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Virtual Pulp
From medieval Europe to Reconstruction; from a post-apocalyptic future to an alien world's Dark Ages, the drums pound in adrenaline-charged unison. Strap yourself in for a wild escape from the mundane, into adventures that transcend space and time.
Allan of Barnsdale pledges loyalty to a doomed knight in exchange for inspiration to craft his tale of King Arthur...never imagining they are en route to an ambush by outlaws in Sherwood Forest.
Pick Garver returns to his hometown after the Civil War a hero to some, a turncoat to most, and less likely to be with his true love than when he left.
Three warriors from vastly different races must battle a sorcerer, an invading armada, and each other, while desperately seeking honor in a world where treachery is the norm.
Mechanic, armchair engineer and hot-dog pilot Rebble Rauser and his fellow citizens of the "Barbarian Nation" have their hands full protecting their sovereignty with blazing wing guns when an old rival of Rebble's makes a surprise visit during a war in a chaotic American future.
The convenience of E-reading is given a pulp magazine flavor in this fusion of quality writing with the imaginative adventure-lust of yesteryear.
Allan of Barnsdale pledges loyalty to a doomed knight in exchange for inspiration to craft his tale of King Arthur...never imagining they are en route to an ambush by outlaws in Sherwood Forest.
Pick Garver returns to his hometown after the Civil War a hero to some, a turncoat to most, and less likely to be with his true love than when he left.
Three warriors from vastly different races must battle a sorcerer, an invading armada, and each other, while desperately seeking honor in a world where treachery is the norm.
Mechanic, armchair engineer and hot-dog pilot Rebble Rauser and his fellow citizens of the "Barbarian Nation" have their hands full protecting their sovereignty with blazing wing guns when an old rival of Rebble's makes a surprise visit during a war in a chaotic American future.
The convenience of E-reading is given a pulp magazine flavor in this fusion of quality writing with the imaginative adventure-lust of yesteryear.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2010
26 people want to read
About the author
Henry Brown
15 books31 followersI prefer a big ol' greasy hamburger to a caviar dish, and my taste in books growing up was very similar. I read tons of non-fiction (mostly history), and fiction in most genres. I didn't read most of the classics and am still fairly lacking in that regard.
BTW, Goodreads is NOT idiot-proof. I'm still trying to figure it all out.
Anyhoo, so far everything I've published is adventure of one flavor or another.
If you want me to let you know in advance when my next book is coming out, click here!
BTW, Goodreads is NOT idiot-proof. I'm still trying to figure it all out.
Anyhoo, so far everything I've published is adventure of one flavor or another.
If you want me to let you know in advance when my next book is coming out, click here!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 12, 2011
I’m not sure technically what pulp fiction means, but to me it suggests high adventure, epic battles trimmed down to the scale of a few good men (or women too), honor and tortuous ethics and noble souls—all of which I found in Henry Brown’s Virtual Pulp #1. In olden days I guess the tales were printed on sacrificed trees, but today, as the title suggests, the wood-pulp’s purely virtual. (The book is available as a paperback though.)
The stories in this collection are united by battle: mythic on the fantasy frontier (with shades of my old favorite Michael Moorcock); almost steampunk with mis-matched airplanes in a dystopian future; historical in the civil war; and fought with legend and chivalry in the heyday of royal England—plus the one at the end that’s unplaceable and gripping and odd. The characters are a pleasing blend of depth and surface detail, actions sketching in past or future or both with no unnecessary soul-searching. Events are bigger than the people involved, and people matter more—each tale wholly different and enjoyably satisfying.
In old Britain I found myself listening too closely to the choice of words—my English ear searching for mis-steps in my native history I suppose. And in civil-war America I enjoyed learning my adopted country’s tale. But each story ends with a truly fascinating description of where it came from. Henry Brown’s research is almost as interesting as his telling. He certainly knows history, legends, and the evolution of ideas. And he knows stories.
Some of these characters leave the reader eagerly asking for more, particularly after learning that the author meant them that way. Perhaps Virtual Pulp #2 will be released soon to satisfy curiosity, or perhaps there'll be a series of tales of the Honor Triad, Rebble Rouser or the very mysterious Zombies.
Disclosure: I received an ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
The stories in this collection are united by battle: mythic on the fantasy frontier (with shades of my old favorite Michael Moorcock); almost steampunk with mis-matched airplanes in a dystopian future; historical in the civil war; and fought with legend and chivalry in the heyday of royal England—plus the one at the end that’s unplaceable and gripping and odd. The characters are a pleasing blend of depth and surface detail, actions sketching in past or future or both with no unnecessary soul-searching. Events are bigger than the people involved, and people matter more—each tale wholly different and enjoyably satisfying.
In old Britain I found myself listening too closely to the choice of words—my English ear searching for mis-steps in my native history I suppose. And in civil-war America I enjoyed learning my adopted country’s tale. But each story ends with a truly fascinating description of where it came from. Henry Brown’s research is almost as interesting as his telling. He certainly knows history, legends, and the evolution of ideas. And he knows stories.
Some of these characters leave the reader eagerly asking for more, particularly after learning that the author meant them that way. Perhaps Virtual Pulp #2 will be released soon to satisfy curiosity, or perhaps there'll be a series of tales of the Honor Triad, Rebble Rouser or the very mysterious Zombies.
