** ADDED - JUNE 5, 2007 **
As you all have (presumably) noted, we haven't up-dated for a while. P&D is on a temporary hiatus while other things are being sorted out in the "real" world. Till then, enjoy our rather extensive archives of serial adventures, two-fisted tales, and shuddersome shorts! (Though Jason Chirevas (a.k.a. Michael Jason) has asked us to remove two of his serials -- "Sail High, Sail Far" and "Flight from the Pigites" -- as he's hoping to put together a book proposal featuring the characters...so keep your fingers crossed for him and keep an eye on the book shelves).
CONCLUDING... P&D welcomes back James Brian King with the latest adventure featuring his American-for-hire in the tulmultuous times of early 20th Century China in Revenge and Revolution in the Heavenly Kingdom! THIS WEEK...PART FOUR. The final chapter as Kirsch must negotiate a way out of the stand off, both for himself...and for the men who would see him dead! Success is anything but assured. In fact, it's... The Gamble
CONCLUDING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER EIGHT. The grand finale as Carson has a final showdown with the sorceress and must make a fateful decision in... A Span of Ages!
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT brings us the final instalment in Talbot Pratt's unusual Ring Cycle about a magic ring that can allow the user to exchange bodies with anyone. This week, we visit the curio shop from which the ring sprang, the sinister ...Shop of Deceit (The Ring Quartet)
This week's EDITORIAL ponders how even popular fiction can take on deeper meanings as we grow, our expanding and deepening pool of knowledge letting us grasp subtle messages lost the first time. Sounds pretentious, eh? Don't worry, I'm mainly just talkin' about Buckaroo Banzai, Doctor Who, comic books, Doc Savage, and a certain SF series which I've promised not to write about so often ...Knowing Then What I Know Now
CONTINUING... P&D welcomes back James Brian King with the latest adventure featuring his American-for-hire in the tulmultuous times of early 20th Century China in Revenge and Revolution in the Heavenly Kingdom! THIS WEEK...PART THREE. Caught in the midsts of a rebellion, Kirsch and Ping find themselves, ironically, teamed with the very men who would like to see them dead! But can even Kirsch find a solution when rebel gunfire has them... Pinned Down?
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SEVEN. Carson and the girl are trapped between venomous snakes and blade-wielding guards in our penultimate chapter called... The Time-Wheel!
This week's TWO-FIST TALE welcomes writer Jack Phillips Lowe to P&D with his light-hearted tale of bickering archaeologists seeking to uncover the mystery of an ancient Egyptian tomb...The Buried Moon
CONTINUING... P&D welcomes back James Brian King with the latest adventure featuring his American-for-hire in the tulmultuous times of early 20th Century China in Revenge and Revolution in the Heavenly Kingdom! THIS WEEK...PART TWO. Kirsch's past catches up with him and it spells trouble -- but it's the present that is the real danger as rebellion is brewing on the streets in ... An Unwelcome Return!
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX. Fleeing with the young woman, Carson learns the bizarre origin of the sorceress and a tale of a ... Demon in the Globe!
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT presents another of Talbot Pratt's macabre little tales of the mishaps associated with a magic ring -- this time, a man seeks to avert death on an operating table in ...Gambler's Odds (The Ring Quartet)
This week's EDITORIAL ponders the pittfalls inherent in all these modern TV dramas and their never-ending story arcs ...Is "Lost" Lost
BEGINNING... P&D welcomes back James Brian King with the latest adventure featuring his American-for-hire in the tulmultuous times of early 20th Century China in Revenge and Revolution in the Heavenly Kingdom! THIS WEEK...PART ONE. William Kirsch and his aide Ping find themselves in a politically unstable part of China just as a riot breaks out in ... God and Punishment!
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE. Carson discovers he's not the only one imperiled in this strange lost city, as he must try to rescue a beautiful woman from unspeakable torment when he peers... Within the Chamber!
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW (yes, another -- hey, I got a backlog) looks at the "Graphic Classics" adaptation of some of the works of one of pulp fictions granddaddies ...Jack London
CONCLUDING... Kevin
Lumley's tale of a cross country race on an alien world, where first place means you won, and second place means you at least survived the Jet Bike Boogie! THIS WEEK...PART FIVE. The final chapter! It's the last lap to the finish line -- but will it be the finish of our heroes as well? Find out in the final push ... To the Finish Line!
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. Thrown into a deadly arena, Carson must escape...and discovers a mysterious labyrinthe, but will it lead to death? Or an escape as he faces ... Sharp Curses and Sharper Spears!
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW (yes, usually we alternate a review with an editorial -- but the editorial I was working on I can't find! So, rather than miss the deadline...) looks at one of the most controversial mainstream super hero stories in years, Brad Meltzer's ...Identity Crisis
CONTINUING... Kevin
Lumley's tale of a cross country race on an alien world, where first place means you won, and second place means you at least survived the Jet Bike Boogie! THIS WEEK...PART FOUR. One racer is left by the side of the track and Zaq has his hands full as the Darkman has treachery in mind -- and he's got friends!..."Someone's Shooting at Me!"
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Carson arouses the wrath of the Sorceress and finds himself sentenced to death -- death by the... Crawling Terrors!
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT presents the second of Talbot Pratt's brief tales of a magic ring that can allow a person to switch bodies with another. This week, we find a possessor of the ring at the grand tourist attraction of Niagara Falls -- but it's greed, not grandeur, he has on his mind when he contemplates ... Taking the Falls (The Ring Quartet)!
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW -- in time for its recent re-issue -- takes a look at the seminal Batman story ...Batman: Year One
CONTINUING... Kevin
Lumley's tale of a cross country race on an alien world, where first place means you won, and second place means you at least survived the Jet Bike Boogie! THIS WEEK...PART THREE. The race is on, but the bikers don't just have to worry about the terrain, but each other, as dirty tricks and sabotage will leave one racer marking the course in...The Deadly Course!
CONTINUING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. Carson finds himself in the mysterious city, and set upon by what seem to be ancient Egyptians -- but it's their mistress who is the biggest surprise when Carson battles ...Men from the Past
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT welcomes back "Terrible" Talbot Pratt and a slightly off beat format as we present the first of his short tales all revolving around a magical ring. This week, jealousy drives a man to use the ring for a most novel revenge...and drive he does in... Highway Homicide (The Ring Quartet)!
This week's EDITORIAL (has it really been more than a month since my last one?) gets all combative and nostalgic and wonders if ...Pop Culture is the New "Culture"?
CONTINUING... Kevin
Lumley's tale of a cross country race on an alien world, where first place means you won, and second place means you at least survived the Jet Bike Boogie! THIS WEEK...PART TWO. The racers prepare to start out on the galaxy's toughest terrain, but already one among them may be planning treachery ...And They're Off!
BEGINNING... An eight chapter tale of modern man and ancient Egypt in Kirk Straughen's tale of the ...Sorceress of Time! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. Half dead, dying in the heat of the Libyan desert, Matthew Carson stumbles upon ...The Phantom City
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT is a bit of a surprise. P&D founder Jeffrey Blair Latta passed away a year ago, but recently some unpublished stories were found among his papers. And though we won't publish just any old dreck just 'cause his name is on it (he wouldn't have wanted that!), we kind of like this strange little tale of a wanna be actor at a mysterious movie studio who finds The Method...may lead to madness. But that's okay, 'cause...
