AMAZING NEWS 1/19/14

PRESS RELEASES & NEWSLETTERS (See full text below)

Radio Archives January
Nightshade Books Latest Releases
Fantastic Fiction at KGB
Ford Street Latest Releases
Geoffrey A. Landis Wins Robert A. Heinlein Award

CAUSES

Self-Promotion (Women ARE Allowed To Do It Too)
For the Benefit Of Those Who Can See
Average Joes Want Diversity In SF Too
SFF In Conversation:  Women Write SFF
A Contemporary Author Makes the Case For SF’s Predictive Qualities
Arthur C. Clarke Award Puts Women First
On Microaggression (Some have complained that the background artwork on the blog MNBSFW;  mileage varies, looks like nice illo work to me)
New Cosmos Coming Soon:  Profile of deGrasse Tyson
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ENTERTAINMENT

Enter the Twilight Zone:  All 156 Episodes, All At Once! (plus the same treatment for many other shows)
Dusk Till Dawn TV Show Trailer (video)
Star Trek Not Ready For Third Film?
TangentOnline OTR:  Tarzan in Headhunters Of Wombesi
Michael Douglas (!) Is Ant Man
Will Johnny Depp Be Doctor Strange?
Fear Fete Call For Submissions
Adaptation Watch:  Read Now, Watch Later
KGB Reading Photos
Inspired By Shatner
7206cover_lSex Aliens Goes Where Only National Lampoon’s Sextraterrestrials (By Henry Beard; Illustrated by Peter Bramley) Have Gone Before

FANDOM

Jay Lake Fundraiser (via Joe Haldeman)
China To Bid For Worldcon?
Disney Guts the Star Wars Universe (via Mike Walsh)
Windy City Pulp & Paper Con
WSFA Small Press Awards
Robert Silverberg On Philip Jose Farmer
Roddenberry Letter Sold At Auction
Nominate For the Hugo Awards
New Issue of SF Concatenation
DUFF Voting Opens
LonCon 3 Photo Competition
Peter S. Beagle On Huffington Post
Batman-Robin-60s-743849DVD Batman!  

INDUSTRY

Should Major Publishers Change Their Mission?
A Look At Digital Publishing – UK 2014
New SF Imprint From Simon & Schuster
Analog, Asimov’s Raise Word Rates
Edgar Awards
Honor Harrington Being Adapted, and Adapted and…
New Trends For Publishing In 2014
SFRA Looking For Editors
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SCIENCE

New Images Of Tarantula Nebula – Awesome
Too Late To Watch, But…
Columnar atomic cloud towering over isolHiding Under Your School Desk May Have Been The Right Response After All
Planet Orbiting Sun-Like Star Discovered
SF Tech In the Real World (CES Video)
Power A Starship With Black Holes

PRESS RELEASES AND NEWSLETTERS

January 17, 2014

In the 1950s, it was fairly common for a long-running radio series to be adapted for television — but it was practically unheard of for a successful TV series to make its way to radio. But, on November 23, 1958, that’s exactly what happened when the CBS Television series Have Gun, Will Travel came to CBS Radio.

Created by Herb Meadow and Sam Rolfe, Have Gun, Will Travel was first aired on CBS-TV September 14, 1957 and starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a cultured, educated, and sophisticated man with an eye for the ladies, a taste for gourmet food, wine, and cigars, and enough skill, nerve, and well-oiled artillery to make him a top-notch gunfighter. Headquartered at the fashionable Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, Paladin had earlier attended West Point and was also a former Army officer, but now chose to finance his luxurious lifestyle by being a combination go-between, negotiator, and hired gun – a white knight, as it were – for those who needed such assistance. Unlike the more scruffy gunsels of the wild west, Paladin relied on his brains as much as his nerve — and made his reputation by use of a distinctive business card that featured the symbol of a white chess knight and read, simply, “Have Gun, Will Travel. Wire Paladin, San Francisco.” When one hired Paladin to do a job, he did it…for a sizeable fee, of course. Questions of morality did come into play – Paladin was, after all, intending to be more of a protector of the helpless than a murdering hit man – so, throughout the series, most who eventually came to face to face with the barrel of his custom-made six shooter had already done quite a lot to deserve their fate. (He also had the good sense to conceal a derringer under his belt, as well as a few expensive cigars in his boot. Classy guy.)

