When people ask me my favorite book genres, I generally say adventure stories and classics. But, there’s another genre that instantly springs to mind, but is perhaps a little less well-known: Pulps.
But, what are pulps exactly? Originally, they weren’t a genre onto themselves. Rather, they were a collection of stories (mostly crime/mystery and adventure) that were mass-produced and printed on cheap “pulp” paper. The stories often feature high emotion, overly dramatic situations and are meant to be read quickly and to keep readers clamoring for the next installment. In short, they were cheap, thrilling page-turners meant to sell.
Today, the term pulp has a slightly different meaning. While before, it referred to books published in those cheap magazines, now it refers not only to those titles, but to books written in that style. So, we’re talking tales of high adventure with larger-than-life heroes and villains. Pulp heroes like The Shadow and Doc Savage were the prototypes of the superheroes we have today. You can find tons of Shadow DNA in Batman’s adventures, and both Superman and Indiana Jones owe a lot to Doc Savage. Even groups like The Avengers or the Fantastic Four can be traced back to the pulp hero The Avenger, and his group of associates, Justice Inc. or to Doc Savage’s Fabulous Five.
If you’re curious about the weird and wild world of pulps, then look no further! The two books I have here are meant to provide an overview of the topic and to introduce readers to the literature of a bygone era. While many pulps are more difficult to find “in the wild” there are plenty of modern adaptation of some of the most famous characters (you’ll find about a dozen comics about the Shadow in our digital collection!) and curious readers will have plenty to keep them entertained!
Pulp Power: The Shadow, Doc Savage, and the Art of the Street & Smith Universe (Neil McGuinness)
This is such a cool book! Providing a nice overview of the history of pulps, Pulp Power dives into the legacy of some of the biggest pulp heroes, including The Shadow (a mysterious caped vigilante who fights crime outside of the law) and Doc Savage: a (super)man of incorruptible morals and limitless wealth who uses his fortune and power to right wrongs and fight evil, wherever it rears its ugly head.
Other lesser-know, but no less awesome heroes are also included, such as Nick Carter, The Avenger, and the Whisperer. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the pulps or new to the genre, there is plenty to enjoy here. This huge book weighs about five pounds and is packed with gorgeous, high-quality color illustrations of the original pulp covers, and is not to be missed!
A History of the Doc Savage Adventures in Pulps, Paperbacks, Comics, Fanzines, Radio, and Film (Robert Michael “Bobb” Carter)
The Shadow will always hold a special place in my heart as my first pulp hero. But, if I could only read one pulp series for the rest of my life, it would have to be Doc Savage. The Man of Bronze is just so cool, so exciting, and so full of surprises. I collect the books (I have at least 70!), and I even have t-shirts and stickers. I love the (somewhat polarizing) 1975 film, Man of Bronze (and I have it on DVD). In short, I’m a big Doc Savage fan. Whether you’re new to this series or you’re a fan like me who just wants to learn as much as possible about one of the coolest heroes of the 1930s (and beyond), then you’ll have to check out this title on Libby!