That's Show Biz!
BEGINNING... Kevin
Lumley's tale of a cross country race on an alien world, where first place means you won, and second place means you at least survived the Jet Bike Boogie! THIS WEEK...EPISODE ONE. The racers gather at the starting line, but one may not be willing to play by the rules. Heed the warning ...Beware the Darkman!
CONCLUDING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER NINE. The final chapter! Linis and Zen must face off against the mad high priest...and a living God! Will they find the truth behind...Lying Sorcery?
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is a reprise, this time of ye humble editor's own weird western, about am amnesiac gunfighter with a most peculiar gun arm in The Long Arm of the Law
CONCLUDING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE THIRTEEN. It's the ultimate final showdown between the town and Elizabeth...but which side is Marshal Boxer on? ...The End! (part III) - we mean it!
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER EIGHT. Linis and Zen return to Etru only to be captured and told ..."You Shall be the Sacrifice"
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at a Superman story given a treatment kind of like an animated movie in Infinite City
We weren't going to up date this week, on account of New Year's Day -- but it looks as though I won't be up-dating next week, either. So instead of going three weeks without the latest chapters, we've up-dated our two current serials this week anyway. Enjoy -- and see you in the New Year!
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE TWELVE. Continuning the the soul-shattering, three-part finale -- Raven and Stu race back to Serenity to find it in the grip of an eldritch tornado -- but when the end comes, whose side will Marshal Boxer be on? And it's all dragging us toward ...The End! (part II)
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SEVEN. While Zen struggles back from the sea to rescue Linis, on the mainland, Cay has declared himself God -- and you know that can't be good. It's all part of a ...Dark Conspiracy
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE ELEVEN. Beginning the countdown to the soul-shattering finale, as we start a three-part arc. A glowing globe is seen over Serenity -- can it signal a return of the dreaded Four? Plus, we learn something of Raven Clark's history. It's all part of the beginning to ...The End! (part I)
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX. Zen and Linis are caught between a pirate ship -- and their own mutinous crew! It's sword play and treachery when the shout goes out to ..."Cast the Grapnels!"
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT is a reprise in honour of the holiday season, as we represent Jeffrey Blair Latta's modest little classic about a cab driver on Christmas Eve...and his mysterious passenger. In ...Last Fare on a Christmas Eve.
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks back through the past twelve months of reviews and picks out some highlights. It's the Year in Re-view
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE TEN. Concluding our two-part episode as the town is invaded by vampires. But will salvation prove more deadly than the vamps themselves? ...Night Siege (part II)!
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE. Setting sail in a commandeered slave galley, Zen and Linis face insurrection, pirates...and a ...Monster from the Depths!
This week's EDITORIAL considers Aeon Flux and A Sound of Thunder -- some recent SF movies that got a critical drubbing -- to offer Praise of Dreck -- some movies that weren't so bad.
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE NINE. While Elizabeth Byrnne's sinister plans start to unfold, a new threat arrives in town -- a horde of outlaw riders the likes of which the town's never seen -- and when you're talking about Serenity, that says a lot! Check out part one of a special two-part adventure in ...Night Siege!
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. Linis and Zen survive Cay's attack, but will they survive the slavers who've come seeking revenge on Zen? It'll be settled amid a flurry of ...Flashing Blades!
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW takes a look at a non-fiction/non-comic book, which looks at the phenomal success of the comic book The Sandman and its creator Neil Gaiman, through interviews with Gaiman and his creative collaborators in Hanging out with the Dream King.
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE EIGHT. Raven must say good bye to Lili, while some of the town's folk start to remember things they shouldn't, and Elizabeth Byrnne's dark schemes begin to unfold! Yes, it's something for everyone and generates some ...Questionable Conclusions
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Linis encounters Zen and learns something of the planet's history -- when they aren't fighting off a deadly predator. Then -- Caris Vay strikes! Beware, for death lurks when there's ...Something in the Shadows!
This week's EDITORIAL offers some philosophical musings (and fanboy observations) on the successful revival of TV's sci-fi icon, Doctor Who -- how it's been changed and how it's the same.
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE SEVEN. It's a trial Serenity never thought it would see -- over the custody of little Lily! Plus, we begin to see Elzabeth Byrnne may be more -- or less -- than she seemed! It's the answer to the question ...Whose Child?
CONTINUING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. It's two escapes for the price of one! While Zen makes a daring escape from the slave galley, high above, Linis escapes the doomed space ship, and the clutches of Vay, and plunges planetward in a ...Descent into Savagery
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at another Graphic Classics anthology, this one adapting the chilling works of ...Edgar Allan Poe.
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE SIX. Herd of cattle aren't anything unusual in a frontier town like Serenity -- 'cept when the cow's seem demon sent monsters looking to charge anything that moves! Lock your doors and throw up the barricades if you don't want to be a victim of the ...Surreal Stampede! -- Plus a SHOCKER of an ending!
BEGINNING... An nine chapter mix of barbarian adventure and interplanetary thrills courtesy of Kirk Straughen...Lord of Etru! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. Betrayed by his sadistic high priest, Zen, one-time Lord of Etru, has been sold as a galley slave. But as he plots an escape, high overhead, in a vessel he can't imagine, a crippled spaceship contains two survivors in...The Sea of Dadan
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is kind of in the spirit of Rembrance Day. It's a World War II thriller courtesy of John Outram as some G.I.'s face the living spirit of that semi-mythical warning -- "Here There be Tygers!" -- in...Tiger Hunt.
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE FIVE. A one-armed gun slinger comes looking for revenge -- kind of hard to do when the target of his vengeance, Nolan Paige, is dead, and most of the town don't remember anything about the last time he was in town. It's a deadly showdown in the streets of Serenity when Jackson Diamond returns in ...Duel Redux -- Plus another surprise visitor comes to town!
Next week...a new sci-fi/fantasy serial starts up!
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT welcomes back Belinda Anne Ferrymen with her noirish tale of a northern town with a secret and a troublesome stranger in...Predators.
This week's EDITORIAL ponders the imponderables of all those post-apocalyptic (or at least, post-catacylsm) type dramas, such as TV's Jericho, Battlestar Galactica and even Star Trek: Voyager, and asks the question no one's asking...Ruling After the Apocalypse -- Who should be on top when everything goes south?
CONCLUDING... An eleven-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ELEVEN. It's the final chapter as Kael takes on the immortal wizard, Kelmar -- but is it the wizard who is the true danger? Or will Kael's downfall be caused by the corrupting influence of the Crimson Blade itself? Find out in ...The Final Battle!
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE FOUR. So just what happened between "season one" and "season two"? How did Boxer, Raven and Lake explain what had happened to the them...and keep from being locked up in the process? Raven finally tells the untold story, relating ...What Happened
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT is in honour of Halloween, so once more we dredge a classic tale "Up from the Archives", to represent Jeffrey Blair Latta's macabre little tale of a late night phone call on Halloween itself ...Uncle Max.
This week's EDITORIAL is both an essay, and a spooky ballad in a Robert Service vein (heh heh -- "vein" -- heh heh). Once more we represent a piece written by P&D founder, Jeffrey Blair Latta (Halloween was his favourite day, after all) with this piece originally posted a couple of Halloween's ago...Some Things Keep Well.
