Flip Through- The Art of Ron Lesser Vol 1- Vintage Paperback Artwork

I just posted a new flip through video of the beautiful book The Art of Ron Lesser: Deadly Dames and Sexy Sirens Vol 1 up on our Youtube channel (at the bottom of this post). You can snag yourself a copy over at MensPulpMags.com

Aftershock by Robert W Walker

St. Martin’s Press 1987

(Don't feel like reading? There is a video review at the bottom of the post.)

Author Robert W Walker was born in 1948, has published 44 novels and is still kicking with a brand-new mystery-thriller series released in 2024 titled Blue Vegas. Aftershock is his third published novel. While scanning his output it seems he mostly wrote horror, followed by mystery and then some other random genres like Viking and military. He wrote under the pseudonyms of Geoffrey Caine, Glenn Hale, Evan Kingsbury and Stephen Robertson.

The basic premise: LA is hit by an enormous earthquake. Underground in a secret lab a scientist couple are working on a biochemical weapon. In the middle of an experiment the earthquake topples the ceiling, they are exposed, die horrible deaths and a mutant creature is born of their robot… and the virus (???). Up top, two doctors help the survivors of the quake. A newscaster investigates. The mutant monster crawls to the surface and eats brains.

Sounds like crazy fun, right?

Well, unfortunately a lot of time is spent on the after-disaster. And normally I love disaster stories. People from different backgrounds banding together despite their differences. The cliché character that sacrifices themselves to save others. The connection we feel as our fellow humans fight for survival. When you put aside your petty differences, your political affiliations, your religion, your race and you grab that person’s hand to pull them up out of the wreckage. It touches the heart. It re-human’s humanity. We’re in this together!!

But man was this slow. The earthquake happens right at the beginning and it’s over in a blink. What we’re left with is rubble. A true disaster novel would have built up to the earthquake. You would have learned the characters and cared what happened to them as the earthquake was happening. Maybe different wild scenarios of building falling terror and struggles to survive. But nope. Just a bunch of body bags filling up Dodger Stadium.

The monster! It’s what we’re here for. The gore dripping physical description, and its hulking and stalking would fit right in with a 60s B horror movie. Bonus: The monster on the cover is pretty damn close to the description in the book. That was definitely enjoyable. Its creation is crazy convoluted but yeah, who cares, I’m not looking for literature here. It’s part machine as its the scientist’s robot that helped with the biochemical weapon experiment and then somehow it becomes a sentient organic mutant when it’s exposed to the virus. I think. From there it slowly makes its way through the miles of rubble searching for food. What it craves is human brains, of course. Why? Why not?!

And as cool as that monster premise is I feel a misstep was taken in trying to give it more depth than the story needed. Along with huntin’ for brains, it has thoughts of killing itself. It has an inner monologue, and it just whines and whines. This monster is literally sitting in its basement, crying and listening to Elliot Smith records. Ok, maybe not the Elliot Smith part but everything else, yes. It wallows in self-pity constantly. The perspective jumps around from the survivors to the monster and as soon as the narrative switched over to the monster, I would give a sigh and muscle through it. About three quarters of the way through the monster does comes to life and starts ripping out people’s spinal cords but it’s a trek to get there.

The human characters aren’t much better. There is a cheesy romance subplot between the two cardboard doctors. When they are in the story, they are either instantly falling in love and having tepid sex scenes or going on in ultra detail about medical and scientific jargon. I mean, it all sounded impressive if it’s factual but once again, audible groan when it would start up.

There is a pushy half-Japanese reporter. He’s borderline cliché but they do give him a little depth. He is completely about breaking the big story, but it does come across that he actually cares about people. He has a Hispanic sidekick who is pretty much relegated to picking up corpses and taking them to Dodger Stadium.

There are a couple characters I enjoyed. One from Mexico and the other from Sweden who are now a team of super tunnelers that travel around to get people out from the rubble of earthquakes. Two survivors from different backgrounds where huge earthquakes decimated their homes. I can’t remember if it’s their business or they just happened to be in town, survived yet another earthquake and then stuck around to help or what but either way, they were definitely the most interesting characters. Unfortunately, they are side characters and don’t last too long in the story.

