Edited By JUSTIN MARRIOTT (thepaperbackfanatic@sky.com; 2019)

A great idea, if you ask me. THE  COLLECTED PULP HORROR is a single-volume collection of the first three issues of the Justin Marriott edited Pulp Horror magazine! Given that Marriott’s periodicals (which include The Paperback Fanatic, Monster Maniacs, Men of Violence and The Sleazy Reader) tend to go out of print extremely quickly, with secondhand copies all-but impossible to find (understandably, their owners are reluctant to give ‘em up), he’s done us a great service here.  Let’s hope Marriott continues with these compilation books.

…a single-volume collection of the first three issues of the Justin Marriott edited Pulp Horror magazine.

As I’ve come to expect from Marriott, the contents are strong.  I couldn’t help but pay close attention, as some of my favorite books are covered.  There’s Fred Chappell’s DAGON, which is given a good detailing by Marriott (who puzzlingly claims the 1987 mass market paperback is “the only one” of the novel’s recent editions, even though there have been at least two subsequent printings), and also Gerald Kersh’s NIGHTSHADE AND DAMNATIONS, which kicks off this volume via a lengthy review by Marriott, as well as Sarban’s THE SOUND OF HIS HORN and Robert Stallman’s THE ORPHAN, both of which are brought up in an indispensable article entitled “The SF-Horror Crossover” (which also contains mentions of essentials like Jack Williamson’s DARKER THAN YOU THINK, Philip Jose Farmer’s IMAGE OF THE BEAST and John Christopher’s THE LITTLE PEOPLE).

I couldn’t help but pay close attention, as some of my favorite books are covered.

Other goodies include interviews with the anthologist Michael Perry and the pulpmeisters Robert Lory and Guy N. Smith; an overview of the German Vampir Horror magazine (in which Marriott admits he can’t understand the German language contents); an admiring profile of the late Charles Birkin; a learned take on Robert Heinlein’s PUPPET MASTERS and its merits as both a political allegory and a straightforward thriller; and Will Errickson, of the Too Much Horror Fiction blog, who contributes spirited write-ups on William Hope Hodgson’s THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND, Ray Russell’s UNHOLY TRINITY, Bernard Taylor’s THE GOSEND and Michael McDowell’s COLD MOON OVER BABYLON.

Obviously those of you who don’t already have a rooting interest in pulp fiction will probably want to steer clear of this and other Justin Marriott titles (as to whether the book might inspire anyone to become a horror fanatic I honestly can’t say).  But for those (admittedly few) of you who do have passion for this stuff, all I have to say is: what the Hell are you waiting for?