CONTINUING... An eleven-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TEN. It's the penultimate chapter! Uh, yeah, okay, we said that last week, but we decided this climax had enough going on it was worth spreading it out into two chapters. So this week Kael at long last comes face to face, and sword to cursed sword, with the sorcerer Kelmar, wielder of ...The Crimson Blade! (And next week -- the ultimate conclusion!)
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE THREE. Life just doesn't get any easier this week. While Boxer and the others are still trying to ponder the mystery of the strange creature that attacked last week, a new monster shows up to snatch the marshal. And in the mind of Raven Clark, at least, maybe they should count that a blessing! It's a bizarre chase and a daring rescue in the ironically titled ...Morning Ride
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at a reissue of J.M. DeMatteis' critically acclaimed Spider-Man story...Kraven's Last Hunt.
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER NINE. It's the penultimate chapter! Kael and the others must brave unknown dangers and the wrath of an immortal wizard as they assault his fortress and journey...Into the Keep!
CONTINUING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE TWO. Boxer has wormed his way back into being Marshal -- and that's got to spell trouble! Raven confronts Stu over his loyalties, while Boxer makes nice with the recently arrived almost-widow Byrnne -- oh, yeah, and there's a monster creeping through the town with a specific victim in mind. But who? And will death spell an end to the ...Midnight Meetings?
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is a sword and sultry tale of Neekin, brought "Up from the Archives", as her nimbleness finds a mission of mercy becomes a trial of the macabre as she is captured by creatures that lurk in the shadows in...Dwellers in the Darkness. (Suggested for mature readers).
This week's EDITORIAL ponders the modern trend of serialized TV dramas and asks...TV Serials...what happened to old fashioned dramas?
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER EIGHT. Taking the fight to their enemy, Kael and the others at last arrive at the enemy's castle, while his own troops are away raiding. But will that give them enough of an edge when they try to infiltrate ...The Compound?
BEGINNING... A few months ago, P&D introduced you to the denizens of the wild -- and weird -- western town of Serenity. Now author Jason Chirevas returns with what we think of as Serenity: Season Two -- the final season! THIS WEEK...EPISODE ONE. It's some months later, and all is well in the town of Serenity, the dark forces having been destroyed. Or have they? The sinister Aloysius Boxer has some new tricks up his sleeve, but not even he can anticipate who's coming in on the next stage coach. The machinations begin here with a ...Power Play.
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at the re-issue of a truly classic storyline featuring the Golden Avenger -- Iron Man...Demon in a Bottle.
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SEVEN. Now that they have mastered the deadly flying dragans -- they hope -- they can finally plan to strike back at their besiegers. But can they hope to take a wizard unaware? Danger awaits as Kael at last leads ...The Raiding Party!
Yup, that "Deaded Deadline Doom" (as they used to say) snuck up on me again, plus a case of the flu, so next week -- I promise -- a full up-date. Until then, enjoy this week's instalment of The Crimson Blade!
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX. No human has ever mastered the deadly, flying dragons used by the enemy -- but if Kael can, then the fight could possibly be taken over the magical barrier and to the wizard himself! But can Kael hope to survive riding the back of a lethal carnivore on his...Maiden Flight?
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX. The grand climax!!! Taxa and Vesula have finally located the semi-mythical jewel, but the pirate king isn't far behind! Who will will live and who will die now as ...The Play Ends?
Deadlines kind of got away from me, so even though I've got editorials and stuff in the works, they aren't ready -- so we'll just leave it till next time. Plus, the premiere of a new serial!
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE. Having learned of the full plight of the city dwellers, Kael and his comrades must now race against time and arm themselves against a full scale raid and an impending...Attack from the Skies!
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE. The penultimate chapter! Taxa and Vesula have escaped the doomed space ship and set off in search of the legendary jewel -- but will death claim them first, making them just one more relic among...Ancient Ruins?
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT comes courtesy of contributor A.L. Godfrey as a carnival knife act is visited by the Green-Eyed Monster -- jealousy -- and it's not long before someone starts ...Seeing Red! (An' ol' A.L. would like us to mention that this story, set at a mysterious carnival managed by a little person who answers to an unseen owner, was actually written some years before TV's Carnivale...just so's ya know!)
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at the fourth volume collecting DC's old cross-dimensional team ups between the heroes of the Justice League and the Justice Society in...Crisis on Multiple Earths, vol. 4.
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. It is not the army outside the walls alone that keep them trapped as Kael learns the terrifying truth about...The Barrier!
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. Taxa, reunited with a woman he once loved, must still overcome the pirate leader -- and learns an intriguing legend of a lost jewel, a near forgotten...Treasure of the Elder Gods
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is brought "Up from the Archives" (I love writing that) as once more we delve through our archives to re-present a tale that you (lazy ones that you are) might not have sought out on your own. This week, it's adventure and intrigue in long ago India as two star-crossed lovers have their love tested by the ultimate challenge in Talbot Pratt's...Tiger Trap!
This week's EDITORIAL considers some recent trends in movies and TV (like a certain Ben Affleck picture currently in the theatres) and asks..."Hollywoodland" and Superman...has pulp fiction gone mainstream? (addition: added a bit about some rcent pop songs to the piece -- though it's probably bad form to embellish an article once it's already been posted but, hey, that was only a few hours ago!)
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. As much a prisoner of the siege as the city's native inhabitants, Kael is desperate to learn what's behind it all, and is told a story of ancient evil and dark sorcery in...A Tale of Woe
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Momentarily escaping the pirates, Taxa is met with a knife from the shadows...but is the wielder an enemy or a potential ally? Plus: a face from Taxa's past returns! But can they survive running...A Gauntlet of Enemies?
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT comes courtesy of Kevin Lumley, and it's a shocker of supernatural evil, dark, empty roads and what happens when evils clash and terror meets terror in...Le Carcajou.
This week's REVIEW isn't a graphic novel, but a review of a nifty non-fiction book called The Ring Companion, analysing the hit Japanese horror movie phenomeon, its various international remakes, and the whole of Japanese and Western horror fiction!
CONTINUING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. Kael awakes, wounded, inside the surrounded city -- answers he wants, but will they lead to an escape as he finds himself in..."The Tree of All Seasons"?
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. Taxa is a prisoner of the space pirates, but will a challenge to personal combat save him...or is it simply one of a...Choice of Gruesome Deaths?
This week's EDITORIAL considers some of the art of storytelling. Sure, everyone knows characterization is important...but so is the relationship between characters as we consider everything from the X-Men to Doc Savage to (of course) Star Trek (with Flight of the Phoenix thrown in, to boot) as we reflect on Ol' Buddy, Ol' Pal: ...the friendship in pop fiction.
BEGINNING... A ten-chapter fantasy serial by Chris Gordon set in a city under siege...The Crimson Blade! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. Kael stumbles upon a walled city that seems decidedly hostile to strangers. But when an attacking army arrives, and Kael is trapped outside the walls, he's caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place...with only death awaiting in...The City!
BEGINNING... Kirk Straughen's 6-part science fiction adventure in the style of Golden Age adventure writers like Burroughs -- The Jewel of Besminur! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. Navigator Taxa finds his brooding thoughts of a lost love violently interrupted when his space ship's scanners detect a danger closing in...fast!...in the form of a ...Corsair of the Void!
