Raymond Chandler: The Bard of the Hardboiled Mystery

I don’t think the Hardboiled Detective would have had the staying power it did if it weren’t for Raymond Chandler (1888-1959). Pulp fiction, unfairly has been considered the lower art form of literature. But you can’t deny the the masterful way Chandler wrote, using metaphors and similes in such a way that was groundbreaking at… Continue reading Raymond Chandler: The Bard of the Hardboiled Mystery

Donald Westlake: The Patron Saint of the Hardboiled Heist Novel

Donald E Westlake (1933-2008) is your favorite writer’s favorite writer. The man wrote over 100 fiction books and almost all of them are pure pulp. I can’t recommend his books enough, if you’re into hardboiled fiction, pick one up. This is a guy who counts Elmore Leonard, Jim Thompson, Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, and Lawrence… Continue reading Donald Westlake: The Patron Saint of the Hardboiled Heist Novel

The Godfather: From Mens Mags to the Big Screen

You can’t deny the influence Mario Puzo’s The Godfather had on future creators who in turn became our influences here at American Pulps. I read The Godfather when I was in college and I loved it. But it wasn’t until much later that I found out the 1969 novel was also published in the pages… Continue reading The Godfather: From Mens Mags to the Big Screen

Murder by Gaslight

The Victorian Era Murder Mystery or Murder by Gaslight genre has its roots in the pulp rags of the Gilded Age when Penny Dreadfuls were all the rage. It was of course, during this time that Jack the Ripper preyed on the women of Whitechapel and the wealth disparity was ripe for corruption and desperation.… Continue reading Murder by Gaslight

Inspirational Stuff: Stephen King’s Night Shift

Most of our articles are going to be about what inspires our work here at American Pulps, the rest will be drink recipes. This isn’t a drink recipe. I wasn’t a huge Stephen King fan as a kid, probably because I tried to read The Shining in 8th Grade for a book report in English… Continue reading Inspirational Stuff: Stephen King’s Night Shift