Dieselpunk
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised about the amount of Dieselpunk on Pinterest.
It looks like the old FASA RPG Crimson Skies counts as Dieselpunk these days.
Monday Book Pick: Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
The first in a new Steampunk action/adventure/romance series. Not a bad first outing for the writing team of Ballantine and Morris. Good solid formula adventure, the kind Lester Dent made a very nice living writing during the Golden Age of Pulp. That is a favorable comparison by the way. This novel, which takes place in the 1890′s, complete with airships, Analytic Engines, steam powered bar bots serving beer and a mystery filled “Ministry” protecting the British Empire. This series follows two agents of that Ministry, a studious “Archivist” aptly named “Books” and the uber-field agent, Ms. “Braun”, who wears a bullet proof corset (Ministry issue of course), is a crack shot with her two customer revolvers and has a fondness for explosives.
Stop groaning! The plot flows well and has enough twists and fight scenes to keep you engaged. In all a good, fun read. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment in this Steampunk series.
Monday Book Pick: The Man of Bronze & The Land of Terror
The Man of Bronze and The Land of Terror by Lester Dent.
The first two Doc Savage novels.
The first Doc Savage novel I read was The Land of Terror back in either 1971 or 1972. It was a Bantam reprint that I picked up at store in Panama City just outside the Balboa Gate. Since then, I have read over 160 of the original 181 Doc Savage novels, as well as several by Philip Jose Farmer (licensed or otherwise) and Will Murray. IMNSHO, Doc Savage was the greatest of the Pulp Era Heros.
Monday Book Pick: Melody of Vengeance
Melody of Vengeance by Michael A. Black.
A rousing good pulp adventure that pays tribute to the two greatest pulp heros, Doc Savage and the Shadow!
Monday Book Pick: She Murdered me with Science
Filed under: Monday Book Pick, Pulp, Science Fiction
She Murdered Me with Science by David Boop
A delightful mix of hard boiled dective story and good old fashioned pulp science story, with a dash of Jazz thrown in for flavor.
Ya, ya. I know it’s Tuesday. I’ve been busy.
Friday B-Movie Pick: L.A. Confidential
Keeping on the film noir trend, comes this classic from 1997. A great cast, a gripping story and look into the dark steamy side of beautiful, sunny, southern California. Kim Basinger won an Oscar for her role in this film. Other cast members includes: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and James Cromwell. Cromwell shows his range in this role. His other work has included Star Trek films and the “Revenge of the Nerds” films. Part the films depth is watching the growth of the characters played by Crowe, Pearce and Spacey. In all, it’s a dark, well made film that tells its story through complex characters.
Crunchy Pulp Goodness
I’m a fan of the old Pulp stories, Doc Savage in particular.
One place to get a new fix of crunchy Pulp Goodness is Decoder Ring Theater.
“…all-new audio adventures in the tradition of the classic programs of Radio’s Golden Age.”
The adventures come in two flavors, hard boiled detective stories and masked hero adventure. Black Jack Justice features PI Jack Justice and his partner, Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. The masked heroes are Canada’s own Red Panda and the Flying Squirrel.
Personally, I listen to them both. Stop by and check ‘em out.