It wasn’t all bad though. It was pretty gory. When that monster started ripping heads off it was incredibly descriptive and gooey. It has mad 80s flavor. It name drops Dungeons and Dragons and Tony Danza. Before the doctors become disaster doctors they are working on a cure for AIDS. Basically, the first two chapters were entertaining and then the last six were good. In full disclosure, I started skimming around the 60% mark. Between the extensive medical and science terminology and the whining mutant, I just couldn’t take it. BUT if you are a fan of virus outbreak or a depressed teenage mutant robot unsure of your place in the world, this book is for you.

Nolan no. 1 Bait Money by Max Allan Collins

Pinnacle Books 1981

Cover artist: Ed Abrams

(Don't feel like reading? There is a video review at the bottom of the post)

Max Allan Collins is a prolific writer in the pop culture world including everything from writing established comics like Dick Tracy and Batman to novelizations of blockbuster movies like Saving Private Ryan, The Mummy and Waterworld, he created the graphic novel series Road to Perdition, which was made into a movie, and music wise was in a 60s psyche garage band called The Daybreakers who had a minor hit with their song Psychedelic Siren. His list of credentials is too much to mention here but it’s incredibly productive. Chances are you have read or watched something that he has had a hand in.

My favorite Max Allan Collins creation is the Quarry series about a Marine sniper who returns from Vietnam and becomes an assassin. So, I was excited when I was at the bookstore and spotted this Nolan no 1- Bait Money as I knew from listening to the Paperback Warrior Podcast that this was Collins professional thief series inspired by Richard Stark’s Parker series.

There are eleven entries in the series so far. Nine in the original run from 1973 to 1991 and then he brought the character back in 2020 and the most recent entry in 2021. So, he’s about due for another, eh?

The basic premise: Nolan is a professional thief in hiding. Sixteen years prior he had a falling out with The Family when he killed the brother of an up-and-coming major player. Nolan is spotted by one of the crew in his hideout town and takes a bullet. Worse than the hole in his body is the family member ransacked his place and got ahold of his false identity which was attached to all of Nolan’s thief retirement money. While holed up healing with a jiggly waitress, Nolan decides it’s time to go back to Idaho and see if he can come to an agreement with his enemy to get his identity back. To save face the mobster says sure, but you owe me 100k and you have to pay me back with stolen money. Which means, one last job.

Even though the cover art on this screams over-produced Men’s Adventure (which I love- not knocking it), the writing in this is levels above the standard machismo fare. Not to say that Nolan isn’t a steel hardened bad ass though. In the story he is described as looking like Lee Van Cleef (on the cover he’s looking a little more like Barney Miller). He’s tough but not too tough. He’s not a superman but is lean and strong, consuming mass amounts of cigarettes and a stray beer here or there. He’s a working-class anti-hero. A classic John Dillinger sort.

The story starts at a mid-point with Nolan recuperating at the woman’s apartment. You have no idea who he is or why he’s shot but the story keeps moving. The plot and the backstory blend together as one wheel rolling forward. It gives the storyline an almost non-linear feel to it.

The book is filled with nefariously enjoyable criminal underworld associates. Mobsters obviously but what was more interesting were the heist world characters. A man that puts the jobs together with the quite literal name of Planner. A reckless and angry revolutionary hippy willing to do whatever to get money to buy his land far from the world. His thrill-seeking girlfriend. And there is one character in particular who Nolan must team up with that I thoroughly enjoyed and that’s Jon the comic book collector. He collects old comic strips and Big Little Books and all this lesser-known ephemera that only someone who collects old stuff would know or be able to relate to. It made me feel like Collins is one of us. He’s a fan also not just a creator. I just personally connected with it. Also, we have a giant ex-football player thug, an arms dealer who runs a vending machine company and a few henchmen with actual personalities. I imagine Guy Ritchie read some of Collins books before he made the movies Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrells and Snatch.

Collins flesh’s out his characters so well and has a gift for writing scenes so vividly that after I finished this it felt more like I just got done watching a movie than reading a book.

The pacing is quick, which is surprising considering a chunk of the book is them mapping out the robbery. Nolan is meticulous. The tension obviously rides high on will they get away with it but there are character factors rocking the boat also. Is Nolan’s team dependable? And in the world of thieves, you can only trust your accomplice so far. Not to mention Nolan still has the Family on his back and not all members got the update to not execute on sight.

Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year.

The Sorcerers by David St John

Fawcett Crest 1969

Cover art: Jeff Jones

David St John is one of the many pseudonyms of E Howard Hunt. Others are; Robert Dietrich, Gordon Davis, and P.S. Donoghue. Hunt was a CIA operative from 1949 to 1970. In World War 2 he was in China as a spy working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which was basically the CIA before it existed. He was involved in various questionable scandals including the Bay of Pigs, the Watergate scandal (which he did prison time for), the 1954 Guatemalan coup d’etat and for all you conspiracy fans out there, he was part of the CIA’s Domestic Operations Division which would manipulate US news and publishing organizations. And since we’ve already thrown the conspiracy word in there lets also mention he may have had a hand in the JFK and Martin Luther King assignations. Normally I wouldn’t throw in rumors but this guy’s whole being was misinformation so it’s hard to actually know the truth. But when it comes to him being behind all of these tumultuous historical occurrences well, I want to believe.

The Sorcerers is part of the Peter Ward series that had nine entries from 1965 to 1972. The Sorcerers was entry no 8. Supposedly, the Peter Ward character was created as an American reaction to James Bond at the request of deputy chief of intelligence of the CIA, John A McCone. And if all of them read like this one they are essentially American propaganda for democracy. But honestly, most US spy books are or at least throw it in there to cater to that audience. This one is just a little less subtle about it.

The basic premise: CIA agent Peter Ward has been contacted by his Canadian counterpart to investigate a possible connection between Canadian embassy and NATO affairs man Waring and the Russians. Waring has been talking but it’s because the Russians have kidnapped is twenty-year-old daughter. Ward must find out if this is true and if it is, bring the girl back home. The trail leads to a black magic cult. Ward goes undercover and as he gets deeper things aren’t all what they seem.

So many things to say. First off, the first half of this was very conspiracy episode X-Files in tone and mood. What. A. Treat. I’ve watched every X-Files episode multiple times. I love that show. Unfortunately, unlike the X-Files where the supernatural is real, the black magic in Sorcerers is not. Or is it?

Fun fact: The Cigarette Smoking Man was partly inspired by E Howard Hunt.

In my eyes, the book is split into two parts. The first portion is the investigation into the missing girl. Along the trail he uncovers the black magic cult. It was idealized spy fiction with occult overtones. Lots of conspiracy misdirection from people who may or may not have something to do with the kidnapping. Lots of secret meetings with informants at night, including a romantically perfect one at midnight at the Eiffel tower shrouded in shadow. Mystery shots from the darkness. Mission Impossible type undercover work. Hypnotic serum. Microfilm. Defector spies living undercover divulging intel. Note clues pulled out of dead informant’s pockets. The Russians. The ladies. Georgetown, Geneva, Paris, and a mysterious African island. The first section of this book was everything I’ve ever wanted in a spy book. It is simultaneously grounded in reality while loosely swiveling on the ball joint of extraordinary exploitative fiction.

The second portion takes place in Africa. There has already been a conclusion to the initial mystery but now Ward is undercover…in blackface….to infiltrate and dismantle the cult. The latter portion of this book seemed rushed and tacked on to fill out the word count. It could have easily been wrapped up with the kidnapping. And even though it has a lot of action, somehow the pacing feels slower than the front half but that might have something to do with how involved the reader is at this point.

Also, the reasoning as to why the cult exists is ridiculously unbelievable. We’re talking total Alex Jones type conspiracy here. This is where the propaganda that I mentioned comes into play. The whole plot line here seems like something dreamed up to keep the more paranoid population of US citizens in fear. The Russians are converting black people to communism using anti-Christian ideals!! It’s nuts. As the cherry on top the cult is constantly smoking weed. This was written in 1969. Who else in 1969 was constantly smoking weed? You do the math. But Hunt was a master of subterfuge and misinformation with a gift of entertaining writing. And though I hate this type of stuff in the real world, if he had written it well, if it had fit seamlessly into the plot, it would have been fine, even enjoyable in its obviousness. But it wasn’t. It had zero depth. Situations and characters were thrown in recklessly. It just felt like the book was already over.

It does take the path back to the fun of the beginning for a final conclusion involving two ladies and Mr. Ward lounging around poolside drinking gooey blender drinks and getting their freak on so that was nice.

The tacky second half aside, and it’s actually only about a quarter of the back half, this book was incredibly enjoyable. I’ve stated many times, I think Hunt is evil but a great storyteller. It’s always action packed. The mystery is never obvious. The man traveled the world over, hell he was a real spy, so he knows the cultures, languages, and locations to give everything authenticity. When I reviewed the French spy Al Glenne book, I complained that there wasn’t enough Frenchness in it. The Sorcerers has so much Frenchness I was choking on my baguette. Everywhere Peter Ward goes, Hunt has been there and just nails it. After reading it you feel like you’ve been there. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the others in the series.

Pulp Fest Video Tour & Haul!! Vintage Paperbacks Galore!!

The wife and I made the trip out to Pulpfest in Cranberry Pennsylvania this year! We had never been before and were very excited to be in the atmosphere of smelly old paper, beautiful pulpy art and knowledgeable aficionados who have been involved in the world for over forty years.

I put together this video of our trip as I figured it would be much more entertaining to watch than read about. Just a heads up, we are mostly paperback book collectors so there aren’t really any pulps in the video. I mean, we own/love pulps but when surrounded by thousands of paperbacks, that’s where all the money is going.

It is a bit of a long video so if you click on the video description and scroll down there are time stamps for the sections of the video. Like if you just want to see the book haul part, click on the 19:16 next to the words “Book Haul”

Thanks! Hope you enjoy!

New Paperback Parade issue no 121- Flip-Through

Today we have a video post of a flip through of the new Paperback Parade issue no 121 put out by Gary Lovisi. This was my first PP. I loved it and am going to be going back and getting some past issues. Especially that Cherry Delight one!

Rogue Agent no 1 by Jack Drake

Avon Books 1991

Rogue Agent was a six-part series that ran from 1991 to 1992. Jack drake is a house name. The real writin’ of the series was done between two authors; Robert Tine penned the first two and Bruce King the remaining four.

SPOILER ALERT!!! Lite spoilers ahead so reader beware.

The basic premise: After a successful undercover assignment in Rome, CIA agent and Vietnam Veteran, John Paine is shuffled through bureaucratic channels to find himself in West Germany with an assignment to pick up an East German Biophysicist defector that takes place across the Berlin Wall and into East Germany. What should have been an easy trip turns sour fast and Paine discovers a double cross. A fellow agent is killed, and Paine is to blame. Paine has some higher ups who would love to see him fail and though he’s only on administrative leave for the time being there is more going on as someone is out to make him look like a traitor and he must clear his name outside the official chain of command.

Paine is undercover at the very start of this. He’s described as his undercover character for a couple chapters. What’s hilarious is the physical description and the personality reminded me of the actor Joe Don Baker in the movie Mitchell. And I could not shake that sloppy, beer chuggin’, good ol’ boy persona throughout the rest of the book.

The excitement peaks early on the barge into and out of East Germany. This is by far the most enjoyable part of the book as the characters have just been introduced. You have no expectations or preconceived ideas of where the story is headed. I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of the events and thought this book may have just had a clunky start and now we are on track.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Once he’s suspected of being a traitor, he meanders around Europe pondering how his first undercover sting from the beginning of the book connects with the mishap in Germany. At the halfway point, I still didn’t know what the plot of this book was. I mean, obviously it has to do with him being framed and why but it’s so wishy washy about it. It’s more like he’s on vacation than on the hunt. Eventually he does start tracking down clues, but it takes a while to get there.

There is a bunch of cheeky dialogue and circumstances that are supposed to be funny but downright murder the spy atmosphere.

There are some enjoyable moments. There is a fair amount of tension towards the back when Paine realizes the set-up is still occurring and the folks he’s currently around are getting whacked. A guy tries to kill Paine with a saxophone. He does do some cool spy stuff like how to illegally get a new passport that seemed like something out of the Anarchist Cookbook. Um, should this author be putting this in print??

Not enough fun to redeem it though. They never give any further description of Paine’s character so I’m still seeing sloppy Joe Don Baker.

Not that I need beautifully written lines or anything, but this was real surface level stuff. (Just like my reviews!).

It gets hokier as the story progresses that it almost becomes a parody. It just keeps trying to make jokes that aren’t funny. It really started to get on my nerves and made me want to chuck it out the window.

But the absolute worst part about this book is there is zero resolution. It just ends. To be continued. Absolutely nothing wrapped up. No conspiracy exposed. No suspects. Nada.