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at the Kurt Busiek written saga of a young man coming of age in the crucible of World War I...but it's a war fought with magic and dragons in the "alternate reality" fantasy of Arrowsmith: So Smart in Their Fine Uniforms.
BEEN HAVING SOME COMPUTER PROBLEMS, SO IT'LL PROBABLY BE A SHORT UP-DATE THIS WEEK -- BUT WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CLIMAX TO "R.A.T.s", SO HERE IT IS (and, hopefully, next week we'll be back with new stories and serials and editorials, including the beginning of a new S&S epic!)
CONCLUDING!!!... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SEVEN. The creature appears dead, the mining colony safe -- but is that the end of it? What was the creature? Where did come from? Are there more on their way? Sgt. Havok braves Stygian depths in his ultimate search for..."Answers"!
CONTINUING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX. Fire! Death! Uncertainty! When the R.A.T.s have a showdown with the shape-shifting creature can they even trust each other? And will their questions lead to a solution? Or will it simply drag them..."Down into the Depths"?
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is dragged up from the archives, as we re-present the wry tale of a 1950s crime-fighter, Johnny Grimoire, his side-kick, the appropriately named "Fan Boy", and a most puzzling mystery -- one laced with menace and magic in...Last Rites for Peter Helms
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at Marvel Comics big cosmic conflict involving many of their key heroes as the mad Titan, Thanos, destroys the universe (well, a lot of it) in Starlin, Perez and Lim's...The Infinity Gauntlet
CONCLUDING... A four-part serial by James Brian King set in early 20th Century China...Six-Guns in the Celestial Empire! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. The final chapter as Kirsch and Ping struggle for their lives on the train that was meant to be their salvation! Don't miss the final ...Showdown on the Shangtung!
CONTINUING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE. It's a deadly battle with the shapeshifting creature, but when it's over will it only ask more questions than it answers? And can even the fighting men of R.A.T.s survive..."The Sewers of Death"?
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT welcomes back Kirk Straughen for a tale of missionary zeal, prejudice, and dark magic in...Black Idol
CONTINUING... A four-part serial by James Brian King set in early 20th Century China...Six-Guns in the Celestial Empire! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Ping's father is unfairly sentenced to death, but even if Kirsch decides to help, is there anything he can do? Find out as a daring flight from the law leads to...Rails of Death!
CONTINUING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. The creature can appear and disappear, camouflage itself, and even climb up walls and on the ceiling. As our heroes chase it through claustrophobic corridors, who is really the hunter and who the hunted, and will it claim one of their own? Find out in a chapter appropriately titled..."The Hunt!"
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW -- is...okay, it's another Batman review (we seem to do one of those every couple of months). Still, it's a really good Batman TPB as a classic creative team is reunited for...Batman: Dark Detective
CONTINUING... A four-part serial by James Brian King set in early 20th Century China...Six-Guns in the Celestial Empire! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. One assignment is over, so our duo decide to return to Ping's home province and are given a shock when they learn death waits for someone close and are told..."He is to be Executed"!
CONTINUING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Our space marines are on the move, a level of the colony has been closed off, and they have a plan -- but is that enough against..."The Killer That Can't be Seen"?
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT is "dredged up from the Archives" -- that's right, a re-presentation of a clever little spooker by P&D founder Jeffrey Blair Latta, about sea monsters, sailors and... "A Menace to Shipping".
This week's EDITORIAL -- given that we reviewed a western comic last we, and recently ran the epic western serial, Serenity, it got ye editor pondering the ol' horse opera and pompously pontificating about how people've misunderstood the western genre...The Western...I finally "get" it!
BEGINNING... A four-part serial by James Brian King set in early 20th Century China...Six-Guns in the Celestial Empire! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. On a mission for the Chinese government, six-gun packing William Kirsch is waylaid by Mongol bandits ..."Negotiations...Six-Gun Style"!
CONTINUING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO. Can the unknown enemy be far away when the marines see a victim for the first time -- and the corpse is..."Like Nothing Seen Before!"
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE concludes our two-parter featuring the peculiarily popular fantasy heroine, Neekin. Neekin's conned her way into the harem...but can she get out again, alive? "The Rules of the Festival". A bit of a "mature readers" caution is warranted. And in a shameless plug: Neekin will also be appearing in the first issue of the fantasy magazine Shadow Sword from Coyote Moon Publications.
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW -- takes a gander at a western revival with the caper-themed graphic novel...The Long Haul
CONCLUDING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE THIRTEEN. It's the showdown that makes "High Noon" look like a Sunday brunch picnic! As Raven Clark, Grimm and Deputy Lake finally face the dreaded Four! And not everyone walks away alive! And what's the Marshal's plan? Find out in the climactic..."Battle!" -- and stay tuned, because even though this chapter solves (most of) the mysteries and brings the evil to an end...Serenity: Season Two is waiting in the wings! BEGINNING... Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley's 7-part science fiction thriller in deepest space -- R.A.T.s! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER ONE. Sgt. Havok and his elite team arrive on the mining planet Staia in answer to a frantic distress call..."Trouble in Staia"
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE welcomes back the peculiarily popular fantasy heroine, Neekin. It's a "sword & sultry" saga as our underclad heroine is beset in the night...and made an offer she can't refuse in..."The Rules of the Festival". And in a shameless plug: Neekin will also be appearing in the first issue of the fantasy magazine Shadow Sword from Coyote Moon Publications. So check it out, order a copy, and tell 'em you're doing it for Neekin! (And make me rich, RICH!, RICH!! -- ha ha ha ha (maniacal laughter ensues)...or don't. Whatever.
This week's EDITORIAL -- it's about a year after the fact, but ye editor finally jots down some thoughts regarding...The Revenge of the Sith -- does the Star Wars series now make sense?
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE TWELVE. The penultimate chapter! With Nolan Paige murdered, the gloves, as it were, are off, and everything's moving toward a showdown -- of the supernatural kind. Marshal Boxer races to serve his dark masters on the Outskirts, while close behind are three allied against him -- Raven Clark, the enigmatic Grimm, and one other...who will form the third in the battle against darkness? Who makes them a..."Trio"?
CONCLUDING... a four-part tale of swordplay and treachery in -- Blood of the Lynx! THIS WEEK...The conclusion of our short but sweet saga, as Zhangi and the princess have a rendez-vous with treachery in...Chapter Four
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW is particularly apropos of this site, as it's an anthology adapting the stories of old time pulpsters like Johnston McCulley, Sax Rohmer and Damon Runyon..."Adventure Classics".
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE ELEVEN. Nolan Paige is dead! No fooling. Murdered by the evil that possesses the town. But his death may prove a catalyst for change, forcing a certain fence-sitting deputy to rethink his loyalties, a member of our cast (not seen since episode four) to return, and Raven Clark to finally learn Paige's secret. It's all building now toward the inevitable showdown as Raven emerges, not cowed, but with a grim..."Resolve" -- the grand climax is just two more chapters away!
CONTINUING... a four-part tale of swordplay and treachery in -- Blood of the Lynx! THIS WEEK...Zhangi enters the princess' cell and finds a strange dreamlike realm...can he get out again alive? Find out in...Chapter Three
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT is part two of our two-part tale as John Bass arrives on the scene to ferret out the source of the weird goings on in the..."The Weeping House".
This week's EDITORIAL -- well, ye editor decides to court a little controversy (if you're a comic book buff, that is) by questioning one of the sacrosanct beliefs of the comic book biz, and asks...Comic Book Censorship -- what if Wertham had a point?
