Pulp Echoes

PULP ECHOES by Tom Johnson presents seven new stories in the pulp tradition, both new and original characters: The Bat returns in "Blind As A Bat"; The Crimson Clown returns in "The Crimson Clown – Killer"; Nibs Holloway battles Dr. Death in "Till Death Do Us Part"; The Black Ghost is back in "Carnival of Death"; Captain Anthony Adventure in "Terror In The North Country"; The Black Cat in "A Cat Among Dogs"; and Senora Scorpion in "Senora Scorpion". The cover features Senora Scorpion! This is now out of print, but paperback copies can still be ordered from Tom, as long as they last. $13.00, plus postage. Visit my Blog at PULP DEN for contact http://pulplair.blogspot.com

Cold War Heroes

“Cold War Heroes” by Tom Johnson. The misfits of France’s 202nd Military Police Company know what matters – drinking French cognac and chasing French women. Between parties, they chase after spies, crack down on the black market, and prepare for a boxing tournament on Post. With shades of M*A*S*H – ten years later, different settings, Tom treats us to a candid look at military life with dollops of humor. As Radar would say over the public address system, “Follow the adventures of those good old boys from home as they fight to keep the world safe one bottle and broad at a time.” Contains some mature language. Available in hardback for $23.90 at http://www.lulu.com/shop/tom-johnson/cold-war-heroes/hardcover/product-20583278.html and paperback for $12.15 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-Heroes-Tom-Johnson/dp/0982679564/ref=la_B008MM81CM_1_5_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420729524&sr=1-5 and also available in Kindle and where eBooks are sold. Paperback and hardback editions also available from Tom.

Echoes

ECHOES was the hobby magazine for pulp enthusiasts. Albert Tonic called fanzines “An historical journal of limited distribution.” But ECHOES originally had a print run of 1000 copies, and a subscription circulation of over 250, with many other copies sold through dealers. It was the longest running pulp hobby magazine, beginning in June 1982 and running through December 2004, with 100 issues as a magazine, and 57 issues as a newsletter. There have been two anniversary issues also. ECHOES REVISITED in 2002, and ECHOES 30 in 2012. The image shown here is issue #32 by Ron Wilber. Many back issues are still available from Tom & Ginger.

Endings & Beginnings - The Black Stiletto #5

The story was topnotch, but I was disappointed in my purchase. I’ve bought every issue in hardback, and ordered this one in hardback also, paying almost full price. But what I received was an advance reading copy paperback, clearly listed as not for sale on the cover. It is an uncorrected proof, containing paragraph problems, as well as dialogue running together. I don’t blame the author or publisher, but it is clearly a review copy sent to someone who resold it for the price of the hardback edition. It’s sad that the series comes to an end with this story, and even sadder that my collection ends with a less than perfect copy of the book.

Endings & Beginnings (The Black Stiletto #5)

By Raymond Benson

Oceanview Publishing

ISBN #978-1608091034

326 Pages

Price $20.31

Rating 5-Stars

“A Great Series!”

It’s 1962, and Judy Cooper is pregnant with Leo’s baby.  Leo’s sister, Christina is still wearing the fake Stiletto outfit and robbing the mob boss, keeping heat on The Black Stiletto from both the police and mob. Now in hiding at Barry Gorman’s mountain retreat until the baby is born, she can only harass Leo and his sister by telephone. Once the baby is born, however, she puts her plan in operation to prove that Christina is the fake Stiletto, and with her brother Leo is conspiring to rip off the big boss. The plan comes off, but not before a police shoot-out with gangsters, and once again Judy is on the run, but this time with her baby. They head for Odessa, Texas, where she hopes to fence the diamond stolen by Leo and his sister, to help her support the baby. But she brings more death to her hometown, and eventually has to run again.

This is the final entry in Judy’s career as The Black Stiletto. It also brings Martin, Maggie, and Gina to the realization that Judy’s Alzheimer’s is in the fatal stages, and her life is coming to an end. But Gina now has the Stiletto’s outfit, and she has been recruited into a secret government organization, leaving the door open to new adventures of a modern day Black Stiletto – if the author so desires. Even though Judy Cooper’s career as The Black Stiletto only lasted five years, from 1958 to 1962, I still hated to see her stories end. And it was even worse to see her dying with Alzheimer’s after such a brilliant life. The series was unique in the way the author presented her story through diaries being read by her adult son, and the reader gets a view of past and present as the stories unfold. Judy Cooper was charming, and The Black Stiletto was fascinating. I’m glad I had the chance to read her adventures. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of GUNS OF THE BLACK GHOST

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories 

Brannan's Run

Joe Brannan, owner and Captain of a dive boat working out of Thailand’s sin city Pattaya, is desperate to keep his business afloat, so when an old acquaintance comes to him with a tale of sunken riches he simply can’t resist taking a look. But nobody warned him he would risk losing everything, caught up in a maelstrom of twists and turns, malevolent villains, close calls and Cambodian pirates. And he certainly didn’t count on falling in love. “BRANNAN’S RUN- THE ULTIMATE BEACH READ.”

Brannan’s Run (Action/Adventure)

By Stephen Cord

BOOQJPE6DM

Book Manga

174 Pages

Price $4.99

Rating 5-Stars

“TWO-FISTED ADVENTURE IS BACK”

Joe Brannan, ex-pat now living in Thailand had served with 1^st Battalion British Parachute Regiment, but now operates a dive boat in the sea around Pattaya, Thailand. When he learns about a sunken Khmer Rouge boat loaded with gems in Cambodia water, the promise of wealth is too good to pass up. But others want the treasure too, including Cambodian Navy/pirates and the Russians, and either is willing to kill for them.

Then throw in a beautiful rich Russian woman with long legs and flaming red hair, and Joe just might take the chance after all. This was an exciting action adventure in the mold of those paperback originals of the 1950s, when tough men operated around the Java Sea and Asian Ports, looking for that one strike to make it rich, if they don’t get killed in the process. Then throw in some Muay Thai martial arts for fun. Except for the mature language, this would have fit easily into those early ARGOSY and ADVENTURE pulp magazines of a bygone era. We could use more of this genre today, reminiscent of the past when bold adventure created living legends of action heroes and dangerous dames. It’s also fun returning to the streets of Bangkok and the mysterious East, where beautiful women and death wait hand in hand for an unwary stranger. Highly recommended for the action and adventure lovers everywhere.

Tom Johnson

Echoes Magazine