For PulpFest 2023, we have The Pulpster #32. It’s the biggest regular issue so far at 80 pages. Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend this year’s event.
There were several anniversaries this year, so this issue has several sets of articles for 100 years of Sport Story, which was also featured on the cover; the pulp heroes of 1933; ERBFest 2023; Weird Tales; Fiction House (continued from the last issue); and others.
Sport Story Magazine was the first all-sports pulp from Street & Smith, which lasted for two decades for twice a month. Michelle Nolan provides two articles: one on the pulp itself, and another on two of its annuals with some unique characteristics. I’ve never being a big sports fan, and this genre never interested me. But as I know there are many who are into sports, I would think this was a successful genre.
For the pulp heroes, we have to have Will Murray representing with an article on the pulp-hero explosion in the wake of The Shadow, along with a timeline sidebar of the pulp hero from 1931 to 1958. I didn’t think I’d learn anything new in these, but I did. Craig McDonald looks at Pat Savage, one of the rare female pulp heroes. Sara Light-Waller has an article on the Robin-Hood-like pulp hero of The Moon Man. (You can now read his entire run in reprint.)
Tied to ERBFest 2023, which is part of PulpFest, we get an article, by Henry G. Franke III, on Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Moon Trilogy, which was also a warning against communism, something I didn’t catch on to when I read it as a kid. I also had a problem of confusing the centaur-like Va-gas with the Kalkars. And Jess Terrell looks to the future of the ERB heroes with their new character Victory Harben, whom they’ve made the center of several novels and comics. If you’re not familiar with her, this is a good overview of her and where she has appeared.
For Weird Tales, Tony Davis provides a couple of articles on Hugh Hefner and his love of Weird Tales and the pulps. And Darrell Schweitzer provides a reminiscence from Frank Belknap Long on his writings.
Continuing from last issue’s articles on Fiction House, we get part two of Michael Chomko’s article on the firm, this time going into their rebirth, including their involvement with comicbooks. And Roger Hill provides an interview with publisher Thurman T. Scott, who was involved with that rebirth.
Poetry is a part of pulps that many today overlook, and so editor Bill Lampkin brings together various odes to the pulps from the writer’s magazines. Maybe they can do a poetry reading at PulpFest?
It’s another great issue. Again, even if you missed out on PulpFest, do not miss out on getting a copy. You can order them on The Pulpster’s website. We also get an update on when next year’s event will be, and what the themes will be. Sounds like fun!
