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A list of the best pulp stories and authors.
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380 books · 202 voters · list created July 12th, 2008 by Steven Harbin (votes) .
131 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Steven 4277 books
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Colleen 911 books
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Henry 13 books
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Deth 1489 books
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David 3912 books
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Josh 292 books
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Grey853 3230 books
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John 666 books
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Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)

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message 1: by Hotspur (new)

Hotspur The author selection is a tad limited for a true "best of the pulps" list. I think there are five authors or so listed here, and there were dozens and dozens of them working in the field back in the day.


message 2: by Steven (new)

Steven Harbin Dear Hotspur, thanks for the comment, I agree that there were dozens more of pulp authors who deserve a mention. One reason I posted the list was an effort to find new recommendations and to perhaps introduce some lesser know authors to pulp fans. If you haven't listed any new authors on the list please feel free to do so,


message 3: by Travis (new)

Travis Not a bad, list but where are the heroes?
No Doc Savage, Spider, Shadow, Captain Future, or G-8 and his battle aces?

Much as I love stuff like the 'Thin man' and almost anything by Howard, it's not pulp without some guy in a suit, tie and mask racing around, shooting arch villains.




message 4: by Steven (new)

Steven of course, the biggest selling genre in pulps were romances, so where are they? (OK, while true, I wouldnt know the best pulp romances either) - how about westerns?


message 5: by John (new)

John Barrick What pulp(s) did Moorcock's Elric stories appear in? New Worlds?


message 6: by Kelly (new)

Kelly I had to vote for Cornell Woolrich, whose "black" series led to the term "noir." All are fantastic!


message 7: by [deleted user] (new)

John wrote: "What pulp(s) did Moorcock's Elric stories appear in? New Worlds?"

Some of the earlier ones appeared in Science Fantasy, and I would imagine some of them would have been in Union Jack. I think New Worlds was a little too avant-garde and surreal to have straight-up serious fantasy like Elric in it.


message 8: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Great list, I voted for Zothique---that is filled with immaculate jewels---though Lurking Fear is up there. And I am happy to see my favorite crime writers on here too Goodis & Thompson.

I recommend checking out deft, smart and uncomfortable fiction of Vin Packer, who is an unrecognized master. The Damnation of Adam Blessing and The Twisted Ones are great places to start...


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