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE TEN. A curse forces everyone to speak the truth...and in a town like Serenity, secrets are a way of life; the result is both funny...and possibly deadly for those who want to use the curse to find out just what the marshal's been up to all these months...building to the most shocking, unexpected climax of all in..."Veritas" -- you'll hate yourself if you miss it!
CONTINUING... a four-part tale of swordplay and treachery in -- Blood of the Lynx! THIS WEEK...Zhangi ingratiates himself with the pirate lord, but discovers there's more than a barred door between him and the princess he means to rescue -- there's sorcery in...Chapter Two
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT sees the return of John Bass, author Josh Reynolds 1920s small town ghost buster, as some silent film stars buy up a Civil War-era mansion, unaware of its dark history in..."The Weeping House".
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at the first volume of Checker Publishing's reprinting of the well-regarded 1990s X-Files comic book (spun off from the TV show). Is the truth still out there?...X-Files, vol. 1.
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE NINE. The characters try to deal with their grief over the tragedy that transpired last week, but the greater evil proceeds with the unfolding of its own dark agenda...but is there a flaw in their master plan? Could it be that even the sinister Marshal Boxer can feel a twinge of..."Grief"?
BEGINNING... a four-part tale of swordplay and treachery in -- Blood of the Lynx! THIS WEEK...Zhangi is offered terms of a truce by the tyrant who hounds his people...but is the price worth paying? Find out in...Chapter One
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is also a matter of swordplay and machinations. A noble king is wounded in battle...and his knights wonder if they might not all be better off if he were to die from his wounds instead! There's a cleverly Shakespearian cadence to the staging and the dialogue in this brooding tale (minus the confusing "thees" and "thous" and such) in..."The Blind King".
This week's odd-ball EDITORIAL comes out of left field as we think back on the campy 1960s Batman TV series and look for...Hidden Meaning in TV's Batman -- What if he was insane?.
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE EIGHT. Continuing the two-part nail biter begun last week...the saloon is ablaze, and Raven Clark and some others are the last place they should be -- still inside! But can they survive a blaze that burns with a whiff of Hellfire? The tragedy and terror continues in..."Fire - Part 2"!
CONCLUDING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SEVEN: It's the final chapter as our heroes attempt to escape an island that is literally erupting beneath them -- and presenting them with...A Terrible Sight!
This week's SHUDDERSOME SHORT welcomes back "Sly" Sean Gilbert and his tale of a cat lover with a secret in..."The Cat Lady".
This week's GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW looks at a TPB featuring the Man of Steel himself...Superman: The Wrath of Gog.
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE SEVEN. It's the time of the Summer Celebration and everyone's looking forward to a good time -- but in Serenity, that's just when you have to watch out! It's trouble and tragedy this week, and things may never be the same after the..."Fire"!
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER SIX: It's the penultimate chapter as Mariner and Ma-Ku must try to escape the island...and the Husses would rather see them both dead! And if that's not bad enough, they're on the verge of an...Impending Cataclysm?
This week's TWO-FISTED TALE is wry little offering of a dogged insurance investigator trying to puzzle out a series of bizarre "acts of God". Think of it as Jack Webb meets the X-Files in this snappy little tale we call..."The Invisible Man in the Iron Mask".
This week's EDITORIAL is, well, actually, I think it's one of my best! Don't know why, but it just seemed to come together and evolve even as I wrote it. See what ya think! As we consider a curious (and maybe unfortunate) modern trend in sci-fi TV and movies...Where Are All the Brainiacs?...The dumbing down of the hero.
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE SIX. After some clever little diversions, the focus starts to shift back to the main story arc this week as some new arrivals in town herald some sinister events...and a study of the town's official Chronicle raises more questions than answers for our heroes in..."Crossroads".
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FIVE: Dangerous true agendas are revealed as Mariner learns just why Professor Huss came to the island...but has he learned too late about...A Dark Design?
This week's Shuddersome Short comes courtesy of popular returning author, A.L. Godfrey -- it's a short one, but with a lot of twists, as a man comes face to face with himself...or does he? "Alternates".
This week's graphic novel review looks at Marvel Comics' sexy super spy, Natasha Romanova a.k.a. The Black Widow, in the edgy thriller...Black Widow: Homecoming.
STILL struggling with a few computer problems...but at least we managed to bring you the latest chapters in our current serials, plus a new (albeit hastily scribbled!) editorial. Hopefully we'll get some new shorts up once we get our techno-problems solved!
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...EPISODE FIVE. If it's not one thing it's another in the town of Serenity. After driving off a horde of riders last episode, this week the town must contend with a would-be gunfighter who aims to prove himself by shooting it out with the fastest gun in town...and Hell's to pay if no one accepts the challenge. Looks like a job for Marshal Boxer -- 'cept the ol' marshal's still nursing a broken hand from last week. So who is there to accept the..."Duel"? (Plus: we learn that someone isn't quite who he claims to be as the greater story arc continues to unfold!)
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR: Our castaways make a discovery and seek to rescue Mara from the clutches of...The Giant Insect!
This week's editorial ponders the notion of character growth in storytelling...and whether, "growth" or no "growth", a hero still needs to start from a certain common point to be a hero...Men with Scars (plus I throw in references to Star Trek, Hercules and Battlestar Galactica...and the Magnificent Seven -- just so's ya know).
FIRSTLY...SORRY FOR NO UP-DATES THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS! Computer problems interfered -- and still aren't fully solved! However, we have managed to up-date for this week. So...enjoy...
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER FOUR. A horde of maurauders sweep into Serenity, threatening chaos -- good thing Marshal Boxer's on hand to set them straight, isn't it? Or...is it? After all, two wrongs can spell a heap of trouble when Serenity is invaded by..."Riders"
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE: Captain Mariner rescues Ma-Ku from a giant lizard, while the Husses glean a clue to the source of the island's monstrous fauna when they make...A Remarkable Discovery!
This week's graphic novel review delves into a rollicking space opera, Sean Wang's highly entertaining...Runners: Bad Goods. (Yeah, normally we alternate editorials and reviews, but those computer problems I mentioned kind of mucked things up a bit!)
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER THREE. Having gleaned some sense of the Marshal's power in town, Nolan agrees to accompany Raven on a mysterious journey to the outskirts to learn more of the Marshal's secrets -- unaware Marshal Boxer is in hot pursuit. And has anything in the experiences of a big city reporter prepared Nolan for what awaits him in the..."Chamber"?
CONTINUING... Kirk Straughen's two-fisted yarn of monsters on a tropical island in -- Island of Terror! THIS WEEK...CHAPTER TWO: Captain Mariner must return to the island of Aratoba to try to rescue his erstwhile passengers, and must face...Man's Darkest Fear!
This week's graphic novel review looks at a volume in the new "Graphic Classics" series, this one focusing on the "Prince of Storytellers", the grand daddy of the pulpsters, and one of P&D founding editor Jeffrey Blair Latta's favourite authors...Rafael Sabatini.
BEGINNING... Welcome to the Island of Terror -- you can't get more pulpy than an uncharted island, a square-jawed boat captain, a couple of lovely ladies, and a jungle full of REALLY BIG MONSTERS! Yes, we're in full ERB mode here at P&D, courtesy of Kirk Straughen (who, through a scheduling quirk, had a short story published here just last week!) So load up and strap in, and prepare for Chapter One as we set foot on The Shores of Aratoba!
