A Study in Pulp

In the early 20th Century, pulp magazines were some of the most populars forms of fiction. The stories themselves were printed on some of the cheapest paper out there, specifically the kind made from wood pulp, hence the name. The 1800s had dime novels, the 1900s had the pulps, easy to read stories that anyone can read.

But what kind of stories were in them? Well any kind of story, but most of the time, ones with excitement and wonder. Cunning adventurers traveling the globe, brave warriors fighting beasts, and even strong vigilantes out on the streets fighting crime. Very entertaining, and very simple. Few of these stories carried depth to them, at the time they weren’t made for sophisticated thinking, they were just short yet fun stories made to give people escapism during times of economic collapse, shifting political climates, and world wars.

While pulps were very cheap and cliched filled stories, today they are marked as one of the great predecessors of modern fiction today. The current state of science fiction, crime stories, and especially comic books have their roots found in pulp magazines. While many of these stories started out as cheap thrills for people looking for a little escapism, they have evolved over time into captivating stories of wonder, philosophical thought, and in-depth looks into the human condition. It is this evolution of these various mediums and genres that this site wishes to explore.

A Study in Pulp is a website where I, Joseph Acero, will explore the various stories and characters made within these various genres and share with others about what makes them so captivating. Here you will find, Character Spotlights, Reviews, Recommendations, and Discussions on what makes this aspect of fiction so wonderful and what lessons I and others could learn from it.

Now of course this site will not try to be a objective source of knowledge. Art is subjective after all, and my opinions are strictly my own. I will always try to be faithful in any facts I present and back my claims with sources, though I encourage anyone who comes to this site to always keep an open mind and be kind and fair in sharing thoughts.

Fiction is a truly wonderful creation. We fabricate stories to expand on truths, create exciting worlds to give us reprieve from harsh realities, and build heroes and ideals in the hopes that we may strive to be better people. Stories can be thrilling, whimsical, and inspiring, so please join me on this site as we explore A Study in Pulp.