007-10-26 00:00:00 Lisa Renee Williams Lee Server knows his subject matter well! A must for those who like to read - and 'pulp' writing and its writers are the underbelly of all literature. I revisited my favorites as well as discovered some new names in this volume. A wonderful wonderful book.