Reviews - Pulp Fiction 2

One of the things that really appealed to me about this crime fiction novel was its small scale. So often we read stories where the fate of the world hangs in the balance and everything ticks down to a final, last-hope second. Lost Dog is about the type of murder you hear or read about in the local news (unfortunately almost every day). And because the victim was a prostitute any follow-up coverage usually migrates from the front page to somewhere inside the Metro section of the local newspaper. It was a real pleasure to read a well-told story about a "small" crime and how it affects and tangles the lives of the witness, the investigator—even the murderer—and the people around them.

The story is set in Portland, Oregon where author Cameron lives, and he includes a lot of references to local landmarks and neighborhoods. It was fun to see familiar landmarks like Powell's Bookstore and Lloyd Center as background for the story.

Cameron includes enough action and surprises to keep things interesting, but he also invests considerably effort in character development. He's an able storyteller and creates solid connections between the reader and the characters that adds to the story's impact and its feeling of realism. By the end, he even turns the unsympathetic victim from a stereotype into a real person with a tragic and troubled past.

In the acknowledgments Cameron thanks several officers in the Portland Police Bureau for their help. His research into investigative techniques and procedures help bring the story an authentic voice.

If you've ever wondered about the backstory of a murder victim on society's fringe—the kind that makes a perfect tease for the local tabloid news and is then dropped after its done its job—Lost Dog offers one believable version that's not so easy to forget.

Lost Dog is available directly from the publisher Midnight Ink and from bookstores, like Borders.

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Zine of Bronze #3
edited by Jim Main

I thoroughly enjoyed the third issue of this zine for fans of Doc Savage. Editor Main did a nice job balancing the editorial content and Production Manager, Richard Sullivan's page layouts complement the content nicely. Main also started a letters page that adds to the overall reading experience. These improvements and the fact that Main is now offering subscriptions make it feel like this zine is well on its way to establishing its place in Doc Savage fandom and in the Main Enterprises line of zines.

The lead feature - the highlight of the issue - is an excellent short fiction, His Last Hand, written by Arthur Sippo in the style of a Doc Savage yarn. Next up, Dennis Kininger reviews Bantam Books' Doc Savage paperbacks #7-9 with plot summaries and able commentary. The collectibles page focuses on print this time, with select pulp covers, a poster, the first issue of Gold Key's comic, and a puzzle package circa 1975 from Whitman Publishing. Brendan Faulkner follows with a speculative piece about a 1930's Doc Savage movie serial. He posits a different approach from each of the era's three leading studios, shaped by their strengths and resources. It's a well researched and insightful exploration of what might have been. The issue concludes with Sam Gafford's interesting biography on the career of artist James Bama. Artwork for this issue includes a nice collection of pulp, paperback, and painting repros as well as original spot illustrations by Jack Bertram, Dan W. Taylor, and Tim Faurote. The full color covers are by Tim Faurote (front) and Dave Farley (back). Zine of Bronze #3, 20 b&w pages, plus full color covers. $4 postage paid from Main Enterprises.

Dark Corridor #1
edited by Jim Main

It's great to see a new outlet for fans and writers of weird tales and macabre fiction. Dark Corridor debuts with three short stories and an illustrated poem. The Zoo by Michael Vance concerns a public outing to an exhibition of souls Moreau himself would approve of. The tale is illustrated by Greg Woronchak. Showtime by Sam Gafford recounts the rise to power and influence of children's television star Captain Billy. Gafford provides the illustration for this yarn as well and the prose. Picked Clean by Michael Vance takes us away from the mainland, to a remote island where tales of mermaids and treasure may not deliver their rewards exactly as their rumors promise. Dan W. Taylor supplies the illustrations for this fable as well as the striking cover image. Malachi is a 5-page entry featuring full page illustrations by Armando Abeleda with accompanying verse by Brian Osborne. Additional full page illustrations are provided by Larry Johnson (inside front cover), Michael Connolly (inside back cover), Roger Foucault (full color back cover) and the late Michael Roden (editor's page). Richard Sullivan is the Production Manager. Dark Corridor is a great title and a welcome addition to the zine world. Its tales are well written and Main's team of illustrators are consistently talented. It's a nit, but I'm used to reading this type of fiction in a pulp- or digest-size package, so it takes a little getting used to the magazine-size of this publication. But one improvement I would like to see for the next edition, is the column layout. The single-column width in the first issue requires extra effort to read. I really hope the next issue sports a two- or three- column layout. Regardless, I look forward to many more issues of this exciting new venture into the dark corridors of imagination. Dark Corridor #1 is $4.50 postage paid from Main Enterprises, 13 Valley View Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804. Top

High Adventure #91
edited by John P. Gunnison

This issue features a Phantom Detective reprint called The Sign of the Scar by Robert Wallace from Sept. 1936. The Scar is the criminal mastermind orchestrating a series of massive catastrophes that threaten the lives of hundreds in New York City. His exorbitant demands for ransom must be met with a swift response by the city fathers or the Scar will unleash the next disaster. As the clock ticks away precious minutes, the Phantom must use all of his wits and resources to defuse the next devastating event and uncover the identity and location of the elusive Scar. This tale is well written, suspenseful, and loaded with good pulp fiction action. Editor Gunnison includes 3 back-up short stories from the original pulp by L.G. Blochman, Arthur J. Burks, and C.F. Bonham; plus a bonus yarn by Joe Archibald from the July 1937 Ten Detective Aces. The cover is a beaut by Rudolph Belarski. High Adventure is available from Adventure House for $7.95 plus postage.

