Newsgroups had been popular online gathering spots for pulp fans since the early 1990s. But, boy, have times changed.
Back in 2015, we put together a comprehensive list of pulp newsgroups, with participation rankings. By then, social media was already booming and most users migrated from Usenet, Google Groups, and the now-defunct Yahoo Groups.
Most of the original posts from the pulp-related Usenet groups linger on the internet, but the majority of current posts are spam. The groups are still useful by searching for information in historical posts.
At one point, there were at least 30 pulp-related groups on Yahoo Groups. But after over 20 years, Yahoo shuttered all groups in late 2020. Some of the groups migrated to Groups.io; those that we are aware of are listed below.
Other pulp groups on Yahoo moved to Facebook. Pulp-related groups have proliferated on Facebook in recent years, so we’re not going to try to maintain a listing here. Just keep in mind that if you use Facebook, you can quickly search for groups there.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of newsgroups from a variety of locations — Usenet, Yahoo Groups and Google Groups — to help make it easier for you to find other fans interested in the topics you’re interested in. To participate in groups on Yahoo or Google, you will need to have a free account. Many of the Yahoo Groups are moderated (to help prevent spam) and may require approval by the moderator to participate.
In addition to the web-based groups on Usenet, Yahoo and Google, we’ve also included a section devoted to pulp groups on the social network Facebook.
If you know of a pulp-related newsgroup not listed here, please let us know about it.
Usenet groups
- alt.fan.doc-savage
- Topic: Doc Savage
Comments: This Usenet group also can be accessed through Google Groups. - alt.fantasy.conan
- Topic: Robert E. Howard’s Conan
It also can be accessed through Google Groups. - alt.fantasy.er-burroughs
- Topic: Author Edgar Rice Burroughs
It also can be accessed through Google Groups. - alt.horror.cthulhu
- Topic: H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos
It also can be accessed through Google Groups. - alt.pulp
- Topic: The pulps
This Usenet group was the hub of the online pulp community in the late ’90s and early 2000s. It also can be accessed through Google Groups.
Groups.io groups
- Fictionmags
- Topic: All fiction magazines, plus other related discussions. This group maintained its robust activity despite the move to Groups.io.
- JohnstonMcCulleyZorro
- Topic: Author McCulley and his characters
- Pulp Magazines
- Topic: Pulp magazines
- Pulp Scans
- Topic: Preserving pulp magazines by scanning
- WesternPulps
- Topic: Western pulp fiction
Facebook groups
Most of these groups are “public” in the sense that anyone on Facebook can join and participate, but a Facebook account is required. For “private” groups, you will need to request to join.
If you know of a pulp-related group on Facebook not listed here, please let us know about it.
- Agents of The Shadow
- Topic: The Shadow.
Comments: This group is affiliated with the old Cobalt Club website run by James Trimm. - Bronze Pastiches
- Topic: High adventure heroes inspired by Doc Savage of the pulps.
- Edgar Rice Burroughs: Worlds of Adventure
- Topic: For fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs and his fantastic worlds of Tarzan, Barsoom and Pellucidar, as well as other ERB creations.
- Emperor of Dreams: Devotees of Clark Ashton Smith
- Topic: A group devoted to “the life and works of Clark Ashton Smith, last of the great romantic poets and author of many SF and weird tales in the golden age of the pulps.”
- Flearun – A Doc Savage Group
- Topic: Doc Savage.
Comments: If the name Flearun rings a bell, it’s no surprise. Chuck Welch’s Hidalgo Trading Company runs this Facebook group that’s devoted to the Man of Bronze. It’s affiliated with Chuck’s other HTC pages on the web and the Flearun group at Yahoo. - G-8, Operator #5, The Red Falcon, Philip Strange, Richard Knight
- Topic: This group focuses on the pulp heroes mentioned in its title.
- H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
- Topic: “Chronicling the strange goings on of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.”
- The International Robert E Howard Fan Association
- Topic: “We celebrate not only the barbaric writings of Robert E. Howard, but his impact and influence in pop culture.”
- The Pulp Adventure League
- Topic: All types and genres of pulp, including classic and New Pulp.
- The Pulp Heroes
- Topic: As the name implies, heroes from the pulp magazines, including The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Spider, The Phantom, Tarzan, Captain Future and others.
- Pulp Magazine Authors and Literature Fans
- Topic: All aspects and genres of the pulp magazines from the 1920s through ’50s.
- Pulp Talk
- Topic: Pulp stories of all varieties.
- Pulpera
- Topic: Mostly on New Pulp, but occasionally include classic pulp magazine topics.
- Robert E. Howard Readers
- Topic: The life and literary works of Robert E. Howard.
- The Shadow Knows!
- Topic: The Shadow and The Avenger.
Comments: The full name of this group is “The Shadow Knows! The Master of Darkness and Justice, Inc. — Richard Benson.” - Southern Pulpsters
- Topic: A new group for pulp magazine fans who live in the Southeastern United States.
- The Spider — Master of Men
- Topic: The Spider.
- Two Gun Bob — The Worlds of Robert E. Howard
- Topic: The works of Robert E. Howard.
