Buck Rogers. Conan the Barbarian. Doc Savage. Flash Gordon. John Carter of Mars. Philip Marlowe. The Shadow. Sherlock Holmes. Tarzan. Zorro.
Perhaps you know some or all of these names, perhaps you don’t. Either way, modern storytelling owes a lot to these characters, and the once looked-down-upon medium from which they came.
I’m talking pulp fiction. Not the Tarantino movie, though I am a fan. What I’m talking about is the old books and magazines of the early-to-mid 20th century. Penny dreadfuls, dime novels, whodunnits, scientific romances, even a few subgenres just for you men and women of the “alternative lifestyle.”
Pulp had everything. It attained a certain zenith for the imagination. You could tag along with adventurers and witness their derring-do in exotic locales. You could unravel a murder mystery beside a wise-cracking, cynical P.I. You could fight aliens or werewolves or robots or zombies. You could travel wild jungles, barren deserts, outer space, the Old West, prehistory. You could wallop Hitler and his Nazi goons or take on the Red Menace or the (admittedly not PC) Yellow Peril.
I want to read stories that tip their hat to or wholeheartedly drown themselves in pulp fiction elements. Some things I’d love in particular are;
—“Wacky inventors” and science heroes — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_hero
—Detective fiction
—Space opera, Space Western, science fantasy, planetary romance
—“Weird tales”
—Secret history, cloak-and-dagger, “spy-fi”
—“Imaginary voyages” and “lost worlds”
—“Swashbuckler” fiction
—“Sword and sorcery,” “sword and sandal,” “sword and planet” (actual subgenres, I’m not just throwing stuff at the end of “sword and-”)
—The Weird West
—Steampunk/clockpunk (another favorite of mine, which happens to be interrelated to pulp)
—For those of you up to the task, I WILL accept fan fiction strictly under the condition that whatever you decide to write fan fiction about belonged to pulp or its immediate precursors/successors.
—I’m more than aware that all the names up at the top are men’s. It’s not especially easy to find awesome pulp heroines, so try and give me some!
Firstly, NO WORD LIMIT. As for rules, swear all you want. Splatter the walls with blood and guts. Blaspheme and discredit. Romance and/or sex is okay, even the gay stuff, I don’t wanna discriminate (though I would ask that romance/sex of any kind serve a purpose and not be the whole of the story).
As always, this contest is “Open till I’m happy.” I’ll allow pre-writes just in case anyone has anything that fits, though I’d much rather have new stories.
Perhaps you know some or all of these names, perhaps you don’t. Either way, modern storytelling owes a lot to these characters, and the once looked-down-upon medium from which they came.
I’m talking pulp fiction. Not the Tarantino movie, though I am a fan. What I’m talking about is the old books and magazines of the early-to-mid 20th century. Penny dreadfuls, dime novels, whodunnits, scientific romances, even a few subgenres just for you men and women of the “alternative lifestyle.”
Pulp had everything. It attained a certain zenith for the imagination. You could tag along with adventurers and witness their derring-do in exotic locales. You could unravel a murder mystery beside a wise-cracking, cynical P.I. You could fight aliens or werewolves or robots or zombies. You could travel wild jungles, barren deserts, outer space, the Old West, prehistory. You could wallop Hitler and his Nazi goons or take on the Red Menace or the (admittedly not PC) Yellow Peril.
I want to read stories that tip their hat to or wholeheartedly drown themselves in pulp fiction elements. Some things I’d love in particular are;
—“Wacky inventors” and science heroes — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_hero
—Detective fiction
—Space opera, Space Western, science fantasy, planetary romance
—“Weird tales”
—Secret history, cloak-and-dagger, “spy-fi”
—“Imaginary voyages” and “lost worlds”
—“Swashbuckler” fiction
—“Sword and sorcery,” “sword and sandal,” “sword and planet” (actual subgenres, I’m not just throwing stuff at the end of “sword and-”)
—The Weird West
—Steampunk/clockpunk (another favorite of mine, which happens to be interrelated to pulp)
—For those of you up to the task, I WILL accept fan fiction strictly under the condition that whatever you decide to write fan fiction about belonged to pulp or its immediate precursors/successors.
—I’m more than aware that all the names up at the top are men’s. It’s not especially easy to find awesome pulp heroines, so try and give me some!
Firstly, NO WORD LIMIT. As for rules, swear all you want. Splatter the walls with blood and guts. Blaspheme and discredit. Romance and/or sex is okay, even the gay stuff, I don’t wanna discriminate (though I would ask that romance/sex of any kind serve a purpose and not be the whole of the story).
As always, this contest is “Open till I’m happy.” I’ll allow pre-writes just in case anyone has anything that fits, though I’d much rather have new stories.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 30
- Rewards: Gold: 800, Silver: 400, Bronze: 200, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: Thanks to everyone who entered. You all win to some degree, save the second and third part of Merchant's Doom, simply because they're continuations of a single story.
I enjoyed this a lot, so don't be surprised if there's a sequel contest sometime soon.
Contest Winners
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Lydia Howard lived alone - with her cat as company. But what would happen to convince her that she wasn't entirely alone?by tallblondie 3900 words, 28 comments, on Apr 17 3:11 AM. In Creepy, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Thursday, November 8, 11:34 pm / That damned Carter was raising hell again tonight. Just when we thought we had him under control, now he’sby Rune Morose 6600 words, 11 comments, on Sep 27 12:20 AM 2007. In Dark, Fiction, First person, Horror, Other, Weird
Silver trophy winner
• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
A dinosaur-fighting jungle girl bites off more than she can chew... or is that what the dinosaur did?by draconic chronicler 2000 words, 1 comment, on Jul 14 7:45 PM. In Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Science fiction
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
MERCHANTS DOOM PART11 / This treatise is or, maybe my only worthwhile legacy. Oh! I have riches and moneys, properties and business interesby Tomereader 3900 words, 18 comments, on Jun 18 2:07 PM 2008. In Adventure, Dark, Fantasy, First person, Horror, Strange
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 266412, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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by Andy Stephenson 13800 words, 43 comments, on Jul 22 6:06 AM 2007. In Erotica, First person, Humor, Inspirational, Love, Romance, Science fiction Honorable mention
• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Entries [9]
1 - 9 of 9
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In part 1 we learned of the merchant and how an evil fetish / idol came into his posetion, the tale of its aquisition.1 / MERCHANTS DOOM PAby Tomereader 2100 words, 6 comments, on Jun 18 2:16 PM 2008. In Adventure, Fantasy, First person, Horror, Strange• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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In part one we learned of the aquisition of an evil idol and in part two we learned of the consiquences of this action and of the lucky escby Tomereader 3100 words, 2 comments, on Jun 18 2:23 PM 2008• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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If I don't enter this contest, I'm doing a serious injustice to myself.
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Well, don't let THAT happen. =P
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I will definitely be entering!!
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I've got something brewing for this.
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Sweet!
If you need me to extend the contest a couple of times, no problem. I owe you. XD
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IS IT OK IF I USE SECART GARDEN IN MY STORY
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Are you asking about writing a fan fic of ‘The Secret Garden’? Hmm… I don’t really think it qualifies. There’s a difference between pulp fiction and other stuff that was written during the time. Similarities, but ultimately I don’t feel it fits the theme.
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Hi DreamShell!
Thanks for the honorable mention and points. I appreciate them. I'm glad you like my story.
Thanks for hosting.
Andy
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Thanks for the trophy and the points!!!
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