The Red Death Rain by Grant Stockbridge (Norvell Page)

When you immerse yourself in a good pulp fiction yarn it's a prerequisite to leave reality outside the reading room door. I'm more than willing, but I really struggled with this one. Usually the fact that these stories were written in the 1930's and 1940's adds to their mystique. Unfortunately in this case, The Red Death Rain just felt really dated. This time out the diabolical threat is an insidious chemical added to cigarettes that sentences anyone smoking them to a horrible death. It may have been clever idea in 1934, but today it just seemed ridiculous and I couldn't get past it. The first two-thirds of the novel dragged. Thankfully, the concluding 50 pages were excellent - packed with action, suspense, and excitement in the Spider's showdown with the evil Red Mandarin and the mysterious Ya Che. Sometimes when you persevere with the hope that a novel or a movie will improve, it actually does. That payoff only make it sweeter. Top

Note: The cover shown is Carroll & Graf's third volume from their 8-volume series that featured two Spider reprints in each book. In this case: Death's Crimson Juggernaut and The Red Death Rain.

Tishomingo Blues
by Elmore Leonard

Wow! Leonard delivers another sizzling modern-day pulp fiction joy ride. An aging, Olympic champion diver books a Summer gig at a large hotel in the deep South. He's a daredevil with two shows a day, leaping off the hotel roof into a diving pool that looks like the size of a half dollar from 80 feet up. His steely nerves catch the eye of a rising crime boss and our diver friend is soon immersed in the brewing storm between the Dixie Mafia and his smooth talking new associate.

Leonard's writing and dialogue are so good his odious characters sidle up right into your space before you even know they're there. You can't help being pulled in as he slowly unfurls the impending power play, compelling you from one page to the next. Website. Top

Zine of Bronze #2
Edited by Jim Main

Most of the pulp fiction I've read has been centered around crime and detection. So I have to admit I've never read a Doc Savage yarn. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this zine from Main Enterprises. With its full color cover and clean production values, the Zine of Bronze has the feel of a newsstand magazine, but reads more like a letter from home. That is, one that's all about the world of Lester Dent, Doc Savage, and everything related. Editor "Grim" Jim opens the book with a call to action for fans of the Doc to send in contributions for future issues. Denis Kininger follows with a salute to Buckaroo Banzai. Sam Gafford contributes a photo album of Doc Savage collectables. The issue concludes with book reviews of a nicely varied collection of Doc-related titles. This is a great zine for fans of the bronze Doctor. 16 b&w pages, plus full color cover. Available at the Main Enterprises website. Top
Artwork © Tim Faurote

The Silent Seven
by Walter B. Gibson (aka Maxwell Grant)

Originally published in 1932, this paperback reprint came out in 1975 with another wonderful cover by Steranko. This is an early Shadow story (the seventh), and while it's an enjoyable pulp novel with plenty of exciting moments, the overall flow isn't as tightly plotted as others in the series. The Seven's secret rituals are a bit silly, instead of being mysterious and foreboding.

Despite its rough edges, The Silent Seven still delivers much of the trademark atmosphere, action, and style that made The Shadow one of the best pulp magazines of its era. I used the Alibris website to find this edition and several other classic Shadow reprints from the Pyramind series. Top

Critical Mass by Steve Martini

A nuclear bomb in the hands of a terrorist and a mercenary threatens the United States is this taut thriller. On one level this is an exciting, well-crafted story of espionage. The heroes unravel successive mysteries of the imminent threat just-in-time as the pages and the clock run out. Yet, Martini's story is rooted in the modern world of complicated politics, out-of-control mass media, tangled personal agendas, and evil. From this backdrop, his characters emerge. Each with their own histories, motivations, and abilities. Unfortunately these characters are believable. This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that'll keep you thinking long after you've turned the last page. Website. Top

The Hunt Club by John Lescroart

This novel introduces private investigator Wyatt Hunt and his Hunt Club agency that operates out of San Francisco. The story opens with a discerning anecdote from Hunt's past and follows the ensuing events that lead him toward his new profession as an investigator. It's a clever origin backstory that also provides clues to his motivations and character. With this groundwork laid, the real story begins: A double murder case of a federal court judge and his mistress; both shot to death in his home.

Lescroart delivers a solid crime fiction story, uncovering twists and false leads as the truth is progressively revealed. The novel and its characters are well developed with plenty of sub-plots and secondary action that complement the main event nicely. Hunt's relationship with the police is an asset to this novel too. He's good friends with the investigating homicide detective on the case and they actually work together instead of being stereotypical adversaries.

The Hunt Club is the beginning of a great new series of detective fiction. Lescroart's second installment is out now entitled, The Suspect. Website Top

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Reviews - Pulp Fiction 2

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Lost Dog by Bill Cameron

Zine of Bronze #3 edited by Jim Main

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High Adventure #91 edited by John P. Gunnison