On radio, Paladin was played by John Dehner, a talented character actor who had made his name in featured roles on similar radio series such asGunsmoke and Frontier Gentleman. (Dehner, whose portrayal of Paladin was a bit more arch, suave, and sleek than his TV counterpart, had in fact earlier turned down the leading role of Sheriff Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke for fear of being typecast in western roles.) Dehner was understandably concerned about becoming nothing more than a pale copy of Richard Boone, and so insisted on making the role uniquely his own; radio historian John Dunning describes Dehner’s portrayal as “a streamlined version, perhaps slighter of build…but just as deadly.” The same smooth and slightly menacing voice that had made him such an effective villain on such series as Escape and The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, made him an equally effective Paladin — someone you might enjoy an intellectual discussion with over a glass of decent sherry, but also someone you wouldn’t want to disagree with too aggressively for too long.

There were, of course, many similarities between the TV and radio series, particularly since many (though not all) of the radio scripts were based on earlier television episodes. Both programs used the same musical themes and bridges and relied much more upon dialogue and atmosphere than rip-roaring action to attract audiences. (Paladin, who was well versed in the classics, was frequently given to quoting Shakespeare and recalling obscure bits of history when considering the best way to deal with his various assignments.) On radio, Have Gun, Will Travel also benefited from the presence of Gunsmoke and Fort Laramie producer/director Norman Macdonnell as well as writers Marian Clark and Les Crutchfield, sound effects men Tom Hanley and Ray Kemper, and a host of talented performers such as Sam Edwards, Jack Moyles, Larry Dobkin, and Harry Bartell. The stories were rich with detail, realistic, and typical of the more adult types of western that had evolved in the 1950s; less shoot ’em up, more introspection.

Have Gun, Will Travel was one of the last continuing radio dramas to leave the airwaves, ending a two-year CBS run on November 27, 1960. (The TV series lasted a bit longer – six years in total – and closed up shop on September 21, 1963.) While it lasted, however, Have Gun, Will Travel demonstrated that, even with television capturing the largest audiences and the most advertising dollars, radio could still effectively hold its own when given the opportunity to present quality programming. Heard today, even those who have never experienced quality radio drama firsthand can enjoy the programs simply as effective and engrossing pieces of well-produced audio entertainment.

This collection, the seventh and final volume in our ongoing series, offers another fourteen episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel, just as originally aired over CBS Radio in 1960. 7 hours. $20.98 Audio CDs / $10.49 Download.

 

Special 50% discount Offer

“Tain’t funny, McGee…”

By 1951, the Jordan’s were among the top comedy teams in radio and “Fibber McGee and Molly” had been a Tuesday night tradition for over a decade.”Fibber McGee & Molly” premiered on April 16, 1935 and, as Jim later observed, he and Marian were fortunate to have signed a twenty-six week contract: “If we had been on for thirteen weeks I’m sure we would have been off by the end of thirteen weeks.” Though the show’s ratings were anemic at the start – it didn’t help that the couple were competing against the popular “Lux Radio Theatre” on CBS – they slowly developed a following. A move to a more favorable time slot on Tuesday nights a few years later proved even more beneficial and, by the 1940s, Jim and Marian were “must-listen radio” — the stars of one of four comedy shows that were in constant competition for radio’s top spot.

