For many of us, the only exposure we have to the term, “Pulp Fiction,” comes from the wildly popular Quentin Tarantino film of the same name. The “pulps”, which got their name from the cheap paper they were printed on, provided a cheap form of entertainment during a time when the “slicks,” a higher quality magazine on glossy paper, were popular. The pulps are widely considered the forerunners of today’s comic books. And indeed, many famous comic writers started writing for the pulps in the early 1900’s.

The pulps were aimed at working class Americans and sold for about ten cents, compared to the more expensive slicks, which ran about twenty five cents. The pulps were lurid and exploitative, at least by the standards of the day, and were often written with an over-the-top style.  They enjoyed strong sales until the paper shortages caused by World War 2, which marked the beginning of their steady decline.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be looking at some of the more popular pulp heroes. Many of these books are still available as reprints, and offer an inexpensive opportunity for some escapist fiction. Keep them in mind on one of those evenings when the daily grind has taken its toll on you, and you find you may not be up to tackling War and Peace. You might just be surprised at how enjoyable these old gems can be. --CJ

With all of our technology and modern gadgetry, many of us forget about some of the simpler pleasures enjoyed by previous generations. Many years ago, I had the chance to learn about Old Time Radio. I know what you're thinking, but give it a chance. Many of the heroes we have come to know: The Lone Ranger, Superman, The Shadow, The Spider, and countless others, actually got their start riding the air waves many decades ago. Many of these treasures are in the public domain now, so they are not only cheap or even free to get, but with the modern convenience of the internet, it is effortless to do so. Download a few to your favorite MP3 player and sit back next to the fire for an hour or two and enjoy these heroes in a brand new--or old--way. --CJ