Blog Archives

The Smoking Land by Frederick Faust as George Challis was originally published in Argosy; the version reviewed was reprinted in the February 1950 issue of A. Merritt’s Fantasy Magazine. It can be read here at Archive.org. Even during the Pulp-era there were Pulp Revivals going on. One such effort to keep classics of the pulp […]

When diagnosing the illness that pervades modern mainstream entertainment in the US, most armchair oncologists point to symptoms of the disease.  Consumers recognize the wealth of titles that present all the shine and appearance of timeless classics, but have all the weight and import of ephemeral bits of fluff.  Somehow, the increased volume of offerings has […]

Short Reviews will return next week with The Smoking Land by Max Brand in the February issue of A. Merritt’s Fantasy Magazine. Cirsova Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine is taking subscription orders from now through the end of January for our Spring (#7) and Summer (#8) issues. Spring Adrian Cole’s New Dream Lords saga […]

Today, we’re looking a few of the highlights from the letters section of the Spring 1945 issue of Planet Stories. One thing that virtually every Vizigraph I’ve read has had in common is an overwhelming dissatisfaction with Parkhurst’s cover art. And I can’t say I blame them. While Parkhurst has some fantastic covers to his […]

Joe Carson’s Weapon appeared in the Spring 1945 issue of Planet Stories. It can be read here at Archive.org Joe Carson’s Weapon may be about the most PoMo thing I’ve read in Planet Stories. A kid writes into his favorite sci-fi pulp magazine and a pair of Martians whose orders are to take over the […]

Vandals of the Void by Robert Wilson appeared in the Spring 1945 issue Planet Stories. It can be read here at Archive.org. Vandals of the Void is an apocalyptic invasion tale with a lot going for it. Despite some over-reliance on expository dialogue, Wilson gives us something that would be perfect fodder for an invasion […]

This collection of the latest new releases in science fiction features a space-based litRPG, future knights clad in mecha armor, a final confrontation against a conquering empire on an alien world, and, in time for Veteran’s Day, a collection of post-apocalyptic animal stories to support the charity Pets for Vets. *     *     * […]

Death Star by Tom Pace appeared in the Spring 1945 issue of Planet Stories. It can be found here at Archive.org. In promotional text for Galaxy Magazine, Galaxy bragged you’ll never see “a western transplanted to some alien and impossible planet” in its pages, while attacking straw-Bat Durston’s adventures on the planet Bbllzznaj. Of all […]