CONTINUING... Jason Chirevas' ambitious little epic about the strange happening in the wild west town of Serenity! THIS WEEK...Chapter Two, as the mysterious Marshal Boxer arrives back in town -- and this is one place where the return of the law may not be a good thing. But just when our heroes think they know his game, he leaves them with a lot more..."Questions!"
This week's editorial ponders the recently released motion picture V for Vendetta. It's received critical acclaim and much praise for those geniuses, the Wachowski brothers. But, really...Who are the Real Geniuses?
BEGINNING... PDF is very proud to unfurl Serenity, a sprawling saga of a frontier town with some buried secrets...and not so buried ones. Jason Chirevas (who has previously been published at PDF under the name Michael Jason) brings us this impressive epic of a small town, its sinister marshal, and the dark forces that lurk at its boundaries. THIS WEEK...Chapter One: Meetings, as small town lady reporter Raven Clark finds she may have an ally in her quest for the truth...if they can both live long enough...
This week's Two-Fisted Tale also has a hint of a Shuddersome Short. Kirk (Swords Across the Void) Straughen unfolds this exciting yet thoughtful tale of a twisted wizard whose dark desires unleashes an even darker presence...The Dark Devourer
This week's graphic novel review takes a look at an overlooked gem, as goodfellas meet super fellas in...The Silencers: Black Kiss.
Okay....no update this week. Sorry. Travel and other things kind of ate away at the time. So, rather than just do a half-hearted update, we'll leave it this week and do it properly next week. But while you're waiting...there's always the archives of our past stories, serials and editorials where I'm sure there's old stuff you haven't read...
PREVIOUS UPDATES
CONCLUDING...The final chapter of Andrea Tran's adventure serial, as our heroes witness the final end of Dr. Belarski and learn the startling "Fate of the Fortuna" in Chapter Nine of Trail of the HMS Fortuna.
This week's review: Zorro: The Dailies
Next week: new serials, new stories...
PREVIOUS UPDATES
CONTINUING... Chapter Eight of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn. It's the penultimate instalment -- yeah, we said that last week, but we decided to stretch out the suspense for one more week. So this week, it's into "The Mysterious Chamber" as our heroes make some startling discoveries...and face a certain familiar foe...as they truly approach the end of their journey on the..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
Concluding the Shuddersome Short we began last week -- as Preston and his wife accept a dinner invitation they might soon regret, and Preston is faced with a bizarre choice...in Authenticity.
And just 'cause we love ya, an action-packed Two-Fisted Tale (we haven't had a new one for a while). Pulp and Dagger welcomes the return of "Battling" Barney Calhoun, man for hire on the South China Sea (last seen in the grand serial Bat-Men of the Yinga River). This time, in this brief little pot boiler, Barney must enter The Serpent's Nest.
And this week's editorial looks back and wonders, in a world of remakes, rip-offs, and retcons...who wrote the first pastiche of a popular character. The answer might surprise you!
CONTINUING... Chapter Seven of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn. "And now...Dr. Belarski" -- it's the penultimate instalment as Ray and the others find themselves prisoners of Dr. Belarski, in mysterious caves deep in the African desert. Have they only found death and failure? Or will this ultimately lead them to the..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
Something a bit different with this week's Shuddersome Short -- we've broken it up into two-parts (part two next week). See if you can stand the suspense as a writer and his wife become stranded on the back roads of Romania while researching a book on the notorious Vlad Tepes...in Authenticity.
This week's graphic novel review takes a look at the collection of Len Wein and Berni Wrightson's original, seminal tales of The Swamp Thing.
CONTINUING... Chapter Six of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn. A "Trek into the Desert" is called for as the supernatural clue Annabelle provided seems to point the way to some forgotten petroglyphs far away in the desert wilds. But danger and treachery is afoot as they set out on the next leg of the..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
This week's Shuddersome Short strays toward the film noire side of the ol' mean streets, as author Tim Wilkins introduces us to a phone service that can handle all your dirty deeds...for a price...in One Call Does it All
We get all literary in this week's editorial, as we consider how words are so important to writing...but the meaning of phrases can be oddly debatable...Suspending Disbelief, Jumping Sharks, and other ambiguities.
CONTINUING... Chapter Five of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn. After barely escaping their first brush with their mesmerising adversary, Ray, Annanelle and the colonel are left with a cryptic clue -- a "Clue from Beyond" -- to point them on the..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
Plus, you just knew we had to get to it sooner or later, as this week's graphic novel review takes a look at Frank Miller's world of Sin City and "That Yellow Bastard"
CONTINUING... Chapter Four of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn. It's time for "Carnage in the Country" as Raymond Swift races to the rural home of Professor Kramer's daughter -- unaware that the bad guys are already there, and one of them is capable of sinister mental control... It's all part of the most action-packed chapter yet as we continue on the..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
To commemorate the passing of PDF founder and editor, Jeffrey Blair Latta, I was going to pen an editorial looking at why he founded this site to begin with, and some of the ideas and impulses behind it. Then I realized, he already explained all that better than I ever could in an earlier editorial! So, I'm simply re-presenting his insightful missive What's Wrong with Escapism?
And at the risk of seeming too maudlin, this week's Shuddersome Short and Two-Fisted Tales are also re-presentations of just a couple of the many tales he contributed to this site (yup, he wasn't just an editor!). For those looking for a spooky little late-nighter, try Behold, in the Ashes and for those looking for some hi-octane, sci-fi adventure, try Treat Her Like a Lady.
Next week, though, we'll be back to offering some brand new thrills and chills...
It is with unutterable sorrow that I must announce the passing of Jeffrey Blair Latta after a long illness, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006. Blair was the founder, creator, and visionary who established Pulp and Dagger about eight years ago, in an effort to bring fun and adventure and old fashioned story telling back to the readers. Please note: PULP AND DAGGER WILL CONTINUE!!! That's why we've updated this week (if only with the next chapter of our current serial) to send the message that PDF is not closing down. Blair was proud of it, and devoted much of his time to it, even as his failing health restricted him in other ways -- and as a tribute to him, it will continue on, maintaining his name above the title on the main page and continuing his vision for it. A proper memmorial page will be established in the weeks to come, and new stories and sagas will continue to be posted. But know that to those who knew him, grief cannot express the emotion felt. Peace. And be good to others.
CONTINUING... Chapter Three of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn as the daughter of the vanished professor Kramer finds herself the unwilling host to some sinister house guests, as we finally meet the nefarious villain of our little epic..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
CONTINUING... Chapter Two of Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn as adventurer Raymond Swift is called in to a secret meeting with the British military as they seek to enlist him in the perilous quest for the vanished airship..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
This week's Shuddersome Short is more whimsical than wrathful, but we think you'll enjoy Sean Gilbert's tale of a cranky old married couple seeking a cure for what ails them in The Marriage Magician
Plus, a new graphic novel review, looking at this collection of Marvel's 1960s super spy Nick Fury done by the legendary Jim Steranko, in the TPB Who is Scorpio?