Old-time radio fans are well aware that many programs from the Golden Age simply did not survive the ravages of time and neglect. But “Fibber McGee & Molly” was one of the luckier shows thanks to an angel at the S.C. Johnson Company, whose devotion to the program gave them the foresight to hang on to most of the original transcription discs. For many years, it was thought that the Jordan’s’ 1953-56 weekday quarter-hour shows for NBC had gone missing…but in this, the second of a series of collections transferred from the long-lost original NBC Reference Recordings, Radio Archives invites you to listen to forty more full-length programs that, for the most part, have not been heard since they originally aired over fifty years ago. An additional bonus is their sparkling audio quality; thanks to the innovations of the digital age, these classic shows can now be heard at a level of clear and crisp high fidelity that far exceeds what was available to the average listener in 1954. The result is shows that sound – and are – just as bright, fresh, and entertaining as they were when first heard — a real tribute to the time, talent, and devotion to quality that went into their production. Regular Price $29.98 – Specially priced until January 30 for $14.99 Audio CDs / $7.49 Download.
Will Murray’s Pulp Classics #43
by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge
Read by Nick Santa Maria. Liner Notes by Will Murray

By 1939, Richard Wentworth had been operating as the Spider for nearly six harrowing years. He had been through everything a good pulp hero could expect to face. Malevolent master villains. Sinister Asian world conquerors. Mad scientists more diabolical than anything conceived before that point. And of course since theSpider was a wanted criminal, endless police officials, uniformed cops, homicide detectives and other officers of the law had been pursuing him with single-minded fervor.

 

A mere mortal would have succumbed back in 1933. Not the indomitable Richard Wentworth. He seemed to thrive on conditions of continuous peril. Yes, he did put down his mask and guns a time or two, vowing never to become the dreaded Spider again. But the call to battle always made his blood sing, and inevitably the Master of Men returned to battle the underworld in another blazing exploit.

 

The problem for his poor writer, Norvell W. Page, was that there are only so many plot variations for a hero who fought crime in his dual identities. So as the year 1939 dawned, Page and his editors must have put their heads together and asked themselves, “What can we do that we’ve never done before?”

 

Evidently, they decided to subject Dick Wentworth, his fiancee Nita van Sloan, and the other stalwart Spider crew to a monthly series of challenges designed to make the readers clutch at their hearts and rend their garments in sympathetic anguish.

 

The stirring sequence began with Rule of the Monster Men. Set against the backdrop of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Spider tackles the Wreck, a human fiend straight out of Terror Tales, who surgically transforms ordinary New Yorkers into subhuman beasts.That’s just the start of it!

 

We don’t want to give away the twists and turns that make up the deadly duel between the Master of Men and the malevolent Wreck in Rule of the Monster Men,except to warn don’t expect everybody to come out of this one unscathed…..

 

Nick Santa Maria once again brings the Spider to life in this incredible audiobook taken from the June, 1939 issue of The Spider. Also included is another popular Doc Turner story by Arthur Leo Zagat, “Doc Turner and the Winged Terror.” 6 hours $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.

Last year, Tom Brown asked me to talk to my old friend, Bob Weinberg, at the Windy City Pulp convention in Chicago about working with Radio Archives. The relationship has since blossomed and the first project, The Best of Argosy Selected by Robert Weinberg, was released last month. Today we are proud to announce Bob’s bestseller, The Devil’s Auction, is now available in audiobook and eBook versions. Three additional Bob’s Weinberg thrillers will be released in the next three months. And starting in May, Robert Weinberg Presents” will showcase even more exciting material. We’re very excited to have this major talent on our team. — Will Murray

Robert Weinberg Presents

by Robert Weinberg
Read by Nick Santa Maria
Held once each generation and attended by the greatest mages in the world, the Auction offered a prize of incredible power to the winner. But, what happened to those bidders whose offers didn’t meet the final price?
Valerie Lancaster had no desire to attend the Auction. But when her father was murdered for his invitation, she knew she had to go to find his killer — and keep from being slain herself.
It’s the Devil’s Auction. Accompanied by her father’s friend, Alex Warner, Valerie found herself confronted by werewolves, golems and the most powerful sorcerers in the world. But none of them prepared her for the final, shocking secret of the Devil’s Auction.
“I haven’t had this much fun since I beat my pet hamster to death with a chair leg! A rootin-tottin booger of a book! Fresh as a spring daisy, but mean and nasty as a rattlesnake bite!” — Joe R. Lansdale

“I liked everything about this book, including the title!” — Robert Bloch
This audiobook features a beautiful wraparound cover by Stephen Fabian. 7 hours $27.98 Audio CDs / $13.99 Download.

