Other People’s Pulp | Karavansara

23 April 2015
by Davide Mana Leave a comment

King

So there was this guy going on at length about how much his writing had been influenced by his reading and re-reding of King.
The man to him is an icon, an inspiration, a true master. King is God and King is his prophet.
Or something along those lines.
And I had to agree.
For me, too, I said, Jason King remains a true model as a writer.
I want to be him, more or less, like, totally.
Now, he did not get mad at me.
He did not know what I was talking about. Which is sad, I think.

Fact is, I was not lying – you see, I think Jason King is a pretty damn cool role model when you are trying to make ends meet as a writer. Continue reading →

18 March 2015
by Davide Mana Leave a comment

Other people’s pulps – The Riddle of the Sands

A few nights back, feeling the need to get my brain some vacation – because you can’t spend days on end either writing or reading to check out facts about what you’re writing – I took two hours off and I watched The Riddle of the Sands, a British 1979 movie starring Michael York (that also had a hand in the production), the always lovely Jenny Agutter and Simon MacCorkindale.

The movie is based on Erskine Childers‘ novel of the same title, which is considered by many the forefather of all modern spy thrillers.
I was talking about it a few days back with some online friends, and decided to check it out. Continue reading →

25 February 2015
by Davide Mana 4 Comments

Other People’s Pulps – Emilio Salgari

Emilio Salgari, the famous Italian writer of “Sandokan”. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night I thought about Emilio Salgari.
For my generation – and for three generations before mine – Salgari was the name of adventure well before Indiana Jones started plying his trade.

At the turn of the last century, Salgari was stranded in Turin, former capital of Italy but hardly the most cosmopolitan city in the world. Trapped in a rather anonymous office job as a clerk, Salgari dreamed up exotic adventures and put them to paper.

Back when I was a kid I did not like Salgari very much – his were the sort of books that old aunts with fake smiles pushed on you saying “You will absolutely love this story!”, and making it clear that anything less than absolute love for Sandokan, or Jolanda, would cause no end of grief in the family.
So sue me, I did not love him that much – and yet no one was any worse for it. Continue reading →

4 December 2014
by Davide Mana 2 Comments

Other people’s pulps: The Two Jacks

I think this one does qualify as Other People’s Pulp, in its own way – it was shot in Morocco, by Steve McCurry

4 December 2014
by Davide Mana 2 Comments

Other people’s pulps: Empire of the Octopus

Cover from a French/Belgian (I think – and yes, they’ll hate me for mixing the two) 1947 comic book.

4 November 2014
by Davide Mana 3 Comments

Other People’s Pulps – Two by Jess Nevins

One of the best catches in my Lucca expedition was Strange Tales of the Century, by Jess Nevins.
This massive 500+ pages trade paperback is two things into one – and both are just great.

Strange Tales of the Century is a supplement for the Spirit of the Century roleplaying game of pulp action and adventure.
As such, it offers the reader a wide selection of characters, options, new stunts and perks and what not.
It also details the world between 1935 and 1951 from a pulp-fictional point of view.

I personally do not play the FATE System or Spirit of the Century, but the sourcebook is flexible enough to act as a much needed supplement for the old Aeonverse game Adventure! (that’s how I’m going to use it), or as a sourcebook for any other pulp/adventure game. Continue reading →

26 August 2014
by Davide Mana Leave a comment

Other People’s Pulp – Dime Novel Italia

So far, Italy has missed out on the pulp renaissance and the New Pulp movement.
There are authors that are writing pulp fiction – not in the “over the top Tarantino extravaganza” sense, but as in classic, popular, character-driven literature.
What’s missing is a community and, if you will, a generic label for the writers and readers to adopt.

But something’s moving – and I’m happy to point out the birth of Dime Novel Italia, a G+ group that might become the seed for something larger to develop.
For starters, authors, readers and fans have a place in which to discuss their genre.
More, hopefully, will follow.

The community is aimed at Italian speakers and covers the Italian market of new pulp and assorted “cheap” fiction – but feel free to drop by and say hallo!