Pulp Mags - How many stories?

[GA Russell]

I have been enjoying reading short stories collected from America's most highly respected detective pulp magazine, Black Mask.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Lizard-S...3427666&sr=1-1

As you know, Charlie Rutledge posts to the MR Library a sampler from a pulp magazine almost every day.

I have never seen one of those old mags. Does anyone know how many stories were in a typical issue?

I ask because I have read 21 Black Mask stories since the first of the year, and I wonder how many issues that would translate into.

[Kumabjorn]

Makes me wonder; When will we see iPulp in iTunes and ePulp at Amazon?

[mr ploppy]

Don't know about those, but the scifi ones generally had about 120 pages, split into 7 stories plus assorted editorial and other non-fiction content.

[Greg Anos]

Your typical novel pulp ran around 70,000 words or so. (Novel pulp - Doc Savage, The Shadow, G8 and His Battle Aces, ect.) They were broken down into, Novel -50-60,000 word, Short Adventure Story, and some sort non-fiction adventure related story.

The later Doc Savages were 30-40,000 words packaged with another short novel (actually both were novellas), instead of one larger novel.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Don't know about those, but the scifi ones generally had about 120 pages, split into 7 stories plus assorted editorial and other non-fiction content.

And one of the stories was a serialized portion of a novel.

[Dr. Drib]

I had, at one time, about 200 pulps from the 1930s-50s, to include a complete set of Famous Fantastic Mysteries, etc.

The number of stories varied from one title to another title of any given magazine.

I have never, however, owned any copies of Black Mask, so I have no answer to your question. These pulp stories - from different genres - are all great reads, as you indicate.

You might wish to check out Otto Penzler's superb anthology, in ebook. It costs some money, but I personally have no problem with (occasionally) spending $15-20 for an ebook I very much want to read.



Don

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I had, at one time, about 200 pulps from the 1930s-50s, to include a complete set of Famous Fantastic Mysteries, etc.

The number of stories varied from one title to another title of any given magazine.

I have never, however, owned any copies of Black Mask, so I have no answer to your question. These pulp stories - from different genres - are all great reads, as you indicate.

You might wish to check out Otto Penzler's superb anthology, in ebook. It costs some money, but I personally have no problem with (occasionally) spending $15-20 for an ebook I very much want to read.



Don

But it's not out in e-book until May 9th. And it's only $14.99. Start saving your nickles...(Not a bad price, for nearly 1200 print pages worth of stories. Just hope it is properly proofed. Unlike my typing....)

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

But it's not out in e-book until May 9th. And it's only $14.99. Start saving your nickles...(Not a bad price, for nearly 1200 print pages worth of stories. Just hope it is properly proofed. Unlike my typing....)

Which Otto Penzler anthology are you referring to?

------

ETA: Never mind--I found it: The Black Lizard Big Book of Black Mask Stories.

Looks good. I have The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps, which is also massive and a lot of fun to read.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Which Otto Penzler anthology are you referring to?

The one in the OP link.

[Pulpmeister]

Well, 1951 is probably just a bit past the pulp era-- but I have an Ellery Queen (rare Australian edition no less!) which lacks the editorial matter of the parent US edition. The contents of this one are:

The Contradictory Case, by Hugh Pentecost (Lt Pascal)
Lesson in Anatomy, by Michael innes (Inspector Appleby)
Fingerprints Don't Lie, by Stuart Palmer (Hildegarde Withers)
The Dwarfs' Club, by Francisco A Branco (Dona Mafalda)
The Problem of Cell 13, by Jacques Futrelle (The Thinking Machine)
Gold Mounted Guns, by F R Buckley

128 pages not counting covers

[GA Russell]

Pulpmeister, judging by the length of the stories I have been reading, six per issues seems reasonable.

I am aware of Ellery Queen only as what we call here a "digest". Is your 1951 EQ in the pulp mag format rather than a digest?

[Pulpmeister]

Same size as Analog, current EQMM etc. I don't know what size the prewar pulps were, well before my time.

[Tascosa]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I have been enjoying reading short stories collected from America's most highly respected detective pulp magazine, Black Mask.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Lizard-S...3427666&sr=1-1

As you know, Charlie Rutledge posts to the MR Library a sampler from a pulp magazine almost every day.

I have never seen one of those old mags. Does anyone know how many stories were in a typical issue?

I ask because I have read 21 Black Mask stories since the first of the year, and I wonder how many issues that would translate into.

Most pulps had a novella, a couple of novelettes and maybe three short features (usually short stories or maybe a non fiction article.)
Of course there were variations like a longer novella and a short story. Then some mags like Argosy would have part of a serial instead of a novelette.
The Maltese Falcon originally ran as a serial in BLACK MASK.

p.s. There's a new book of stories from a Black Mask writer, Fred Nebel who wrote very much in the Hammett style. CARDIGAN, the stories are from DIME DETECTIVE, a mag very much like B.M.

[GA Russell]

Thanks Tascosa!

I already have the Cardigan book on my Amazon wishlist! Unfortunately, I think it's a hardback, and therefore twice as expensive as it needs to be in my opinion.

PS - I see now that the Cardigan is a paperback. Still, at $30 it's twice what I think it ought to be.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-C...id=RVSBV717YT9

[Tascosa]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Thanks Tascosa!

I already have the Cardigan book on my Amazon wishlist! Unfortunately, I think it's a hardback, and therefore twice as expensive as it needs to be in my opinion.

PS - I see now that the Cardigan is a paperback. Still, at $30 it's twice what I think it ought to be.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-C...id=RVSBV717YT9

If you like classic Black Mask style, you'll like Nebel.

p.s. There's an older (cheaper) book of CARDIGAN stories; AMAZON should have it; don't think there's any duplication. There's also a reprint of the first Nebel collection from 1950, FIVE (?) DEADLY DAMES, featuring "Donohue" a tough p.i. from Black Mask.

p.p.s. Horace McCoy (THEY SHOOT HORSES...) was a *failed B.M. writer