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Kris Sayer

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Final Thoughts on PL15

Pulp Literature No. 15 Summer 2017

Pulp Literature reads as good as it looks. It’s the product of a small team— mostly women—committed to their publishing company, with a track record that speaks for itself—15 quarterly issues delivered on schedule for nearly four years running [now even longer].

Most of the stories in this issue of Pulp Literature are outstanding—with the minority still worthy of your time and effort. This edition is an excellent place to start if you’re a new or occasional reader of the series. For regulars, the issue is another solid installment of the top-quality journal you’ve come to expect from Pulp Literature Press.

J.M. Landels’ Aria

Pulp Literature No. 15 Summer 2017

Stories from Pulp Literature No. 15 Summer 2017:

The first novel in the Allaigna’s Song trilogy by J.M. Landels, Overture, was serialized in Pulp Literature No. 1–11; and then collected into a single volume in July 2017. The second novel, Aria, began in PL No. 13, and this issue presents its third installment. The story opens with a short recap of the history and relationships of the story’s main characters. Because this is a segment of a larger piece, I found myself reviewing the recap a few times during the early pages to stay oriented. Let’s call it a sword and sorcery epic to provide a picture of Allaigna’s world quickly, but it is as much about the relationships of grandmother, mother, and daughter, each with differing agendas, each vying for control, as it is an adventure saga. The writing is strong, with a vibrant vocabulary. In this segment, for every action, there is an unequal reaction exploring its emotional impact.