The Digest Enthusiast – Page 2 – Larque Press | The Digest Enthusiast

TDE Update January 9, 2022

Inside TDE15:

Fantasy Tales spread from The Digest Enthusiast No. 15

Inside The Digest Enthusiast No. 15:
The history and evolution of Fantasy Tales as told by its editors Stephen Jones and David A. Sutton in a behind-the-scenes interview, complete with vintage photographs and artifacts.

The Digest Enthusiast No. 15 is now available in four editions:
Fifteen C print with color interior (available now from lulu.com, available soon from amazon and select booksellers)
Fifteen BW print with b&w interior (available now from amazon)
Fifteen digital print replica with color interior for Kindle (available now)
Fifteen digital print replica with color interior for Magzter (available soon)

TDE Update January 8, 2022

The Digest Enthusiast No. 15

The Digest Enthusiast No. 15 is now available in four editions:
Fifteen C print with color interior (available now from lulu.com, available soon from amazon and select booksellers)
Fifteen BW print with b&w interior (available now from amazon)
Fifteen digital print replica with color interior for Kindle
Fifteen digital print replica with color interior for Magzter (available soon)

Here’s what’s waiting for you inside:

Interview
The history and evolution of Fantasy Tales as told by its editors Stephen Jones and David A. Sutton in a behind-the-scenes interview, complete with vintage photographs and artifacts.

Articles
Gary Lovisi exposes the licentious Marijuana Girl by N.R. de Mexico, as cited by the Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials in 1952.

Howard Browne’s vision for the ultimate fantasy and science fiction digest: Fantastic. An in-depth review of its debut year, packed with the inside stories behind its fiction.

Tom Brinkmann uncovers the original 7 Year Itch with buxom beauty Vanessa Brown and Tom Ewell via the pocket-size pages of People Today.

Anthony Perconti corresponds with author William Preston about his Old Man series for Asimov’s Science Fiction, that includes a peek into the final episode, yet to come.

Peter Enfantino wraps up Manhunt’s third year in an edifying, gripping exposé, capped with his top ten picks for 1955.

Jack Seabrook lauds Avon’s Murder Mystery Monthly No. 31 with William Irish’s “If I Should Die Before I Wake” in a revealing examination of the master’s talent for terror and suspense.

Joseph Gollomb, once credited as the premier true crime reporter of the day, proves the conceit in our in-depth review of his digest classic: 11 True Crimes.

The crime fiction of “Lost Author” Carl G. Hodges is ripe for revival. Join the ranks of his fans as we recount his career with a deep dive into 1951’s digest novel: Crime On My Hands.

Steve Carper returns with a robust report on the rare children’s digest series, Boys’ and Girls’ Fiction, straight out of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Robert A.W. Lowndes’ Startling Mystery Stories No. 2 gets its due in an inclusive review of its stories, with author backgrounds and feature summaries.

News
Industry news—with over 30 cover previews—from the digest world’s favorite editors, publishers, and writers.

In all, there are nearly 150 magazine covers, cartoons by Bob Vojtko, and more. Cover by Rachel Krauss.

160 pages, published in color and b&w print editions, and for Kindle and Magzter, by Larque Press LLC.

TDE Update June 13, 2021

Ed McBain’s Mystery Book No. 3

Jack Seabrook takes a close look at Ed McBain’s Mystery Book No. 3 in the current issue (No. 14) of The Digest Enthusiast. Here’s a preview:

“Ed McBain’s Mystery Magazine is a standard-sized digest (5-1/4” x 7-5/8”), with color front and back covers and black and white interiors. It was published by Pocket Books in New York and ran only three issues. The first two are dated 1960, while the third is dated 1961. The information in issue number three says it was published bi-monthly, so perhaps the first two issues came out in late 1960 and the third in early 1961. Issue three runs 148 pages, including covers. Ed McBain is listed as the editor and Robert Goodney is listed as the managing editor, so it may be the case that McBain was a figurehead and Goodney put the magazine together.”

Jack’s piece is loaded with background information and a complete synopsis of the issue. Artwork includes cover images as well as several interior illustrations from the digest.

TDE Update June 11, 2021

Terror Detective Story Magazine

“Terror Detective was the brain-child of uber-publisher Everett “Busy” Arnold, the man responsible for syndicating Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” and launching one of the first comic book publishers, Quality Comics, home of such classics as Plastic Man and Blackhawk.”

For more background and a symopsis of every story that appeared over Terror Detective Story Magazine’s four-issue run, see Peter Enfantino’s analysis in The Digest Enthusiast No. 14, now on sale.
14C (fullcolor print) $20.00 from Lulu.com and Amazon.com
14BW (b&w print) $12 from Amazon.com
14 (full color digital) $4.99 from Amazon.com and Magzter.com

TDE Update June 9, 2021

20 Million Miles to Earth, the Novel

“As Shuster and Bailey rush to investigate, they find a strange reptilitan creature, eight feet tall with a prehensile tail. Dead—apparently electrocuted by the relatively low voltage of their power lines.”

Henry Slesar (1927–2002) was a prolific author, scriptwriter, and copywriter, famous for his twist endings. He is created for coining the phrase “coffee break” during his early years as an advertising copywriter. His first fiction sale was “The Brat” (Imaginative Tales Sept. 1953).

Two years later he wrote the novelization of the Columbia Pictures’ classic 20 Million Miles to Earth for Ziff-Davis in the the one-shot digest, Amazing Stories Science Fiction Novel.

Read the complete synopsis of Slesar’s novel, with highlights of the differences between film and novel in The Digest Enthusiast No. 14. Available now:
14C (full color print)–$20.00 from Lulu.com and Amazon.com
14BW (b&w print)–$12 from Amazon.com
14 Kindle (full color digital)–$4.99 from Amazon.com
14 digital (full color digital)–$4.99 from Magzter.com

TDE Update June 5, 2021

The Digest Enthusiast No. 14

The latest issue of The Digest Enthusiast is now available. This time there are two print editions, one in color and one is black-and-white.

14C is $20.00 from Lulu.com and Amazon.com
14BW is $12 from Amazon.com
14 Kindle is $4.99 from Amazon.com
14 digital is $4.99 from Magzter.com
Coming soon select booksellers including Bud’s Art Books, DreamHaven Books, Mike Chomko Books, Modern Age Books, Barnes & Noble (online), and eBay.

The Digest Enthusiast [#14 June 2021] ed. Richard Krauss (Larque Press, $20 (color), $12 (b&w), $4.99 (digital) 160pp, digest)
3 • Contents Page
4 • News Digest • various • gp
20 • Ed McBain’s Mystery Book No. 3 • Jack Seabrook • ar
30 • Assisted Dying • Jack Seabrook • ss
47 • Zip! • Bob Vojtko • ct
48 • Startling Mystery Stories No. 1 • Richard Krauss • rv
54 • Manhunt 1955 part two • Peter Enfantino • sz
66 • At the Vanguard…But, Not for Long • Vince Nowell, Sr. • ar
74 • The Dark City Crime & Mystery Magazine Vol. 6 No. 1 • Richard Krauss • rv
78 • Ocean De Ville • Robert Snashall • ss
88 • Amazing Stories Science Fiction Novel: 20 Million Miles to Earth • Richard Krauss • sz
110 • Dedication: Paul D. Marks • ms
112 • The End of Wonder • Ward Smith & Vince Nowell, Sr. • rv
116 • The Haunt of Horror • Richard Krauss • ar
130 • Gnoll Attack [Buckthorn Burrough] • John Kuharik • ss; illustrated by Michael Neno
142 • Terror Detective Story Magazine • Peter Enfantino. ar
159 • Opening Lines • ms

Larque Press website

Contents formatted for inclusion in Phil Stephensen-Payne’s Galatic Central reference website.
FictionMags Index Family Item Types & Other Abbreviations key.

TDE Update December 26, 2020

The Digest Enthusiast No. 13

The Digest Enthusiast No. 13 is now available in print, kindle and Magzter editions—all in full color.

Interview
• Behind the scenes at Analog and Asimov’s with writer, poet, and managing editor Emily Hockaday.

Articles
• A brand new installment of Peter Enfantino’s popular series on Manhunt—1955 part one.

• Jack Seabrook investigates the mysterious true crime reports of Leo Marr for Mystery Book Magazine.

• Gary Lovisi reveals the highly collectible digest paperbacks from Falcon Books.

• Steve Carper uncovers the genre giants of Digest Fantasy & Science Fiction Classics.

• Vince Nowell, Sr. shines the spotlight on Robert A.W. Lowndes’ reign of digests.

Industry News
• Catch up on breaking news and cover previews from the digest world’s favorite editors, publishers, and writers.

Reviews
• Switchblade Magazine No. 12
• Sword & Sorcery Annual
• Marilyn Monroe’s Digest Cover Trading Cards
• Rock and a Hard Place No. 3

Robert Snashall's Gaslight Unrolling of the Stars

Fiction
• Richard Krauss “The Village of the Wraith” art by Rick McCollum
• Robert Snashall “Gaslight Unrolling of the Stars” art by Marc Myers
• Joe Wehrle, Jr. “A Young Guitarist’s Dream”

Plus
• Over 100 digest magazine covers in full color, first issue factoids, cartoons by Bob Vojtko, and more
• Cover by Brian Buniak, 160 pages, published in full color by Larque Press.

Print $20 from Lulu.com
Print $20 from amazon.com
Kindle $4.99 from amazon.com
Digital $4.99 from Magzter.com

TDE Update December 18, 2020

Fate-ful Project Updates

The new Fate arrived this week.
Fate No. 736

Highlights of this issue include two articles on mermaids, a report on nature spirits, and a piece by dowser Marty Cain.

Get a copy on newsstands now, or order directly from fatemag.com

Status Updates
The print proof of Oddities and Other Grotesques by Roman Scott arrived this week from Marc Myers. The overall package looks great, but quite a few pages require some tweaks. Mostly image adjustments to make the artwork reproduce in its best light. A little time consuming, but I progressed about half way through the book by week’s end. More to do next week.

Alec Cizak sent a few ads for the next Pulp Modern. And Ran Scott completed another illustration. We’re making good progress, and hope to wrap things up before the end of the year.

The second print proof for The Digest Enthusiast No. 13 is in St. Paul on its way to Vancouver. Although next week is probably a lousy week to release a book, I’ll do it anyway ‘cause I’m an indie publisher and there are a few folks who’ve been patiently waiting. Watch for an update next week.

In the meantime, 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.

Reviews December 12, 2020

Fauci in review

This audio biography of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci by Michael Specter provides an excellent overview of the famed doctor’s career, along with excerpts from interviews recorded along the way. Covering more than three decades of work and discovery, from his childhood in Brooklyn to his pioneering research and advocacy for patients with AIDS, up to the current global pandemic with COVID-19.

In addition to its fact-based case for science, its also an illustration of the power of grounding yourself in facts. Faced with a tidal wave of emotion, and too often misinformed rage, Fauci kept his cool and his self-esteem intact by sticking to facts as the foundation for his even-handed, often generous, response to his critics and those intent on bullying. A casebook for going high, when your critics go low.

WIP Update
The proof copy of The Digest Enthusiast No. 13 arrived this week. The book will be manufactured by Lulu.com and was originally spec’ed on their 60 lb. interior stock. The proof looks good, but the color cover repros were not quite as crisp as I’d like. When I went back to upgrade to Lulu’s 80 lb. option, I found the selection no longer available since the book had already reached the proofing stage. This didn’t make sense to me, but there may be good reason(s) of which I’m unaware. I filled out a customer support request, but the response was an automated email that didn’t address my problem. I ended up “retiring” the project and opening a new one using 80# stock. A fresh print proof is in progress. Probably unnecessary, but I want to be sure everything looks good before the book’s release. The heavier stock is more expensive, so the price will be $20 for the print version. The release will likely be the week of the Christmas holiday. Watch for the announcement here.

Marc Myers finished reviewing the proof copy of his latest book Oddities and Other Grotesques by Roman Scott. Several pages are a bit dark, so he’s forwarded the proof to me. I’ll adjust the contrast/density to the pages that need it and upload a new interior file in the next week or two.

Ran Scott completed several more interior illustrations for the next Pulp Modern and sent some cover sketch ideas to editor Alec Cizak and I. We make the selection and now things are back in Ran’s capable hands. Still no hard date for release, but late Dec/early Jan seems realistic.

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.

News December 4, 2020

New Release Dec. 4, 2020

New Release:

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.