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Black Pulp II
BLACK PULP returns with BLACK PULP II, a new volume of stories featuring characters of African origin, or descent, at the forefront. Developed by noted crime novelist Gary Phillips, BLACK PULP II brings together familiar authors and characters from the first anthology while introducing new creators and concepts crafting exciting new fiction with heroes of a darker hue. Between these covers are 12 new tales of action, adventures, and thrills presented by some of the most talented authors in New Pulp and Genre Fiction!
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2019
33 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Gary Phillips
199 books232 followersGARY PHILLIPS has been a community activist, labor organizer and delivered dog cages. He’s published various novels, comics, short stories and edited several anthologies including South Central Noir and the Anthony award-winning The Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir. Violent Spring, first published in 1994 was named in 2020 one of the essential crime novels of Los Angeles. He was also a writer/co-producer on FX’s Snowfall (streaming on Hulu), about crack and the CIA in 1980s South Central where he grew up. Recent novels include One-Shot Harry and Matthew Henson and the Ice Temple of Harlem. He lives with his family in the wilds of Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 27, 2023
Somehow, I missed the rollout of this sequel to the much-acclaimed anthology “Black Pulp.” Like its celebrated predecessor, “Black Pulp II” delivers many mind-blowing tales of black protagonists’ derring-do spanning ancient through modern times.
Unlike “Black Pulp,” however, this group of tales tries a bit too hard to conjure up the often blatantly racist settings of the past time periods they chronicle. There’s an excessive amount of the N-word (mouthed by blacks and whites alike, in some instances) and Asiatic stereotypes that, while historically accurate, are cringe-worthy. Although, author Gary Phillips gives fair warning in the anthology’s introduction that, “…let’s be clear, this effort is not some nod to political correctness, a much-maligned germ in our 24/7 world of social media.” He is correct, in that the tales are presented as if perhaps white editors allowed blacks to be portrayed in stronger not wholly subservient roles from the 18th century through the 1950s. Although, “Black Pulp II” is ultimately written today; thus, letting the actions of the villains show their intolerance rather than through sometimes constant slurs would have been better. So those with modern sensibilities take heed.
Still, Black Pulp II succeeds as a commendable attempt by black, white, and Latino authors to continue to turn the tide away from complaining about static presentations of blacks in entertainment to enthusiastically creating black heroes and heroines in a largely imaginative, powerful light. Here are brief summaries of each story:
Hide and Horns. A former Union Army soldier-turned-Texas Plains drifter encounters a fellow black man who is dying. Once dead, the drifter tries to do a good deed and have “Cramp” buried in the nearest town. He quickly learns, however, that the town is mostly white; the citizens have the feelings generally held in many post-Civil War 19th century frontier towns. Even the Chinese townspeople can’t be trusted, leaving the black drifter with only his weaponry and wits when the going gets quickly tough.
Hekalu ya Mwangaza. Kenyan man of action Changa Diop is indebted to Mombasa oligarch Dambudso. To pay him back, Changa is pressed into Dambudso’s quest for the mysterious “Temple of Light.” Changa realizes that “everyone has weakness,” even the seemingly powerful Dambudso, and soon finds himself battling a “bull-like creature” and hordes of warriors for not just treasure, but to save his life.
Agnes Viridian and the Men of Morgan. This is a mid-1920s tale of a black American female “practitioner of the arts,” or psychic of sorts, named Agnes Viridian. The London constabulary is baffled by a string of gory ritualistic murders, one of its victims being a prominent banker. Thus, Agnes is called in to help. Minotaurs, elves, and other supernatural sidekicks assist her in solving what appear to be “Death magick” murders.
Sacred Skull of the War Chief A Decimator Smith story. Decimator Smith appeared in the original “Black Pulp” anthology. This time, the former boxer-turned-Depression Era-P.I. is approached by a has-been criminal attorney for help in recovering Geronimo’s skull from “The Sons of Thirteen”: A knock-off of the Skull and Bones Ivy League fraternity of modern conspiracy lore who allegedly possess such a Native American relic. Teamed-up with “The Bronze Angel” (an autogyro-flying aviatrix), Decimator gets more than he bargained for, though, fighting off “Klanners” and “ghost warriors” in an attempt to recover the stashed skull.
Sweet Summer Rain. U.S. Marshal “Bolivia’s” report says he’s “a cowboy.” He should then fit right in Fremont, TX, right? Trouble is, he’s also a Haitian American who “looked like the sort of person that should be in handcuffs…” What’s more, he’s also smack-dab in a “War of Northern Aggression,” as described by the local police chief. Soon, bullets and racist barbs fly, in this down-home, 70’s fish-out-of-water action-adventure.