 

Robert Weinberg Presents
The Devil’s Auction eBook
by Robert Weinberg
Held once each generation and attended by the greatest mages in the world, the Auction offered a prize of incredible power to the winner. But, what happened to those bidders whose offers didn’t meet the final price?
Valerie Lancaster had no desire to attend the Auction. But when her father was murdered for his invitation, she knew she had to go to find his killer — and keep from being slain herself.
It’s the Devil’s Auction. Accompanied by her father’s friend, Alex Warner, Valerie found herself confronted by werewolves, golems and the most powerful sorcerers in the world. But none of them prepared her for the final, shocking secret of the Devil’s Auction.
“I haven’t had this much fun since I beat my pet hamster to death with a chair leg! A rootin-tottin booger of a book! Fresh as a spring daisy, but mean and nasty as a rattlesnake bite!”— Joe R. Lansdale
“I liked everything about this book, including the title!” — Robert Bloch
This exciting novel has been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook. This entire line of eBooks are of the highest quality and feature great horror/fantasy novels long out of print.
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
Use the PDF version when reading on your PC or Mac computer. If you have a Kindle, the Mobi version is what you want. If you have an iPad/iPhone, Android, Sony eReader or Nook, then the ePub version is what you want. $9.99
Robert Weinberg’s photo gallery
For the Robert Weinberg Presents series of audiobooks and eBooks, I will be picking a few photos with some of my friends.

Bob, and his friends, Hugh B. Cave and Robert Bloch all receive awards at PULPcon 1983.
(See below for eBooks by Hugh B. Cave and Robert Bloch)

 

New Will Murray’s Pulp Classics eBooks
The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge eBooks! Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and G-8 and His Battle Aces as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and Captain Satan. Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday’s Pulp today!
Always the mere mention of the Spider’s name had struck fear and trembling into the hearts of criminals. But this sinister, new Underworld, governed by a genius of murder and composed of Europe’s crudest outcast spies, knew little of the Spider — and feared him less! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. $2.99.

In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, all written by Hugh B. Cave, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

They were strange creatures — these grayish skinned beings who could see in the darkness like wild cats and who fought steel bullets with ancient bows and arrows! Who were they? Why did they roam No-Man’s Land in the dead of night… why did they ride war skies on dynamite death wings? G-8 took up their trail grimly, hurtled straight into the deadliest snare ever set in horror cloud lanes! G-8 and his Battle Aces rode the nostalgia boom ten years after World War I ended. These high-flying exploits were tall tales of a World War that might have been, featuring monster bats, German zombies, wolf-men, harpies, Martians, and even tentacled floating monsters. Most of these monstrosities were the work of Germany’s seemingly endless supply of mad scientists, chief of whom was G-8’s recurring Nemesis, Herr Doktor Krueger. G-8 battled Germany’s Halloween shock troops for over a decade, not ceasing until the magazine folded in the middle of World War II. G-8 and his Battle Aces return in vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.
Ships that vanished into thin air — a fortune in gold that remained untouched — and a murder that couldn’t happen, but did — these were the puzzles to tax the Green Lama’s mystical powers. The jade-robed Buddhist priest who battled crime as The Green Lama is back! Conceived in 1939 at the behest of the editors of Munsey Publications to compete with The Shadow, it was an outlandish concept. While The Shadow possessed the power to cloud men’s minds after his time in the East, The Green Lama relied on other, even weirder, powers — including the ability to become radioactive and electrically shock opponents into submission! He carried a traditional Tibetan scarf, which he employed to bind and befuddle opponents, and possessed a knowledge of vulnerable nerve centers which he put to good use in hand-and-hand combat. Om Mani Padme Hum! The Green Lama knows! The Green Lama returns in vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

