Sticking It to the Man: Revolution and Counterculture in Pulp and Popular Fiction, 1950 to 1980

by Iain McIntyre (Editor), Andrew Nette (Editor)

From Civil Rights and Black Power to the New Left and Gay Liberation, the 1960s and 1970s saw a host of movements shake the status quo. The impact of feminism, anti-colonial struggles, wildcat industrial strikes, and anti-war agitation were all felt globally. With social strictures and political structures challenged at every level, pulp and popular fiction could hardly remain unaffected. Feminist, gay, lesbian, Black and other previously marginalised authors broke into crime, thrillers, erotica, and other paperback genres previously dominated by conservative, straight, white males. For their part pulp hacks struck back with bizarre takes on the revolutionary times creating vigilante driven fiction that echoed the Nixonian backlash and the coming conservatism of Thatcherism and Reaganism. From the late 1950s onwards, Sticking It to The Man tracks the changing politics and culture of the period and how it was reflected in pulp and popular fiction in the US, UK, and Australia. Featuring 400 full-colour covers, the book includes in-depth author interviews, illustrated biographies, articles, and reviews from more than 30 popular culture critics and scholars. Works by street level hustlers turned best-selling Black writers Iceberg Slim, Nathan Heard and Donald Goines, crime heavyweights Chester Himes, Ernest Tidyman and Brian Garfield, Yippies Anita Hoffman and Ed Sanders, and best-selling authors such as Alice Walker, Patricia Nell Warren and Rita Mae-Brown, plus a myriad of lesser-known novelists ripe for rediscovery, are explored, celebrated, and analysed.

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction, History, Pulp

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2019

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2018, Andrew Nette and Iain McIntrye took the study of vintage paperbacks into a new realm of academic analysis and excellence with their book about vintage “Teensploitation” novels, GIRL GANGS, BIKER BOYS, AND REAL COOL CATS. Their book STICKING IT TO THE MAN is an equally fascinating follow-up. The subtitle — REVOLUTION AND COUNTERCULTURE IN PULP AND POPULAR FICTION, 1950 TO 1980 — is a shorthand description of the types of paperbacks it features. Most of the chapters focus on paperbacks written about or by people who were social outcasts or anti-establishment rebels of one kind or another in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s: Hippies, Yippies, revolutionaries, gays and lesbians, street level vigilantes, and other boundary pushers. But what’s covered in the more than 30 chapters and scores of sidebars and interviews inside is even more wide-ranging than the subtitle suggests. And, STICKING IT TO THE MAN goes far beyond thumbnail descriptions of the novels it features. It provides profiles of the authors and historical background that help place the books in their social context, written by over 20 knowledgeable contributors and lushly illustrated with more than 300 cover scans and photos. Nette and McIntyre used a similar approach in GIRL GANGS and I loved that one. If anything, I love STICKING IT TO THE MAN even more. I consider both must-haves for anyone who has an interest in vintage paperbacks — even if that interest is simply in looking at cool covers and discovering some reading ideas. If you’re also interested in the social context of paperbacks published from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, they’re even more essential.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was informative.

I didn't know that popular fiction was such an outlet for marginalized communities, back in the days: black people, LGBTQ+, war veterans, even alienated workers had their own fiction to actualize themselves in. The book itself is more of a panorama of how diverse and creative pulp novels were, rather than an in-depth study but it sure shows how globalizing and homogenizing culture hasn't worked well for the oppressed. Pulp used to have its own market, not just a subculture.

There's an aura of cheapness around mid-century literature, but this book argues quite convincingly that this perception is wrong.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really interesting learning about various movements and genres of pulp literature throughout the past several decades. I had no idea so much of the literature was so subversive and/or pushed the envelope of what was deemed ‘acceptable.’ It was really eye-opening in that regard. Particularly shocking was how different the source material for ‘Rambo’ differed from the movie. That was a real eye-opener. It’s really remarkable how pervasive right wing propaganda has been in the media since I have been born in the eighties.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference loaded with slick shots of paperback covers. The book is divided into essays that focus on specific topics or individual authors. Racism and sexism are major themes and sadly the issues addressed by the novels are still relevant, sometimes even more so, today. My favorite essay was also the first one, the excellent piece by Scott Alderberg, "Survival Mode: The Crime Fiction of Charles Himes". Two other highlights were "Hog Butcher, Ronald L. Fair" by Michael Gonzales and "Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light, John A. Williams" by Andrew Nette (one of the editors of this volume).

[Gawain Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine volume in a keenly edited trilogy examining pulp fiction in America, Australia, and UK in the 50s, 60s & 70s. With this informed collection of clear-eyed essays on individual writers, genres, and the era, Sticking It To The Man succinctly analyzes the times, books, characters, and writers, and vividly brings to pulpy life an era of social upheaval, counterculture, change - and lots of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

A stellar cadre of savvy writers examine the impact this revolutionary zeitgeist had on pulp novels, and vice versa. Flashpoints of sexuality, race, class, capitalism, war, colonialism, and politics are treated with gravity, and affection. As lovingly curated as the text, is the mind-blowing showcase of book covers that complement the essays. In all their pulp, even fine art glory, they’re a wild window to the psyche of a legendary era.

Choice quotes, solid synopses, a real sense of nuance, cool interviews, a fascinating mix of pulp names and lesser-known writers, plus full spectrum genre-mashing, make this a smart, fresh, entertaining book. Well recommended for pulp hounds, freaks, and the subversive.

[I.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at genre fiction based around Marginalized people and revolutionary ideas. You’ll find something to track down inside for sure. The one thing I noticed is an outright dismissal of lots of books and genres (spy fiction, vigilante, etc) and an occasional leap to over praise others. That said you will absolutely learn a lot about forgotten authors here so mission accomplished. I just think the girl gangs book they did previously was better. On to the sci fi one next!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting shockers and taboo breakers of the past: total assault on the culture, survival mode, the cool, the square and the tough, resilence, young, hip and angry, black is beautiful, what men fear, Shaft, Dirty Harry, Death Wish... what a nice stroll through those years with tons of recommendations what to read for further studies. Really recommended!