Hubris of Gods. A short story hewn from the sword-and-sandal school, this epic features armored ancient warrior Agara, Demon Beast of the Dark Lands, as she bests a Sumerian goddess and is soon off to battle the False Gods of the East who threaten the inhabitants of Urkor.
A Wolfe in the Pussycat Casino. Dexter Wolfe, “great detective and super-powered do-gooder,” is hired by a local gang lord to retrieve his missing childhood friend Sabrina Diaz. The job ends up attracting the usual kind of trouble for a black man hunting down suspects through the depths of the Depression Era South and then some.
Time’s Up! This is the longest of the anthology entries, featuring 80’s accidental “crime fighters” Coltrane Jones and Shep (“Sugar Hill’s answer to Batman and Robin”) diving into the doings of Brother X and Malik Shabazz: Two ex-cons who appear to be reformed, but also may be connected to Rico Santana who’s “…coldblooded with ice for a heart and dollar signs where his mind should be.”
Bahati and the Corners of Blood. “Archaeologist, treasure hunter, adventurer, and bachelor Dr. Birbry Carrington, a dashing forty-seven-year old tenured Classical/Mediterranean Archaeology professor at Cambridge University,” is a man of means and literal Indiana Jones wannabe who is mapping out his latest quest: An treasure hunt to the fabled Oak Island. Later, he’s off in search of a paranormal being called Bahati of the Maasai Tribe.
Bronzeville Blues. Max Bishop, bourbon-swigging “black private [detective],” must find “Chicago’s answer to Josephine Baker,” blues singer Veronica Gispaldi, in this Chicagoland missing person’s case that twists and turns in Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe film noir style.
Nandi. In this 1970’s African tale is a mix of Blaxploitation films of the era and superheroine fantasies of the 1930’s, crime-fighter Nandi of “The Land of Khanga” is on guard against the “monstrous offspring of the indigenous spirits…” who are too dangerous and may be responsible for a murder that may breach the “the Wall,” and lead to the kingdom’s conquest.
Rocket Crockett and the Pint-Sized Pirates. There’s over the top action and bravado aplenty, oozing from this 1950’s era Red Scare superhero tale of African American ace fighter pilot Rocket Crockett. Crockett is plunked down behind enemy lines in The Korean War only to find not Communists but a lost civilization of pirates!
Unlike “Black Pulp,” however, this group of tales tries a bit too hard to conjure up the often blatantly racist settings of the past time periods they chronicle. There’s an excessive amount of the N-word (mouthed by blacks and whites alike, in some instances) and Asiatic stereotypes that, while historically accurate, are cringe-worthy. Although, author Gary Phillips gives fair warning in the anthology’s introduction that, “…let’s be clear, this effort is not some nod to political correctness, a much-maligned germ in our 24/7 world of social media.” He is correct, in that the tales are presented as if perhaps white editors allowed blacks to be portrayed in stronger not wholly subservient roles from the 18th century through the 1950s. Although, “Black Pulp II” is ultimately written today; thus, letting the actions of the villains show their intolerance rather than through sometimes constant slurs would have been better. So those with modern sensibilities take heed.
Still, Black Pulp II succeeds as a commendable attempt by black, white, and Latino authors to continue to turn the tide away from complaining about static presentations of blacks in entertainment to enthusiastically creating black heroes and heroines in a largely imaginative, powerful light. Here are brief summaries of each story:
Hide and Horns. A former Union Army soldier-turned-Texas Plains drifter encounters a fellow black man who is dying. Once dead, the drifter tries to do a good deed and have “Cramp” buried in the nearest town. He quickly learns, however, that the town is mostly white; the citizens have the feelings generally held in many post-Civil War 19th century frontier towns. Even the Chinese townspeople can’t be trusted, leaving the black drifter with only his weaponry and wits when the going gets quickly tough.
Hekalu ya Mwangaza. Kenyan man of action Changa Diop is indebted to Mombasa oligarch Dambudso. To pay him back, Changa is pressed into Dambudso’s quest for the mysterious “Temple of Light.” Changa realizes that “everyone has weakness,” even the seemingly powerful Dambudso, and soon finds himself battling a “bull-like creature” and hordes of warriors for not just treasure, but to save his life.
Agnes Viridian and the Men of Morgan. This is a mid-1920s tale of a black American female “practitioner of the arts,” or psychic of sorts, named Agnes Viridian. The London constabulary is baffled by a string of gory ritualistic murders, one of its victims being a prominent banker. Thus, Agnes is called in to help. Minotaurs, elves, and other supernatural sidekicks assist her in solving what appear to be “Death magick” murders.