BEGINNING THIS WEEK!!! A brand new serial from a brand new name to Pulp and Dagger! Andrea Tran's 1930s adventure yarn chok full of mesmerism, madmen, and a missing airship..."Trail of the HMS Fortuna"
Just 'cause the Supreme Plasmate is still in hospital, and we let the holidays get the better of us (and the work behind us) we re-offer up a couple of vintage tales from our archives. For those looking for CHILLS comes the creepy little tale by Talbot Pratt, Lifeboat, and for those more keen on mystery and action, comes The Lurker in The Monkey Club Murders (written by the Supreme One himself, Jeffrey Blair Latta)
Plus, a new editorial from temp editor, D.K. Latta, who ponders the various King Kong movies over the years, and sighs..."Kong vs. Kong: So Now the Critics Want a Remake"
The Supreme Plasmate (still on the mend) wishes you all a Happy Holidays, as we present our latest up-dates, and what a Christmassy edition it is...
THE FINAL INSTALMENT!!! (just in time for Christmas) "Drooling" D.K. Latta brings us another sword and sultry tale of his supple swordstress, Neekin! 10 Spectacular Episodes of High Seas hijinx featuring our co-editor's most popular creation!..."Hunters of the Haunted Sea" (See below for details.)
Two Christmas themed tales dredged up from our archives, just to get you in the holiday spirit..."Last Fare on a Christmas Eve" and "It's a Quarter to Three"
Plus, a brand new editorial from the subsititute plasmate, and temp editor, D.K. Latta himself, who takes a look at all the gritty, nihilism in modern pop culture and asks..."Handling the "Truth"...is dark n' gritty just a trend?"
THE NEXT INSTALMENT!!! "Drooling" D.K. Latta brings us another sword and sultry tale of his supple swordstress, Neekin! 10 Spectacular Episodes of High Seas hijinx featuring our co-editor's most popular creation!..."Hunters of the Haunted Sea" (See below for details.)
A Shuddersome Short from the chameleonic pen of Richard K. Lyon (who has written everything from epic fantasy to sci-fi satire here at PDF) as faith and skepticism collide in "When is a Man?"
Plus, a graphic novel review of the hard boiled Batman "elseworlds" book..."Nine Lives"
THE NEXT INSTALMENT!!! "Drooling" D.K. Latta brings us another sword and sultry tale of his supple swordstress, Neekin! 10 Spectacular Episodes of High Seas hijinx featuring our co-editor's most popular creation!..."Hunters of the Haunted Sea" (See below for details.)
A Shuddersome Short from the hard boiled side of the street. If you think the last few elections have been tough, wait'll you see what one "Fatman" Folger gets up to in his bid to be union president, courtesy of Belinda Anne Ferrymen in "Ricochet"
Plus, an editorial offing by our substitute plasmate (think of him as a low energy burst) asking "do we really need all these bad guys?"..."Arch Foes and Nemeses...Enough Already!"
THE NEXT INSTALMENT!!! "Drooling" D.K. Latta brings us another sword and sultry tale of his supple swordstress, Neekin! 10 Spectacular Episodes of High Seas hijinx featuring our co-editor's most popular creation!..."Hunters of the Haunted Sea" (See below for details.)
Plus, a new GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW -- D.K. Latta reviews what happens when '70s icons Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan reunite to recapture some of the macabre magic of their Tomb of Dracula success with an entirely new interpretation in..."The Curse of Dracula"
AT LONG LAST!!! "Drooling" D.K. Latta brings us another sword and sultry tale of his supple swordstress, Neekin! 10 Spectacular Episodes of High Seas hijinx featuring our co-editor's most popular creation!..."Hunters of the Haunted Sea" (See below for details.)
Plus, a NEW RANTS AND RAVES EDITORIAL penned specially for Halloween! Remove his viscera through a slit in his left side, his brain through his nose, soak him in natron, wrap him in bandages, then revive him using tana leaves...but enough about my mornings. This time we take a look at the Mummy monster and ask the hard questions that deserve hard answers...like, what happens when a mummy has to take a leak?... Think about it..."A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mummy"
Plus, HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!!! A NEW COMIC REVIEW wherein "Drooling" D.K. Latta takes a look at the comic incarnation of Carl Kolchak of TV's The Night Stalker based on the original series as opposed to the recent remake now airing..."Kolchak: Tales of the Night Stalker"
Plus, HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!!! Our annual reprise of a Tobias Veale SHUDDERSOME SHORT! Jeffrey Blair Latta's tale of a Halloween phone call from beyond the grave..."Uncle Max" (See below for details.)
Plus, a SHUDDERSOME SHORT from Chris Burdett! It's the date from Hell. But don't worry -- if things get too frightening, you can always..."Freeze Frame" (See below for details.)
Check out our submissions guidelines. Got an adventure? Give us a shot.
NOW PLAYING!!!
ALL NEW!!! "Hunters of the Haunted Sea" You know her, you love her, you want her to have your baby! That's right, it's the long awaited return of D.K. Latta's sexy swordswoman, the Maid with the Most, the Minx with the Moves, in distress or out of it (dis dress, I mean...get it?), it doesn't matter, we love her any way we can get her...Neekin! [If you haven't previously made Neekin's acquaintance, what are you waiting for? Check out her short tales in the Neekin Chronicles or her previous serial, The Garden of Death!~Ed.] This time, Neekin finds herself trapped aboard an ill-starred ship bent on a perilous quest that will take them into a monster-haunted sea from which none ever return...Children be warned, this is meant for Mature Readers Only as there is some nudity although it is entirely justified by the dictates of story and character and a profound desire to see Neekin's num-nums...
Posted Dec. 11/// This week...Episode Ten!!! Yes, our Christmas gift to you, dear reader, the final, stunning instalment of our Neekin epic, as our sultry heroine and crew finally face the ship they've sought for so long -- the black ship of the sorcerer, Charwan Kan. But there's no holiday cheer to be found, folks, as it's a dark, bloody climax as Neekin learns the secret of her enemies (and mainly keeps her clothes on!) -- so join her in..."Boarding the Black Ship"
"Shuddersome Shorts"...try out our series of short dark fantasy stories in a sort of E.C. comics/ Twilight Zone (jugular) vein.
Posted Oct 16/// HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!!! Once more with peeling! Yes, faithful fiends, it's that time again as we exhume this Halloween gory story from the PDF archives and present (or re-present) another tale of Tobias Veale, Pulp and Dagger's "villain eternal". In case you don't know what that means, Tobias Veale is a sort of cosmic sleezeball, existing in countless alternative realities, in each one commiting a terrible crime and meeting his just deserts...In this incarnation, Tobias is about to get a Halloween phone call from his Uncle Max...Unfortunately, Uncle Max died a year ago, so when he says he wants to reach out and touch someone...you get the point, right?...*gulp*..."Uncle Max"!
Posted Oct 2/// This week, Pulp and Dagger welcomes Chris Burdett and this irresistibly fright filled frightmare as a hell of a date becomes the date from hell..."Freeze Frame"!
"Two-Fisted Tales"...hi-octane shorts with heroes the way heroes were meant to be!
Posted Sep 4/// This week, Pulp and Dagger brings you a new pulpster in the grisly guise of Jeff Stewart! Colin and Roland are two archers fresh from the fight with Aragonese warriors, but the real danger is yet to come as our brazen bowmen dare to enter..."The Ancient Grotto"!
PREVIOUS SERIALS!!!