99 cent eBook Singles

Each 99 cent eBook Single contains a single short story, one of the many amazing tales selected from the pages of Terror Tales and Rangeland Romances. These short stories are not included in any of our other eBooks.
On my murder-bus I carried a strange, cold conductor — who had already punched my ticket for the hungry, waiting gallows! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.

The plans on John Severn’s drafting board were for his own murder! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.
Blood was on Polly’s hands and a newly dug grave lay below her window. But… whom had she killed? In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.
A plague of blasting destruction spreads terror and desolation over the doomed city. And just before each ghastly tragedy I thought I saw flash across the horizon the contorted face of one of my own playground youngsters! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird me most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.

by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson

When a brazen adventuress tries to hire Doc Savage for a secret mission—but won’t tell him why—it lights the fuse for one of the most explosive exploits ever to involve the Man of Bronze.Who is Hornetta Hale? Why does she need to rent Doc’s private submarine? And who is so determined to eliminate her that they destroy Doc Savage’s skyscraper headquarters in the process?

From Manhattan Island to the Caribbean Sea, Doc and his fighting crew chase the most violent gang of criminals they have ever encountered in a desperate race to unlock the secret of Phantom Lagoon. Or are they more than mere criminals? $24.95.

by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson

The world believed that aviator Tom Franklin was dead. Years before, he had set out on a pioneering transpacific flight alone—and vanished!When he returned, as it from the grave, Franklin and a mysterious woman flew a battered plane that had been repaired with plates of pure gold. Desperately seeking the help of Doc Savage, the mighty Man of Bronze, Franklin and his curvaceous charge fall into the clutches of diamond smuggler Blackbird Hinton and his cutthroat crew—but not before the bronze adventurer hears of their plight.

From Manhattan to Cape Town ensues a quest as dangerous as any in recorded history. One that will embroil the compassionate yet hard-fisted Doc Savage and his resourceful men in a raging struggle for control of one of history’s most closely guarded mysteries.The lost secret of Python Isle! $24.95.
The legendary Master of Men returns in two classic stories from the 1930s. Hidden in the heart of New York’s Chinatown, the Emperor of Vermin unleashes all manner of foul creatures to spread disease and death. The Spider wages a seemingly hopeless battle to protect mankind from the menace of a monster who personifies evil incarnate in “Dragon Lord of the Underworld” (1935). Then, in “Satan’s Switchboard” (1937), no citizen, no corporation is safe from the dread schemes of The Silencer. No secret thought, no hidden act escapes his notice – and those he calls upon are found dead by their own hand, their faces horribly obliterated. Only The Spider dares defy this maniac, as he strikes back to end this terrible menace to society. These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. $14.95.
Pulp fiction’s legendary Knight of Darkness returns in two of his most engrossing adventures. In “The Murder Master”, a sinister-toned criminal mastermind announces his impending murders over the radio airwaves — including the murder of The Shadow! Then the real Lamont Cranston joins The Shadow as they battle“The Hydra”, a criminal organization that replaces each fallen leader with two new “heads.” How can The Shadow combat an enemy who grows stronger with each defeat? This instant classic also features the original pulp covers by George Rozen, interior illustrations by Edd Cartier and Paul Orban, the origin of The Shadow’s “power to cloud men’s minds” from the golden-age “Shadow Comics”, and a photo feature on the famous radio series by broadcasting historian Anthony Tollin. $12.95.
Pulp fiction’s legendary Man of Bronze returns in two of his most engrossing adventures. In “Land of Always-Night,” a strange being who kills with the touch of a finger, leads Doc Savage on a quest to a lost underworld civilization in an epic 1935 collaboration by W. Ryerson Johnson and Lester Dent writing as Kenneth Robeson. Then, in 1938’s “Mad Mesa,” the Man of Bronze awakens to discover that he’s in another man’s body and imprisoned in a penitentiary; hundreds will die unless Doc Savage can escape and solve the mystery of the mesa madness. These thrilling pulp adventures are reproduced with the original color pulp covers by Walter Baumhofer and Emery Clarke, interior illustrations by Paul Orban, and historical articles by Will Murray. $12.95.

The Shadow, Volume 80

The Knight of Darkness confronts his greatest superfoe in the classic pulp novels that inspired the 1994 Shadow film starring Alec Baldwin! In “Shiwan Khan Returns,” the last descendent of Genghis Khan comes back from the dead for a titanic rematch with The Shadow! Then, the Dark Avenger and the exotic Myra Reldon team up to battle the mesmeric menace of “The Invincible Shiwan Khan” in another of Walter Gibson’s greatest pulp thrillers! This instant collector’s item showcases both original color pulp covers by Graves Gladney, the classic interior illustrations by legendary artist Edd Cartier and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. $14.95.

 

Doc Savage, Volume 72

The pulp era’s greatest superhero returns in two-fisted pulp classics by Harold A. Davis and Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, graduates of Doc Savage’s Crime College revert to their earlier evil ways, leading the Man of Bronze into a deadly confrontation with an uncanny trickster and “The Purple Dragon.” Then, a failed murder attempt and a gorgeous damsel in distress set Doc, Monk and Ham on the trail of an evil mastermind in “Colors for Murder.”BONUS: a classic Doc Savage script from the Golden Age of Radio! This deluxe pulp reprint also features a classic color pulp cover by Emery Clarke and the original interior illustrations by Paul Orban, plus new historical commentary by Will Murray, author of 13 Doc Savage novels. $14.95.

This is an authentic replica of an original pulp magazine published by Girasol Collectables. This edition is designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp magazine was like when it was first issued – but without the frailty or expense of trying to find a decades-old collectable to enjoy. The outer covers, the interior pages, and the advertisements are reprinted just as they appeared in the original magazine, left intact to give the reader the true feel of the original as well as an appreciation for the way in which these publications were first offered to their avid readers. To further enhance the “pulp experience”, this edition is printed on off-white bond paper intended to simulate the original look while, at the same time, assuring that this edition will last far longer than the original upon which it is based. The overall construction and appearance of this reprint is designed to be as faithful to the original magazine as is reasonably possible, given the unavoidable changes in production methods and materials. $35.00.

By John Olsen
The Hydra was originally published in the December 1, 1942 issue of The Shadow Magazine. The Hydra is a vast evil organization with many heads. And just like with the Hydra of mythology, whenever one head is cut off, two sprout to take it’s place. How, then, can The Shadow defeat this sinister organization? It takes two Cranstons to do it!

This is probably the definitive tale involving the two Cranstons – The Shadow in disguise and the real millionaire Lamont Cranston. It’s a wonderful story. This one gets my hearty recommendation. Lots of action, some fantastic death traps in the Museum of Mechanical Science and a climax that involves six – yes, six – of The Shadow! It’s a story you won’t want to miss.

In most stories that involve the “real” Lamont Cranston, he usually appears only briefly in a scene or two. But in this story, the millionaire world traveler appears in the entire story. He assists The Shadow and becomes a de-facto-agent for the master of the night. In this unique story, the two team up and combine forces to fight The Hydra. Normally, the real Cranston is out of the country on one of his many trips to foreign lands. But in this story, he’s back to stay. As he puts it, “Globe-trotting is an obsolete sport nowadays, with world conditions as they are.” He is referring to World War II which was hotly ablaze by then.Lamont Cranston – the real one – is our proxy hero throughout the entire story. And his continuing presence makes for some intriguing situations. The real Cranston goes to the club to have dinner with Commissioner Weston, not having seen him for quite a while. But from the Commissioner’s standpoint, he’s dined with Cranston only recently. He dined with the disguised Shadow, but of course he doesn’t know that. And the real Cranston finds that he is expected to show interest in the police cases discussed by Weston, even to the point of making comments and suggestions. This is something that The Shadow often has done, when in his Cranston disguise. But the real Cranston feels a bit out of his element in this situation.

When the two Cranstons drive home to New Jersey in the limousine, chauffeured by Stanley, only one can openly get out and go into the house. The other . . .

Double Novel reprint $12.95

 

Comments From Our Customers!

Mark Trail writes:
Skull Island! Two giants in one story… Doc Savage and the Mighty King Kong. Dare I say a third giant? Yes! Michael McConnohie. Mr. McConnohie is wonderfully talented at bringing the Man of Bronze to life. I’ve enjoyed every story he has read and I’m hoping for even more to come. Excellent work!
Tim Arceneaux writes:
The best old time radio company in the world!!
Steve Sher writes:
Frankly, since my association with Radio Archives, my whole audio world has opened up to the pleasures of the wonderful Classic Radio treasures you offer the public. Sometimes, when I return from work, at night, I sit in the garage, thoroughly engrossed in an adventure, not being able to turn off my radio, without finishing whatever episode is on! It is well worth the money spent!
Nancy Henderschott writes:
Love your shows. How is the next CD of Jungle Jim coming?
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!

The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks and eBooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.
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16th of January 2014

WELCOME TO YOUR JANUARY ENEWSLETTER

The best thing about the new year is that it is a fresh beginning! We hope you’ve had a spectacular start to your new year.  

Night Shade Books

NEW EBOOK RELEASES



Brave New Worlds by John Joseph Adams is now on sale for $1.99 at the Kindle Amazon Store! (deal expires at midnight on 1-19-14)

You are being watched. Your every movement is being tracked, your every word recorded. Your spouse may be an informer, your children may be listening at your door, your best friend may be a member of the secret police. You are alone among thousands, among great crowds of the brainwashed, the well-behaved, the loyal. Buy the book to read more

AUTHOR Q & A ZACHARY JERNIGAN


Q. Do you have a favorite writing place? If so, why is it special to you?

A. This question makes me a little embarrassed, actually, because it reveals what a weirdo I am. Short answer: No.

Long answer: Still no, but it’s actually a bit complicated. In every house or apartment I’ve ever lived, I set aside a special place for myself to write. Sometimes, it’s a tiny little corner as away from everyone else as I can accomplish — a little ZACK’S PLACE DON’T TOUCH right in plain sight.

Q. What is your motivation?

A. Oh, my goodness, what a broad-reaching question! Wow. Truth is, I don’t know if I’ve ever had occasion to think too much on motivation. I’ve just been sort of winging it, you know? Let’s see… I suppose I’m motivated by two things: First, the possibility that I might, now and then, write something better than I think I can.

Read more

SCI-FI WRITING CONTEST


Thank you to everyone who participated! We have selected what we believe to be the five best stories to be posted on the Start Publishing Blog page.

As promised, we will hold an open vote to the public. All votes will be collected on our Twitter (@startpublishing) and Facebook  pages by simply sending the title and author’s name or you may repost the story. Please be sure to mention Start Publishing’s page name so we receive your vote.

The last day to vote will be Thursday, January 23rd. The winner will be announced the following day.

Winner will receive a signed blue ray copy of The Europa Report produced by Start Motion Pictures (formally known as Wayfare Entertainment).

To read the selected stories visit our blog page

Voting Restrictions:

–       One vote per person

–       Writers are allowed to vote for their own submissions

Start Publishing does not own the rights of any content submitted. This contest is simply to encourage writers to do what they love.

NIGHT SHADE EBOOK REVIEW OF THE MONTH


WASTELANDS is a great collection that gets my highest recommendation. Just don’t read it all at once!

Wastelands, Stories of the Apocalypse by John Joseph Adams

WORDS FROM JARRED


First let me start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! As Night Shade moves into the New Year we are actively acquiring new titles by both established and debut authors. I see 2014 as a great year for Night Shade Books. We will continue to have contests and we also have big surprises in store.

Jarred Weisfeld
President

###

FANTASTIC FICTION at KGB reading series, hosts

 Ellen Datlow and Matthew Kressel

 present:

 

Felix Gilman has published four novels, and short fiction in a variety of places including Weird Tales and Tor.com.  His recent duology The Half-Made World and The Rise of Ransom City has been described as “a sepia-toned panorama of eccentric and moving Western characters” by Salon.  His next book, The Revolutions, is a story of Victorian occultism and spiritual space travel; it comes out in April from Tor.

 and

 Kiini Ibura Salaam is a writer, painter, and traveler from New Orleans, now living in New York. She has been widely published in such anthologies as the Dark MatterMojo: Conjure Stories, and Colonize This!, as well as in EssenceUtne Reader, and Ms. magazines. Her short story collection Ancient, Ancient won the 2012 James Tiptree, Jr. award, and contains sensual tales of the fantastic, the dark, and the magical. Her micro-essays on writing can be found at www.kiiniibura.com.

Wednesday February 19th

KGB Bar, 85 East 4th Street (just off 2nd Ave, upstairs.)

New York, NY

 www.kgbfantasticfiction.org

Subscribe to our mailing list:

https://groups.yahoo.com/group/kgbfantasticfiction/

Readings are free

Forward to friends at your own discretion.

 Books will be available for purchase from Word Bookstore

 Sponsored in part by Cemetery Dance Publications

###

Here are Ford Street’s two March releases, Chasing Shadows by Corinne Fenton and Hannah Sommerville and The Poppy by Andrew Plant.

They will be available in all good bookshops and libraries from March 1.

###
Geoffrey A. Landis, science fiction author and scientist working for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is the 2014 winner
of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding
published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire
the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Mr.
Landis’ body of work including five books, 83 short stories and 76 poems
in the SF field as well as over 353 science fact publications.The award will be presented on Friday, May 23, 2014 at opening
ceremonies during Balticon 48, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction
Convention. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are both managed
and sponsored by The Baltimore Science Fiction Society.The Robert A. Heinlein Award is a sterling silver medallion bearing the
image of Robert A. Heinlein, as depicted by artist Arlin Robbins. The
medallion is matched with a red-white-blue lanyard. In addition, the
winner receives two lapel pins for use when a large medallion is
impractical, and a plaque describing the award, suitable for home or
office wall display.The Robert A. Heinlein Award selection committee consists of science
fiction writers and was founded by Dr. Yoji Kondo, a long-time friend of
Robert and Virginia Heinlein. Members of the committee were originally
approved by Virginia Heinlein. The current Chairman of the Committee is
Michael F. Flynn.

Virginia Heinlein authorized multiple awards in memory of her husband,
including the Heinlein Prize, which is fully funded by Virginia
Heinlein’s estate, and a National Space Society award for volunteer
projects.

More information on the Robert A. Heinlein Award, including past
winners, can be found at https://www.bsfs.org/bsfsheinlein.htm.

More information on Geoffrey A. Landis can be found at
https://www.geoffreylandis.com/.

More information on Balticon can be found at www.balticon.org

To contact the Heinlein Award liaison at BSFS, email dale@bsfs.org

Please take a moment to support Amazing Stories with a one-time or recurring donation via Patreon. We rely on donations to keep the site going, and we need your financial support to continue quality coverage of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres as well as supply free stories weekly for your reading pleasure. https://www.patreon.com/amazingstoriesmag

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