Sacred Skull of the War Chief A Decimator Smith story. Decimator Smith appeared in the original “Black Pulp” anthology. This time, the former boxer-turned-Depression Era-P.I. is approached by a has-been criminal attorney for help in recovering Geronimo’s skull from “The Sons of Thirteen”: A knock-off of the Skull and Bones Ivy League fraternity of modern conspiracy lore who allegedly possess such a Native American relic. Teamed-up with “The Bronze Angel” (an autogyro-flying aviatrix), Decimator gets more than he bargained for, though, fighting off “Klanners” and “ghost warriors” in an attempt to recover the stashed skull.
Sweet Summer Rain. U.S. Marshal “Bolivia’s” report says he’s “a cowboy.” He should then fit right in Fremont, TX, right? Trouble is, he’s also a Haitian American who “looked like the sort of person that should be in handcuffs…” What’s more, he’s also smack-dab in a “War of Northern Aggression,” as described by the local police chief. Soon, bullets and racist barbs fly, in this down-home, 70’s fish-out-of-water action-adventure.
Hubris of Gods. A short story hewn from the sword-and-sandal school, this epic features armored ancient warrior Agara, Demon Beast of the Dark Lands, as she bests a Sumerian goddess and is soon off to battle the False Gods of the East who threaten the inhabitants of Urkor.
A Wolfe in the Pussycat Casino. Dexter Wolfe, “great detective and super-powered do-gooder,” is hired by a local gang lord to retrieve his missing childhood friend Sabrina Diaz. The job ends up attracting the usual kind of trouble for a black man hunting down suspects through the depths of the Depression Era South and then some.
Time’s Up! This is the longest of the anthology entries, featuring 80’s accidental “crime fighters” Coltrane Jones and Shep (“Sugar Hill’s answer to Batman and Robin”) diving into the doings of Brother X and Malik Shabazz: Two ex-cons who appear to be reformed, but also may be connected to Rico Santana who’s “…coldblooded with ice for a heart and dollar signs where his mind should be.”
Bahati and the Corners of Blood. “Archaeologist, treasure hunter, adventurer, and bachelor Dr. Birbry Carrington, a dashing forty-seven-year old tenured Classical/Mediterranean Archaeology professor at Cambridge University,” is a man of means and literal Indiana Jones wannabe who is mapping out his latest quest: An treasure hunt to the fabled Oak Island. Later, he’s off in search of a paranormal being called Bahati of the Maasai Tribe.
Bronzeville Blues. Max Bishop, bourbon-swigging “black private [detective],” must find “Chicago’s answer to Josephine Baker,” blues singer Veronica Gispaldi, in this Chicagoland missing person’s case that twists and turns in Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe film noir style.
Nandi. In this 1970’s African tale is a mix of Blaxploitation films of the era and superheroine fantasies of the 1930’s, crime-fighter Nandi of “The Land of Khanga” is on guard against the “monstrous offspring of the indigenous spirits…” who are too dangerous and may be responsible for a murder that may breach the “the Wall,” and lead to the kingdom’s conquest.
Rocket Crockett and the Pint-Sized Pirates. There’s over the top action and bravado aplenty, oozing from this 1950’s era Red Scare superhero tale of African American ace fighter pilot Rocket Crockett. Crockett is plunked down behind enemy lines in The Korean War only to find not Communists but a lost civilization of pirates!
March 19, 2022
All in all, I enjoyed reading all of the stories that were presented, especially Kimberly Richardson's "The Morgan Boys." I like that they're not the typical "black vs. white people" types of stories and that they are all of different fictional genres. While I would prefer if the stories contained an "author's insight" section, especially for those that I didn't care for as much, overall, it was quite a treat reading each and every single one of them. I am DEFINITLY looking forward to reading the Asian versions of these stories to see how they compare. :)
August 15, 2022
I always keep a short story book in my rotating assemble of readings. Usually one of these
“Black pulp” or “Thuglit” collections. Filled with entertaining stories about human or godly dynamics, this genre of lit will certainly engage the open minded reader.
I’ve read several thus far and while this collection intrigued at times, I didn’t find it as enjoyable as the others I’ve read. Some of the stories were just too “weird!” If you like superheroes, supernatural or anything along that line mixed with good & bad, you will be amused! Enjoy!
“Black pulp” or “Thuglit” collections. Filled with entertaining stories about human or godly dynamics, this genre of lit will certainly engage the open minded reader.
I’ve read several thus far and while this collection intrigued at times, I didn’t find it as enjoyable as the others I’ve read. Some of the stories were just too “weird!” If you like superheroes, supernatural or anything along that line mixed with good & bad, you will be amused! Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews