PulpFest 2014 wrap-up

I’ve titled this post “PulpFest 2014 wrap-up.” But I’m sure this won’t be the last post mentioning PulpFest 2014.

A week ago yesterday, PulpFest 2014 was just getting under way. Two-and-a-half days later, it was almost over, and I was leaving Columbus, Ohio.

So much was condensed into those days at PulpFest. I got only about five hours of sleep a night, but even that seemed wasted time. The days were divided into three P’s: pulps, people and programs.

Daytime was mostly spend in the dealers’ room, looking for pulp treasure.

And speaking of the dealers’ room, here’s a five-minute, time-lapse video I shot of the room coming alive on Saturday morning:

Early on, I scored a long-sought item: six volumes of Leonard Robbins‘ “The Pulp Magazine Index.” It’s been on my want-list for years. I’d seen a volume or two for sale here and there, but never the complete set. My thanks to Bill Mann, publisher emeritus of Age of Aces Books, for offering a great deal on the set.

After that, it was just icing on the cake, as they say. I picked up a couple of issues of Unknown that I’d wanted for a while, and five sports pulps. I also brought home the three volumes of Age of Aces’ “Capt. Philip Strange” books and their “Coffin Kirk” PulpFest special; some Blood ‘n’ Thunder magazines; and a few other books found on dealer’s tables here and there.

For the “people” part: Lunches and dinners were spent eating and talking with fellow pulp fans. After the evening programming, I joined the old “Internet Fans of Bronze” gang for several hours of late-night talk over root beers and diet Dr Peppers.

As I’ve said before about pulp gatherings, it’s the people that make cons worth going to. Sure, you can find boxes and boxes of pulps, but it’s being able to talk with folks who share your love of the pulps that is the real treasure.

The final “P” took care of my evenings. Following dinner excursions (usually to Max & Erma’s across the street from the hotel), I planted myself a few rows back from the front for the day’s panels and talks. Most were good, but several were excellent.

As most readers of Yellowed Perils or ThePulp.Net know, I’ve posted audio recordings of 13 of the programs on TPN‘s PulpFest 2014 coverage page. Or, if you prefer, you can listen via TPN‘s Pulp Event Podcast.

If you didn’t attend PulpFest 2014, it is well worth your time to give them a listen.

As Walker Martin says in his con report, this was a top-notch con.

Hats off to the PulpFest committee — Jack and Sally Cullers, Barry Traylor, Mike Chomko, Ed Hulse and Chuck Welch — for all the hard work they did. It showed in every minute of the con.

I can’t wait for next year!