Disclosure: I received an ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
January 11, 2011
I really loved this book, for it,s variety and it's fast paced action.
The first one is called The bloodstained Defile: 3 warriors from different races unite their strengths and knowledge to battle evil and to stay alive. They seek honor where treachery is the norm.
A sword and sorcery tale...
2-Barbarian Nation: It's an air adventure, after an economic collapse in the US, some extremist that try to protect what is left of the US fight the enemies with their rebuilt planes. Ans they seem to be doing a great job, get ready to be taken into a wild spin adventure.
3-Radical Times: in this story you are taken back to right after the war Independance.
Where the blacks were set free... The story of a white soldier named Pick coming back home who when he was young was in love with a black girl. But now things have changed but he still loves her but he can't be with her and things are going terribly wrong for the black people of the community. Some white folks who go masked and they say they KKK make terrible trouble for the black people and they scare them.
So pick and his friend from war take it upon themselves to capture and kill these madmen. To finally try an tell the woman of his dream that he loves her.
4-Thus spake the bard:
Meet Allan of Barnsdale a knight who has done something to angry the Sheriff Nottinghampshire and so he was to fight with him in a duel.
So the knight was certain to die since the Sheriff was a great man of arms.
But on his way to the tourney, he met another knight who helped him and taught him to fight better and after that he practiced hard and harder.
So he went back to Nottinghampshire to meet for his man to man combat with the sheriff and on his way through the Sherwood forest he was attacked by a bunch of men that wanted to rob him and his troubadour friend. That 's how he met the merry friends of Robin Hood....Medieval knight's tale
5-Fever dream nemesis:
This one was too hot for me, it's surreal and sci-fi...
What I understood, is this guy is tied to the restroom in a inter dimensional gallery, and then he succeeds in breaking loose. He then runs into a painting where there is a Harley and drives up into a UFO which then drives him into a place he's not familiar with. And then it's action non stop and I mean non stop and the creaturs that are after him on this planet are really surreal.
But then he gets into a Plum Crazy Purpler '68 Plymouth Roadrunner with a 440 ....
I mean if you're a muscle car freak then this story part is for you, but not enough description in this part from the car. man I'd sure like to drive this car. yeah!!!
The first one is called The bloodstained Defile: 3 warriors from different races unite their strengths and knowledge to battle evil and to stay alive. They seek honor where treachery is the norm.
A sword and sorcery tale...
2-Barbarian Nation: It's an air adventure, after an economic collapse in the US, some extremist that try to protect what is left of the US fight the enemies with their rebuilt planes. Ans they seem to be doing a great job, get ready to be taken into a wild spin adventure.
3-Radical Times: in this story you are taken back to right after the war Independance.
Where the blacks were set free... The story of a white soldier named Pick coming back home who when he was young was in love with a black girl. But now things have changed but he still loves her but he can't be with her and things are going terribly wrong for the black people of the community. Some white folks who go masked and they say they KKK make terrible trouble for the black people and they scare them.
So pick and his friend from war take it upon themselves to capture and kill these madmen. To finally try an tell the woman of his dream that he loves her.
4-Thus spake the bard:
Meet Allan of Barnsdale a knight who has done something to angry the Sheriff Nottinghampshire and so he was to fight with him in a duel.
So the knight was certain to die since the Sheriff was a great man of arms.
But on his way to the tourney, he met another knight who helped him and taught him to fight better and after that he practiced hard and harder.
So he went back to Nottinghampshire to meet for his man to man combat with the sheriff and on his way through the Sherwood forest he was attacked by a bunch of men that wanted to rob him and his troubadour friend. That 's how he met the merry friends of Robin Hood....Medieval knight's tale
5-Fever dream nemesis:
This one was too hot for me, it's surreal and sci-fi...
What I understood, is this guy is tied to the restroom in a inter dimensional gallery, and then he succeeds in breaking loose. He then runs into a painting where there is a Harley and drives up into a UFO which then drives him into a place he's not familiar with. And then it's action non stop and I mean non stop and the creaturs that are after him on this planet are really surreal.
But then he gets into a Plum Crazy Purpler '68 Plymouth Roadrunner with a 440 ....
I mean if you're a muscle car freak then this story part is for you, but not enough description in this part from the car. man I'd sure like to drive this car. yeah!!!
April 6, 2011
Virtual Pulp is a collection of 5 short stories: The Bloodstained Defile, Barbarian Nation, Radical Times, Thus Spake the Bard, and Fever Dream Nemesis.
I enjoyed this book, though only liked the first and the third short stories. The first story is about the 3 warriors from different races, united by their will to survive the war from an evil sorcerer. The third one is about the love story of a white man and black woman set in the time where union of white and colored people is not allowed.
This is recommended to all readers who like to read short stories and into historical-action-adventure.
I enjoyed this book, though only liked the first and the third short stories. The first story is about the 3 warriors from different races, united by their will to survive the war from an evil sorcerer. The third one is about the love story of a white man and black woman set in the time where union of white and colored people is not allowed.
This is recommended to all readers who like to read short stories and into historical-action-adventure.
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December 3, 2014This is the first issue of a pulp magazine I've dreamed of publishing for many years. Now it's possible (electronically, at least).
December 1, 2010
Not bad for $.99
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews