Nostaglia Digest Winter 2021 The remarkable life of OLIVIA de HAVILLAND, Hollywood legend The screen partnership of NELSON EDDY and JEANETTE MacDONALD How THE SHADOW became one of radio’s great heroes From Teddy Bears to Barbie dolls: The world’s most famous Christmas gifts The career of DANNY THOMAS, and a promise he kept Agnes Moorehead, Richard Widmark and other radio actors who became movie stars A complete listing for Steve Darnall’s Those Were The Days! FLOYD GIBBONS, the globe-trotting reporter who became a radio star PLUS: Memories of mimeograph machines; the way televisions used to be; more! Ordering Information
Status Report Finished up The Digest Enthusiast No. 13 and ordered a print proof from Lulu.com this week. Hopefully, the proof will show up next week and everything will align with the targeted Dec. 18th release. Meanwhile, prep on the Kindle and Magzter versions kept me busy.
Here’s a cover preview of the issue, with a painting by Brian Buniak.
In other updates, Ran Scott continued his work creating artwork for Pulp Modern Vol. 2 No. 6.
No news from Marc Myers on the print proof from Lulu.com on his Roman Scott collection–with a little luck he can release it next week.
Our current issue: The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 is available in print at Lulu.com and Amazon, and in digital formats at Kindle Books and Magzter.
New Releases Guns+Tacos Season 2 Episode 10: A Taco, A T-Bird, A Beretta and One Furious Night by Ann Aptaker When Maureen learns that Leo “Riddles” Ridley is back in Chicago, the screaming harridan of violence and vengeance is unmuzzled in Maureen’s troubled head. The harridan only quiets when fed steady doses of death, which Maureen is only too happy to provide, especially if Riddles is the on the menu. She’ll make him suffer for his betrayal, for abandoning her to the fate of prison for her work as a member of Riddles’ outfit.
Subscribe to Guns+Tacos Season 2 at Down & Out Books: • Trade Paperback — $32.95 (includes all six digital episodes plus a subscriber-exclusive short story and FREE shipping within the Continental U.S.!) • Digital Formats — $11.95 (includes all six digital episodes plus a subscriber-exclusive short story)
Digest Magazine Blogs R.T. Raichev, whose story “The Other Imelda” will see print in EQMM Nov/Dec 2020 and essay “Murderous Decoys—Philip MacDonald and ‘Loves Lies Bleeding’” appears at Something is Going to Happen.
Gabrial Hart reviews Slow Bear by Anthony Neil Smith at EconoClash Review.
TDE Contributors’ Corner Uncle Jack (Seabrook) and Cousin Peter (Enfantino) review Eerie No. 48, Vampirella No. 25, and Creepy No. 54 at bare•bones e-zine.
Readin’ and Writin’ Finished reading the current issue of Nostalgia Digest (Autumn 2020) this week. Editor/publisher Steve Darnall starts things off with “Reflections of a Golden Age” highlighting 42 milestones over radio’s 100-year history. The issue is packed with entertaining articles, but among my favorites were Wayne Klatt’s “Pleasant Screams” about radio’s horror programs, and the two biographies of Alan Ladd and Raymond Massey, by Walter Scannel and Stone Wallace, respectively.
Also wrapped up Savage Season by Joe Lansdale, the first Hap and Leonard novel. It was great fun, full of action, desperate characters, and lots of heart. If you’ve enjoyed the TV series, the source material is well worth your time.
Received an article from Vince Nowell, Sr. for TDE13 on pulps and digests edited by Robert A.W. Lowndes. I’m still gathering cover images for it, but I’m looking forward to taking it to layout.
Our current issue: The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 is available in print at Lulu.com and Amazon, and in digital formats at Kindle Books and Magzter.
Vintage SF Digest Worlds Beyond Feb. 1951 Inside covers: Contributor Bios Contents Page Jack Vance “Brain of the Galaxy” Lester del Rey “The Deadliest Female” H.B. Hickey “Like a Bird, Like a Fish” Lord Dunsany “The Old Brown Coat” Poul Anderson “The Acolytes” Walter C. Davies “Forgotten Tongue” Richard Matheson “Clothes Make the Man” C.M. Kornbluth “The Rocket of 1955” The Dissecting Table (Book Reviews) Harry Harrison “Rock Diver” Halliday Sutherland “Valley of Doom” In the Next Issue
Worlds Beyond Vol. 1 No. 3 Feb. 1951 Editor: Damon Knight Cover: Van Dongen Interior Art: Harrison, Jannace, Napoli 5.5” x 7.75” 128 pages 25¢
New Releases Nostalgia Digest Autumn 2020 Contents Steve Darnall “Hello, Out There in Radioland!” Steve Darnall “Reflections of a Golden Age” (cover story) Dan McGuire “At This Theatre Next Week” Chapter Four Jordan Elliott “Man and Superman” (Clayton Collyer) Clair Schulz “Smilin’ Through” (Pegy Lynch) Walter Scannell “This Ladd for Hire” (Alan Ladd) Wayne Klatt “Pleasant Screams” (radio’s scary shows) Alex Udvary “Hollywood Madmen” (Clark & McCullogh) Stone Wallace “Prince of Players” (Raymond Massey) Mail Call Plus, the Radio Program Guide for Those Were the Days and WGN Radio Theatre
Nostalgia Digest Book 46 Chapter 4 Autumn 2020 Editor: Steve Darnall Cover: Mark Braun 5.5” x 8.5” 64 pages, b&w interior $4.50 on newsstands Four-issue subscription $17 Eight-issue subscription $30 Nostalgia Digest website
Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine Sep/Oct 2020 Contents Page Linda Landrigan: A Word of Thanks The Lineup Elliot F. Sweeney “Mrs. White Hart” art by Kimberly Cho Dan Crawford “Storage” Jane Pendjiky “Fruiting Bodies” Mysterious Photograph $25 fiction contest “The Handoff” Christopher Latragna “Call it Sad, Call it Funny” Sharon Jarvis “Who Killed What’s Her Name?” Laurel Flores Fantauzzo: Booked and Printed James Sallis “The Beauty of Sunsets” Wouter Boonstra “Archored” translated from the Dutch by Josh Pachter Steven Gore “Inflection” art by Daniel Zalkus Mark Lagasse: Scrambled Hitch (puzzle, solution on page 192) Arlene Fisher: Dying Words (acrostic puzzle, solution on page 192) Richard Freeborn “Family Harmony” John Paul Davies “Limited Edition” Dave Zeltserman “Past Due” art by Kevin Speidell Michael Nethercott “Old Echoes” Tom Larsen “Buscando Tupac” Bob Tippee “You Said This Was Business” Josh Pachter selects/introduces a Mystery Classic: “Thubway Tham’s Hoodoo Roll” by Johnston McCulley (Detective Story Magazine Nov. 12, 1921) Lee Lofland’s Case File: Excited Delirium The Story That Won (May/Jun) “Never a Dull Moment in the Kitchen” by Rosemary Herbert Coming in AHMM Nov/Dec 2020 Directory of Services/Indicia
Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine Vol. 65 No. 9 & 10 Sep/Oct 2020 Publisher: Peter Kanter Editor: Linda Landrigan Managing Editor: Jackie Sherbow Senior Director of Art & Production: Porter C. McKinnon Senior ADs: Victoria Green, Thomas Slosser Cover: Erika Steiskal 192 pages $7.99 on newsstands until Oct. 20, 2020 Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine website
Amazing Selects No. 3: Adrift in the Sea of Souls by David Gerrold Contents Page Adam-Troy Castro’s Introduction: The Sprung Chicken Steve Davidson’s Publisher’s Note: David Gerrold David Gerrold “Adrift in the Sea of Souls” David Gerrold “The White Piano” David Gerrold “Jacob in Manhattan” Author’s Afterword About the Author Art the Artist: M.D. Jackson
Amazing Selects No. 3 Publisher: Steve Davidson Cover and interior artwork M.D. Jackson 5.5” x 8.5” 170 pages Print $8.99 Kindle $8.99 Amazing Stories website
Also out is Mystery Weekly Magazine Sep. 2020, with stories by Nick LeGrand, Edward Lodi, Joseph S. Walker, Benjamin Mark, William Burton McCormick, Shea E. Butler, Stan Dryer, and Eric B. Rurark. Available in print $7.99 and Kindle $3.99
Digest Magazine Reviews John O’Neill gives an overview of the “Big 5” digests for Sep/Oct 2020 at Black Gate.
Robert Lopresti reviews Joseph S. Walker’s “Golden Lives” from Mystery Weekly Magazine Sep. 2020 at Little Big Crimes.
David Levinson reviews Worlds of If Oct. 1965 at Galactic Journey.
Kevin Tipple reviews Mystery Weekly Magazine April 2020 at Kevin’s Corner.
Digest Magazine Writers’ Updates Alan Dean Foster, whose “The Treasure of the Lugar Morto” appears in Analog Sep/Oct 2020, talks about writing at The Astounding Analog Companion.
Iris Hockaday, whose story “The Thunderstorm” appears in EQMM Jul/Aug 2020, reflects on “mystery” at Something is Going to Happen.
Jason Sandford on “The Eight-Thousanders” from Asimov’s Sep/Ocy 2020 at From Earth to the Stars.
Storytime Charlie Cancel’s “R/amitheasshole Posted by Tammy Whammy 2 Hours Ago” at Pulp Modern Flash.
Josh Pachter reads his “The Secret Lagoon” from EQMM Sep/Oct 2019 at Podomatic.
Zine Scene Jim Main’sBrain Freeze No. 5 was released this week. Its contributor list is too long to re-create here, but includes TDE illustrator Rick McCollum. The 52-page zine is available for $6.25 post paid from: Main Enterprises PO Box 93 New Milford, CT 06776
TDE Contributors’ Corner Jack Seabrook and Peter Enfantino review The Brave and the Bold No. 167, Batman No. 328, and Detective No. 495 at bare•bones e-zine.
Richard Kellogg sent a press release for his new book: Barry Baskerville’s Christmas Mystery (Airship 27, 2020) by Richard Kellogg and lavishly illustrated by Gary Kato, is now available from Amazon.com. In the seventh entry of this series of mysteries for children, Barry uses all his skills of observation and deduction to identify a thief who has been stealing Christmas trees from the lawns of the residents of Watsonville. Young readers will learn about the methods used by Sherlock Holmes while improving their own problem-solving skills. Sherlockians will find the book a great holiday gift for their children and grandchildren.
Jack Seabrook’s The Hitchcock Project—Harold Swanton Part Seven: Bang! You’re Dead at bare•bones e-zine.
Readin’ and Writin’ Alec Cizak offers creative writing tips on plotting at ACTV.
Did a fair about of reading this week, but didn’t finish any one of the books or digests currently in play. More next week.
Finished retouching the pages of Head No. 1 for Marc Myer’s upcoming Roman Scott collection.
This week’s progress on TDE13: Steve Carper sent nearly a dozen cover scans for his upcoming article on digest SF novels. Jack Seabrook tapped Walker Martin for help securing the final images from Mystery Book Magazine No. 16, for Jack’s article on Leo Marr. And the color work on Bob Vojtko’s six gag cartoons was completed. Four will appear on one page I’ve dubbed “Zowie” in tribute to the Lopez digest magazine from the 1970s.
Our current issue: The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 is available in print at Lulu.com and Amazon, and in digital formats at Kindle Books and Magzter.
Vintage Science Fiction Digest Galaxy Aug. 1977 Inside front cover by James R. Odbert Contents Page Calendar James Patrick Bean’s Editorial: Galaxy and the Galaxy Harbert Charles Petley “…and Earth So Far Away” art by Stephen Fabian Frederik Pohl: Postscript to Gateway Charles Sheffield “Perfectly Safe, Nothing to Worry About” Jerry Pournelle, PhD: A Step Farther Out (science fact) Frank Herbert “The Dosadi Experiment” Richard E. Geis: The Alien Viewpoint art by Tim Kirk Arsen Darnay “Pheromonal Fountain” Spider Robinson: Galaxy Bookshelf Jay Brandon “The All-Soul is Calling Quinlan” art by Stephen Fabian Directions (letter pages) Galaxy/If SF Mart (classified ads)
Galaxy Science Fiction Vol 38 No. 6 August 1977 Publisher: Arnold E. Abramson Editor: James Patrick Baen Art Director: Stephen Fabian Assistant Editor: Elaine Will Science Editor: J.E. Pournelle, PhD Contributing Editor: Spider Robinson Consulting Editor: Theodore Sturgeon Cover: Kelly Freas 5.25” x 7.75” 160 pages $1.25
New Releases Pulp Modern Vol. 2 No. 5 Summer 2020 Contents Page Alec Cizak: From the Editor Andrew Bourelle “Companion” Peter W.J. Hayes “The Bowie Knife” Mandi Jourdan “These Violent Delights” “Doc” Clancy “Ghost Town” Timothy Friend “Burnin’ Love” Serena Jayne “Necessary Evils” Adam S. Furman “Intercession” Victoria Weisfeld “The Unbroken Circle” Nils Gilbertson “How to Make a Boulevardier”
Publishers: Uncle B Publications & Larque Press LLC Editor: Alec Cizak Design: Richard Krauss Cover: Rick McCollum Interior Artwork: Ran Scott Cartoons: Bob Vojtko 5.5” x 8.5” 132 pages Print $6.99 Kindle $2.99
Editor Alec Cizak reads his introduction to the issue on ACTV.
The Jul/Aug 2020 issues of Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen are now available. For contents click on their titles.
Amazing Stories has launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help fund another four issues of the magazine.
Storytime The second issue of Close to the Bone is out with crime fiction and other genres. Free download.
Digest Magazine Blogs Robert Reed on “Who Carries the World” from F&SF May/Jun 2020 at Fantasy & Science Fiction.
Uncle Jack (Seabrook) and Cousin Peter (Enfantino) review Vampirella No. 17, Eerie No. 40, and Creepy No. 46 at bare•bones e-zine.
Readin’ and Writin’ There’s no other magazine I can think of like Nostalgia Digest. It’s kind of like TV Guide, only for radio; radio from its golden era celebrated anew every Saturday on WDCB and WGN, on air and online. The quarterly Digest shares the schedules and synopsis of all the shows and rounds out every issue with nearly a dozen articles on celebrities, popular culture, and history. The Summer 2020 edition, which I read this week, is the all-vintage swimsuit issue, featuring celebrities Ava Gardner, Doris Day, Anne Baxter, Kirk Douglas, Loretta Young, Alexis Smith, Jackie Cooper, Leila Ernest, Kay Stewart, Eddie Bracken, Richard Conte, Gene Tierney, Beryl Vaughn, Jimmy Durante, Maureen O’Hara, Marie Windsor, and Ginger Rogers. The articles on Keir Dullea, Andy Griffith, Jack Pearl, wartime baseball, the Chautauqua movement, and Jimmy Stewart were all enlightening and entertaining. My thanks to Editor, Publisher, and Host Steve Darnall for another great issue, and for all you do to keep old time radio and those thrilling days of yesteryear alive!
Also read the second issue of Verdict, for a work-in-progress article. Haven’t decided yet if it’s for The Digest Enthusiast No. 13, or elsewhere. Verdict No. 2 a terrific issue of a terrific magazine. Sad it only lasted four issues. Some strong entries here by Samuel Blas, Bruno Fischer, Dorothy B. Hughes, Henry Kane, Cornell Woolrich and of course Rex Stout, whose Neo Wolfe novel Fer De Lance is serialized.
Many thanks to Kevin Tipple for highlighting Michael Bracken’s story “El Despoblado” in The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 at The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog.
Thanks also to David Haden of Tentaclii, an H.P. Lovecraft blog, for including The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 in a post this week.
Received comp copies of the new issue of The Digest Enthusiast No. 12 from the printer and began mailing them out to contributors. This time the printed book was produced by Lulu.com and I’m very pleased with the results. Their all-new website and new standard color option enabled this edition to include a full color interior at a reasonable, if not inexpensive, price. The book is available in print at lulu.com and for Kindle and Magzter. Among many other features is Lester del Rey’s The Five Ages of Science Fiction by Ward Smith.
New Releases Nostalgia Digest Summer 2020 Contents Steve Darnall “Hello, Out There in Radioland!” A Few Moments with . . . Keir Dullea CeleBio: Barbara Stanwyck (Paramount Pictures, 1949) Randy Turner “What it was was Mayberry” (The Andy Griffith Show) Al Doyle “Play Ball?” When baseball’s top players went to War, a wave of youngsters. veterans and amputees ensured the game would go on. Garry Berman “Vass You Dere, Sharlie?” Jack Pearl and the rise and fall of Baron Munchausen. Dan McGuire “At This Theatre Next Week” Chapter Three David Rutter “Summers of Enlightenment” How the Chautauqua movement conquered America…by offering its citizens “all things in life.” Swimsuit Spotlight: Ava Gardner, Doris Day, Anne Baxter, Kirk Douglas, Loretta Young, Alexis Smith, Jackie Cooper, Leila Ernest, Kay Stewart, Eddie Bracken, Richard Conte, Gene Tierney, Beryl Vaughn, Jimmy Durante, Maureen O’Hara, Marie Windsor, and Ginger Rogers. Annette Bochenek “Our (Every)man in Hollywood” James Stewart became a movie star, but never forgot his small-town roots. Mail Call
Plus, the Radio Program Guide for Those Were the Days and WGN Radio Theatre
Nostalgia Digest Book 46 Chapter 3 Summer 2020 Editor: Steve Darnall 5.5” x 8.5” 64 pages, b&w interior $4.50 on newsstands Four-issue subscription $17 Eight-issue subscription $30 Nostalgia Digest website
Mystery Weekly Digest June 2020 Contents Page M.C. Tuggle “The Calculus of Karma” Martin Hill Ortiz “Afterglow” Luke Foster “Seat 9B” Carl Robinette “Nothing Doing” Allan Durand “Ancient Cypress” Arthur Vidro “Gli or Nogt?” Robert Lopresti “In Praise of My Assassin” Tammy Huffman “Angels Stirring” Peter DiChellis “Gallery Thief” (A You-Solve-It)
Mystery Weekly Magazine No. 58 June 2020 Publisher: Chuck Carter Editor: Kerry Carter Cover: Robin Grenville-Evans 7.5” x 9.75” 94 pages Print $6.99 Kindle $3.99 MWM Website
The history of Los Angeles figures prominently in Paul D. Marks’ just-released novel, The Blues Don’t Care (Down & Out Books). In his post this week he shares research on The Rex, a gambling boat anchored just beyond the three-mile limit, at SleuthSayers. Paul writes about The First Two Pages of the new novel at Art Taylor’s blog.
Digest Magazine Reviews Paul Fraser reviews The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction and the F&SF issues from whence the stories came at SF Magazines
Kevin Tipple reviews Mystery Weekly Magazine Feb. 2020 at Kevin’s Corner.
James Reasoner reviews Commando: Codename Warlord at Rough Edges.
David Levinson reviews Worlds of If July 1965 at Galactic Journey.
Storytime Nick Kolakowski’s “Scapegoat” at Rusty Barnes’Tough Crime.
Charlotte Platt’s story “Meet the Family,” read by JD Graves for PodClash No. 3 at EconoClash Review.
Robert Lopresti posts his story “Nobody Gets Killed” from AHMM Mar/Apr 2018 at his blog.
Digest Magazine Blogs Richard Larson discusses hi story “Warm Math” from F&SF May/Jun 2020 at Fantasy & Science Fiction.
Robert Lopresti talks about his “In Praise of My Assassin” from MWM June 2020 at SleuthSayers.
TDE Contributors’ Corner Jack Seabrook and Peter Enfantino review Batman No. 321, The Brave and the Bold No. 160, and Detective Comics No. 488 at bare•bones e-zine.
Jack Seabrook reviews “The Monkey’s Paw—A Retelling” from The Alfred Hitchcock Hour at bare•bones e-zine.
Zine Scene Jim Main set out to publish a new mini comic called Brain Freeze and put out a call for SF-inspired contributions. The response was tremendous, but as they arrived he worried the repro size wouldn’t really do justice to the detailed artwork many artists sent in. So he jumped up to digest-manga-size, splitting the book into two parts to accommodate all the material. Brian Freeze No. 1 parts A and B are $3.00 each postage paid. Part A features comic and illos by John Lambert, Kevin Duncan, Verl Holt Bond, Steve Shipley, Doug Holverson, Bob Vojtko, Doc Boucher, Jon Lawrence, and Brian D. Leonard. While Part B features Jason Bullock, Jerzy Szotek, Carl Taylor, George Lane III, Tony Lorenz, and more from Steve Shipley, Jon Law- rence, John Lambert, Doug Holverson, and Brian D. Leonard. Contact Jim via FaceBook for more ordering info.
Readin’ and Writin’ Haven’t read a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs in quite a few years so I decided to revisit the author with an Ace paperback edition kicking around for nearly as long. The Eternal Savage, originally titled The Eternal Lover. The science fiction aspect of this one is time travel, the necessary element that allows a prehistoric man to visit the jungles of Lord Greystoke. But Tarzan is mentioned only in passing, the caveman, Nu is the hero. He shares the spotlight with Nat-ul, the impossibly beautiful female lead. The plot and romance are serviceable, it’s the adventure and action where Burroughs excels and The Eternal Savage was quite satisfying, if not the best of others I’ve read long ago.
Finished reading Fate No. 735 on Monday night. Editor Phyllis Galde use her editorial to honor the memory of her friend and co-editor Rosemary Ellen Guiley who passed in July 2019. Susan Swan serves as Senior Editor on this edition that includes articles on animals lost on the Titanic, encounters with Shadow People, Sumerian “Gardener’s Sin,” the Devil’s footprints, monster hotspot Payson, Arizona, crystal skulls, UFO theories, a history of tattooing, and plenty of other true reports of the strange and unknown. In sum: a welcome edition for Spring 2020.
Finally, I read Black Gat Book No. 20: Madball by Fredric Brown. Crimes among the carneys. Stellar cast of cronies caught in a web of avarice, cons, lust, and murder. A classic novel, reprinted in a beautifully designed new package, still leveraging the best of the past, but with bright, white paper stock the first edition never glimpsed in the madball.
Lulu.com has shipped the proof of TDE12 and I anxiously await its arrival.
TDE Advertisers The latest Bud Plant’s Incredible Catalog (Early Summer 2020) arrived this week and I was happy to see it included a listing for The Digest Enthusiast No. 11. Sign-up to Bud’s weekly eNewsletter or download the catalog at Bud’s Art Books.
Vintage Western Digest Zane Grey Western Magazine Dec. 1969 Leo Margulies: The Open Trail (introduction) Contents Page Romer Zane Grey “The Other Side of the Canyon” Clay Ringold “A Question of Faith” James McKimmey “Showdown at Blue Bluff” Paul Clane “Even Shoot-Out” Walter Dallas’ A Carload of Killers Zane Grey “The Camp Robber” (A Zane Grey Masterpiece) Owen Wister “Timerline” Gil Brewer “Pawnee” C. Hall Thompson “Gun Smart”
Zane Grey Western Magazine Vol.1 No. 3 Dec. 1969 Publisher: Leo Margulies Editorial Director: Cylvia Kleinman Advisory Editor: Romer Grey Advisory Editor: Dr. Loren Grey 5.25” x 7.75” 128 pages 50¢ cover price
April Digest Asimov’s Science Fiction May/Jun 2020 Contents Page Cady Coleman with Susan Alzner of Shift7 Guest Editorial: Will NASA’s Next Generation Spacesuit Fit You? Robert Silverberg’s Reflections: The One that Gets You Hooked Jane Yolen “Ode to Cassini” (verse) James Patrick Kelly’s On the Net: Two Dooms Eleanor Arnason “Tunnels” Alice Towey “The River” Sandra Lindow “Darning” (verse) Ian R. Macleod “The Mrs. Innocents” Jenny Blackford “Feeding Time” (verse) Brad Aiken & Rick Wilber “Ithaca” David Gerrold & Ctein “Ronni and Rod” Dominica Phetteplace “Digital Witness” James Gunn “Against the Stars” Ian Watson “Brave New World by Oscar Wilde” Robert Borski “How an Astroarcheologist Celebrates the Fourth of July” (verse) Evan Marcroft “Pax Mongolica” Suzanne Palmer “Hot New Collectible” (verse) Tegan Moore “Perfect Blue” Ruth Berman “The Riches of the Cloud Country” (verse) Bruce McAllister “The Voice” R. Garcia y Robertson “Living in Wartime” Norman Spinrad’s On Books: Modern Chinese Science Fiction—Windows into China • Invisible Planets edited and translated by Ken Liu • Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan, translated by Ken Liu • China Dream by Ma Jian, translated by Flora Drew Next Issue Erwin Strauss: SF Conventional Calendar
Asimov’s Science Fiction Vol. 44 No. 5 & 6, whole No. 532 & 533, May/Jun 2020 Publisher: Peter Kanter Editor: Sheila Williams Managing Editor: Emily Hockaday Editorial Assistants: Deanna McLafferty, Rae Purdom Senior Director of Art & Production: Porter C. McKinnon Senior Art Director: Victoria Green Cover: Anna & Elena Balbusso 208 pages, $7.99 on newsstands until June 16, 2020 Asimov’s website Asimov’s/Analog Value Pack-8 Asimov’s/Analog Value Pack-16
Digest Magazine Reviews Victoria Silverwolf reviews Fantastic May 1965 at Galactic Journey.
James Reasoner reviews Commando: Codename Warlord at Rough Edges.
Nostalgia Digest Back Issue Sale Spring cleaning unearthed a cache of 2013–2017 back issues at Nostalgia Digest HQ. Fill in your collection here (scroll down), while supplies last.
TDE Contributors’ Corner Peter Enfantino & Jack Seabrook review Warren’s Sept/Nov 1971 titles at bare•bones e-zine.
Peter Enfantino reviews Marvel/Atlas Horror Comics from June 1953 at bare•bones e-zine.
Fate Fundraiser Support the oldest continuous running magazine of its kind: Fate Magazine. Editor and publisher Phyllis Galde has been at the helm since 2001, but at present Fate is experiencing legal action from an outside force that threatens our ability to continue. The proceeds from your purchase of a Fate t-shirt will go towards legal defense expenses to protect Fate.
We are happy to work with the artists Savage Bear Studios to bring you a must have Fate design on a 100% high quality cotton t shirt. Minimum donation $25 USD. Order today. Please allow a bit more time for shipping and handling during this time.
“A heartfelt thanks to all our loyal readers and subscribers for your support through the years.” —Phyllis Galde
Readin’ and Writin’ Finished reading the latest issue of Nostalgia Digest this week. Those Were the Days will celebrate its 50th Anniversary this year. Due to the pandemic, the special live event that had been scheduled for May 2nd, will be rescheduled. Nonetheless, this issue of Nostalgia Digest provides an interview with Chuck Schaden, who started the weekly radio show in 1970, as well as a enthralling excerpt from his memoir: Chuck Schaden’s Radio Days—Adding Decades to the Golden Age of Radio (Hall Closet Press, 2019).
Other issue highlights include articles on Tina Cole of Hawaiian Eye and My Three Sons,Raymond Burr, and movie star Jean Arthur. Another satisfying edition of Nostalgia Digest. Keep ‘em coming Steve Darnall!
Inspired by the special all-John Shirley issue of Weirdbook, I picked up a copy of the novelization of Constantine, also by Mr. Shirley, and read it this week. It’s terrific. A beautifully written, action-packed, supernatural, adventure story.
Spent a few hours working an my article about Fotocrime for the next issue of The Digest Enthusiast, and worked in edits from Alec Cizak for the next Pulp Modern—both digests scheduled for June release.
Vintage Western Digest Western Magazine February 1958 (final issue)
L.L. Foreman “Showdown at Saber Pass” In a double-crossing, cold-blooded game of cattle empire—a young, beautiful girl was the helpless pawn. And Lobo Turner was king of gunslingers.
Gardner F. Fox “Gunswift” Returning from a self-imposed exile, Con Mallard had need of his notorious gun rep to combat the savage welcome his old neighbors had waiting for him.
Joseph Chadwick “Trail-Town Raiders” The tough town of Rawson prepared its tricks and its heady temptations for the unsuspecting trail-driver Riordan—who had acquired plenty of steam to let off.
Ed Montgomery “Robber’s Reunion” When Cowhide County elected a sheriff, hardcases took over the vote getting.
Western Magazine Vol. 5 No. 1 Feb. 1958 Publisher: Martin Goodman Editor: Harry Widmer Business Manager: Monroe Froehlich, Jr. Art Director: Mel Blum ~5.5” x 7.75” 160 pages 35¢
Nostalgia Digest Podcast Every month since 2012, the Nostalgia Digest Podcast has taken listeners on a trip back to the “Golden Age” of entertainment . . . and as the Podcast turns 100, they’re celebrating with the help of two special guests” Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed, Mama) and Rich (Svengoolie) Kaz! Click here to start listening!
Free Crime Fiction L.A. Wilson, Jr.’s “The Whisperers” was sent to Mystery Weekly Magazine’s email subscriber’s list on March 29, 2020. Sign up at Mystery Weekly Magazine.
Nikki Dolson’s “Liars, Killers and Thieves” at Rusty Barnes’Tough Crime.
J.D. Graves offers “Just Another Job that Doesn’t Pay Very Well” for Kindle.
Pulp Literature e-News The April update from Pulp Literature includes an advance look at issue No. 26 for Spring 2020.
Readin’ and Writin’ This week’s main read was Pulp Adventures No. 34, published by Rich Harvey, and edited by Audrey Parente. Here’s what’s behind the cover by Albert Fisher (from Front Page Detective Jan. 1941):
Editorial by Rich Harvey Robert Leslie Bellem has three pulp reprints in this issue; one under the pseudonym William Decatur. Rich Harvey explores Bellem’s Hollywood Dectective: “Does the series epitomize the genre of hardboiled detectives . . . Or does the series actually lampoon the genre and its tropes, which were becoming cliché even before World War II commenced?” Perhaps, both.
“In a Sentimental Mood” by Logan Robichaud Isaac A. Massinger is a suspected communist, his politics and advocacy cleverly hidden between the lines of his stories. Special Agents Beard and Greene have him under surveillance. The exact time period isn’t clear, but Massinger writes on a typewriter. When confronted at his apartment, Massinger allows a search of the premises and Beard discovered a trove of incriminating papers hidden beneath the floor. Moody and atmospheric, Robichaud’s prose exudes pulp while probing ideology, art, and connection.
“Death Do Us Part” by William Decatur (Robert Leslie Bellem) “Fogarty had never been known to go back on his word, whether dealing with crooks or the Law. And for that reason, they picked him as go-between. The private detective was safe enough with $40,000—but that didn’t mean he was safe with women.”
P.I. Bob Fogarty is hired by Continental Assurance to deliver forty grand to a guy in Kansas City in exchange for eighty grand worth of stolen diamonds. The action and wordplay are non-stop in this intricately plotted screwball mystery adventure.
“Kill Me Again” by Robert Leslie Bellem Turns out the previous narrative was only a warm-up for this scintillating Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective yarn. Turner returns home from a High Sierra camping trip with his pal newshound Jim Spencer and encounters his own funeral procession! Somebody was quick to capitalize on his two-week absence from civilization and wound up dead in a spectacular wreck while driving his car.
“Killer in Clay” by Robert Leslie Bellem and Adolphe Barreaux It’s quite interesting to read a Hollywood Detective comic story right after an adventure in prose. In this form, the author concentrates on plot with minimal narration, allowing the artwork to carry the action and dialog to tell the story. It’s fun, but lacks the depth and wordplay of Bellem’s prose stories.
“Comrade” by Adam Beau McFarlane A massive sand storm forces Allied and Axis tanks to take shelter in an abandoned rail station. Under their impromptu truce, the opposing tank commanders engage in a high-stakes card game to determine their fate.
“On the Ego Identity of a Butterfly” by Patti Boeckman and Sharla Williams Like Pulp Adventures itself, this story combines the best of old and new pulp. Boeckman wrote it years ago, Williams “brushed it up,” for first time publication here. A youngster ekes out his childhood in a severely authoritarian family, his only friend an adopted butterfly that he attempts to tame.
“City of the Dead” by William M. Hope A sword and sorcery novella joins series character Thurl the Gaelg on his trek to Samorrah to cash in the glowing blood red stone that recently came into his possession. But Samorrah has earned its mantle as the City of the Dead. The burly soldier of fortune will need all his wits and swordsmanship to survive the thieves, warriors, and the witch that lies ahead.
“Athena D” by Charles Burgess Post-graduate Mike Simmons and his girlfriend, Jennifer Rolland, find themselves in the middle of a secret operation to disarm a Chinese satellite from the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
“Straight Ahead Into Darkness” by Ron Riekki An EMT finds himself with one for the books when he and his partner arrive at a trailer park to find an elderly man with a Taser dark stuck in his eye.
Pulp Adventures offers a pleasing collection of vintage and brand new pulp-inspired stories and artwork, across the genre spectrum. This issue is no exception. It’s available for $9.95 in print, directly from Bold Venture Press and other outlets.
Alec Cizak offered free ad space for indie authors in the next Pulp Modern (first come, first served) on his twitter feed, which filled up in a matter of hours. The “winners” submitted their ads, which have now been added to the layout.
Also completed the layout of Steve Carper’s article about Photoplay Editions for the upcoming The Digest Enthusiast No. 12. It’s loaded with cover images from these early digest series. And Michael Neno finished his color illustration for Rick Ollerman’s story.
Vintage Crime Digest Verdict Vol. 1 No. 4 Sept. 1953 Unfortunately, Verdict didn’t continue after this issue, thus the conclusion of Rex Stout’sFer-De-Lance was never presented.
Contents Page William Irish “Three O’Clock” art by Tom O’Sullivan James M. Cain “Dead Man” Fredric Brown “the Amazing Dip” Dan Sontup’s Tricks of the Trade: Firearms George Harmon Coxe “Material Witness” art by Tom O’Sullivan Frank Kane “Keeper of the Killed” (Johnny Liddell) Craig Rice “Motive” (John J. Malone) Rex Stout “Fer-De-Lance” (Part 4 of 5)(Nero Wolfe) John C. Craig’s What’s In a Name? and Encores Evan Hunter “Vicious Circle” Leonard S. Grey “What’s Your Verdict? No. 3”
Verdict Vol. 1 No. 4 Sept. 1953 Published monthly by Flying Eagle Publications, Inc. Editor: John McCloud Managing Editor: E.A. Tulman Art Director: Chas. W. Adams Editorial Assistant: Hal Walker Business Manager: R.E. Decker 5.5” x 7.75” 144 pages 35¢
The Beat of Black Wings, an anthology of crime fiction stories inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell, launches on April 7, 2020. Many of Mitchell’s classics are represented: “Both Sides, Now” by Art Taylor and Tara Laskowski, “Big Yellow Taxi” by Kathryn O’Sullivan, “River” by Stacy Woodson, “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire” by Donna Andrews, “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines” by Amber Sparks, “Ray’s Dad’s Cadillac” by Michael Bracken, etc. The collection was edited by Josh Pachter. The book will be released on April 7, 2020. Preorders are available in Hardcover $29.75, Softcover $19.55, and Kindle $5.99.
Steve Davidson reviews the premier episode of the new Amazing Stories series on AppleTV+ on, what else, the Amazing Stories blog.
March 2020 Digests Nostalgia Digest Spring 2020 Contents Steve Darnall “Hello, Out There in Radioland!” A Few Moments with . . . Chuck Schaden Chuck Schaden “Those Were the (Early) Days” (cover story) “Those Were the Dates” Ten pivotal moments from the 50-year history of Those Were the Days. Necrology for 2019 Laura Milbraith Stewart “All in the Families” (Tina Cole) Dan McGuire “At This Theatre Next Week” Chapter Two Stone Wallace “Everybody Loves Raymond” (Raymond Burr) Greg Kreinberg “The Daly News” Wayne Klatt “A Free Soul” (Jean Arthur) Mail Call
Plus, the Radio Program Guide for Those Were the Days and WGN Radio Theatre
Nostalgia Digest Book 46 Chapter 2 Spring 2020 Editor: Steve Darnall 5.5” x 8.5” 64 pages, b&w interior $4.50 on newsstands Four-issue subscription $17 Eight-issue subscription $30 Nostalgia Digest website
Readin’ and Writin’ Finished the audio book of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. First published in 1896, Moreau is a science fiction classic. Its concept isn’t as revolutionary in 2020 as 1896, but for its era it must have been horrific and shocking. Even today, the prose is terrific, my favorite parts were Wells’ fastidious descriptions of his animal hybrids.
Also immensely enjoyed the print edition of Weirdbook No. 42, a special all John Shirley issue, edited by Doug Draa. A triumphant collection of short stories and poetry capped by a sword and sorcery epic that wraps the volume with an enthralling finale.
I completed reading and making notes on the first issue of Fotocrime this week. Still lots to do but it feels good to get this article for TDE12 started.
Rick McCollum sent the cover art for the next issue of Pulp Modern which should see release sometime this Spring. I loved Rick’s artwork for the last PM and the current TDE, but I gotta say, I think this is the best one yet. It’s based on a story called “Ghost Town.”
PM editor, Alec Cizak, has selected another two stories for the issue, so I’ll be working on layout for those over the next few days.
Vintage Crime Digest Verdict Vol. 1 No. 1 June 1953 Contents Page Rex Stout “Fer-De-Lance” (Part 1 of 5) Craig Rice “His Heart Could Break” (John J. Malone) art by R. Cossette Dan Stoup’s Tricks of the Trade: Fingerprints Henry Kane “A Glass of Milk” Steve Fisher “Goodbye Hannah” Chester B. Himes “Marihuana and a Pistol” art by R. Cossette Fredric Brown “Don’t Look Behind You” Edward Clark’s Crime Firsts: The La Rosa Case Raymond Chandler “Trouble Is My Business”
Verdict Vol. 1 No. 1 June 1953 Published monthly by Flying Eagle Publications, Inc. Editor: John McCloud Managing Editor: E.A. Tulman Art Director: Chas. W. Adams Business Magager: R.E. Decker 5.5” x 7.75” 144 pages 35¢
After several years of daily blog posts, I’m switching to weekly. Check out the first official weekly installment next Saturday.
News Digest features the week’s new releases from the world of digest magazines, with a few ancillary titles I can’t resist like The American Bystander and Amazing Stories.
From the Vault spotlights a vintage digest magazine.
TDE Updates provides a peek behind the scenes about the coming issue of The Digest Enthusiast and any new developments on the current issue such as reviews.
Reading Pile Last Saturday, I finished reading Alec Cizak’s latest anthology Lake County Incidents. A terrific read, highly recommended for students of the unusual.
On Monday, the Winter 2020 issue of Nostalgia Digest. Another excellent mix of Americana and nostalgia—celebrity bios, word origins, movie serials’ rise to popularity, Sunday dinner traditions, readers’ reactions, and Lucy and Ricky’s heyday that includes synopses of their later hour-long specials. A wonderful issue!
Contents Steve Darnall: Hello, Out There in Radioland! “A Few Moments with . . . Ben Vereen“ Phil Marsh “A Beautiful Mind” (Hedy Lamarr) Harry Narunsky “What’s the (New) Good Word?” Dan McGuire “At This Theatre Next Week!” Chapter 1 (Movie Serials) Jordan Elliott “One Hour at a Time” (Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz) Erik J. Martin “A Pal in Hollywood” (George Pal) Annette Bochenek “Rochester” Jim Dohren “What’s for Dinner at Our House?” Stone Wallace “George Raft: Hollywood Hoodlum” Mail Call
Plus, the Radio Program Guide for Those Were the Days and WGN Radio Theatre
Nostalgia Digest Winter 2020 Editor: Steve Darnall 5.5” x 8.5” 64 pages, b&w interior $4.50 on newsstands Four-issue subscription $17 Eight-issue subscription $30 Nostalgia Digest website