COMPLETE!!! "Swords Across the Void" PDF welcomes this 10-episode star-spanning alien world super-saga in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars (among others)! Assur, a warrior of Ancient Babylonia, is transported to a distant alien world (well, the Moon, actually, but with jungles and oceans...you get the picture) by an evil sorcerer, there to encounter nameless perils, unimagined beasts -- and a sultry purple-skinned beauty whose faintest smile makes it all worthwhile! (For more interplanetary romance in a similar vein, check out "Savage Miraya" in PDF's serials archives ~co-editor Blair) Kirk Straughen is a new voice here at Pulp and Dagger, and we think you'll agree he captures the "Sword and Sci-Fi" soul of the Master with a dynamic energy and unjaded conviction that will wisk you back to those days of yore, when Men were Men and Woman were various shades of primary colours...
COMPLETE!!! "The Cold Rock Gamble" PDF welcomes a fresh and frightfully unconventional voice to our humble oasis with this 4-episode terror treat courtesy of Stanley "Buck" Weiss! A six-gun sister, Maria Faust, and her uncanny Zombie companion, Mr. Tall, roam the weird west collecting artifacts to add to Reginald M. Wormfall's Cabinet of Curiosity. Along the way, they encounter big trouble under the big sky, most of it of the supernatural variety -- but nothing a Colt .45 won't send crying for its Mummy, heh, heh, heh. Short but shriek, how can this one miss?
COMPLETE!!! "Murder's Accomplice" That's right, Faithful Fiends, it's the return of Felix Driscoll P.I. Previously a hit in his earlier serial, The Wrong Twin, now Darryl Crawford's Hollywood-based gumshoe returns to Pulp and Dagger in a 6-episode shamus shocker of murder and melancholy. If you read his earlier mystery, you know Darryl has an uncanny knack for capturing the world-weary hard-boiled spirit of Chandler and that talent is in full bloom here as Felix Driscoll takes on a seemingly simple case for a friend in the movie business only to find himself dragged into a murder where nothing is what it seems.
COMPLETE!!! "Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick" You already know Kevin "The Wizard" Lumley for his short but shriek tales like Skulkers and The Bride of Arlic. Now, The Wizard conjures up a 5-episode supernatural serial and an unconventional hero that you won't soon forget! Introducing monster hunter extraordinaire Jack Quick, the fellow who makes the monsters sleep with dair widdle wights on! Along with a very original take on the vampire mythos, the result is a compact chill-ride that packs a hell of a wallop and will have you begging for more of Jack Quick and his adventures!
COMPLETE!!! "Shadow of the Blood Prophet" PDF's co-editor "Drooling" D.K. Latta was the monster-mind behind the sword and sultry tales of the savagely beautiful Neekin. He was the cunning creator behind the pulse-pounding perils of Kainar, Guardsman of Hannah town, and his talking axe, Hawk's Wood. Now, prepare to embark on his boldest, most two-fisted adventure yet as "Drooling" D.K. unleashes his newest most savage hero...Morg, the Barbarian Mercenary!!! In a MAMMOTH 10-EPISODE sword and savager featuring monsters and maids, intrigue and non-stop, big-fisted action, Morg goes where few but Conan have gone before!
COMPLETE!!! "Babysitting Blues" At last!!! Pulp-maestro Abner Senires returns to PDF with a 6-episode Sci-Fi Stunner featuring his fast-talking, kick-ass combine of Kat (Blackwolfe) and Mouse -- two female P.I.s looking to make ends meet... whilst NOT meeting their own ends, heh, heh, heh! A simple "babysitting" job turns nasty when someone snatches the "package", the spoiled rich daughter of a very powerful exec. But things are even worse than they appear, because the rich daughter happens to look like the twin of Mouse herself...with understandable -- and deadly -- consequences...
COMPLETE!!! "The Devil You Know" Sean Ellis brings us this 8-episode turbo-charged takedown in the spirit of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt! Introducing hi-octane action guy Nick Kismet, waging a relentless on*e man war against the evil forces of Prometheus, a secret society that makes Spectre look like a Shriner's convention -- without the funny red hats, of course. Drawn into a diabolical plot of kidnapping and extortion, and enlisted to rescue the lovely daughter of a mob boss, Kismet soon finds himself battling for his life against an enemy armed with a supernatural Holy Relic capable of controlling the world! Whether he's duking it out on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, hanging from the skids of a helicopter hundreds of feet over New York City, or spread eagle on the tracks of the Long Island Railroad, the suspense never lets up and the action never quits -- So stick with Nick for the next 8 weeks as he takes on...The Devil You Know!
COMPLETE!!! "The Jaws of Fenris" "Long" John Outram is one of our most popular, not to mention prolific, pulpsters here at the Mighty PDF! Many of those tales feature his swordsman wanderer, Kavlar of the Waren, who faces monsters and madmen in a savage land which fairly explodes with adventure! In his previous fistful foray, Kavlar's Boast, we learned how Kavlar came by his magnificent sword. Now, in his second 5-Part serial, Kavlar finds himself matched against a darksome Wolf cult with a vicious streak a mile wide! Will Kavlar win the day, or will he wind up a chew toy in...The Jaws of Fenris!
COMPLETE!!! "Diet Another Day!" Richard K. Lyon brought us the serials "The Long Dark Road to Wizardry" and "The City of Ul Chalan". With Andrew Offutt he wrote the Tiana trilogy, published by Pocket Books. Now, "Royal" Richard turns his bizarre brain to a 13-part superhero saga featuring his overweight costumed crimefighter, Lightningman!! Someone has hatched a scheme to make a killing on the stockmarket...and we do mean, a "killing"! Can Lightningman defeat the evil plot and save millions of innocent lives? Let's hope so, or this is going to be a pretty depressing serial.
COMPLETE!!! "The Wrong Twin"! From the imagination that brought us Rendezvous in the Ruins comes this hard boiled crime story in 6-chapters. That's right, Faithful Fiends, Darryl Crawford seems to be channelling Chandler in this maze of murder and mayhem featuring his gun-toting gumshoe, Felix Driscoll, in the City of Angels circa late 1950s. Not a parody, mind you, Darryl does an uncanny job of capturing the melancholy mood of the tough guy tales that we all knew and loved. When a simple missing person turns into something more deadly, Felix has his hands full, and you'll have a tough time figuring out what happened, never mind whodunit!
EDITORIAL!!! Wherein Jeffrey Blair Latta, your humble co-editor and Supreme Plasmate, makes a shameless plug for his non-fiction book, The Franklin Conspiracy: Cover-up, Betrayal, and the Astonishing Secret Behind the Lost Arctic Expedition. It's like Roswell, JFK, the Bermuda Triangle and the Philadelphia Experiment combined! No kidding. Check it out.
THE REVIEWS ARE IN!!! Okay, so The Franklin Conspiracy turned out to be a little more controversial than I anticipated when I wrote it. At least it's selling well. If you're curious to see how I'm doing, check out one of the more printable reviews. Then buy the book and see for yourself what all the fuss is about! Remember, Faithful Fiends, outside Canada it's only available online at Amazon.com, Chapters.ca.
COMPLETE!!! "Neekin and The Garden of Death"! No, you don't need glasses -- you read it right. Neekin is back! And she's tougher than ever! "Drooling" D.K. Latta bows to your relentless pressure and has kindly concocted a new 5-chapter Sword and Sultry adventure featuring his girl with the miss-matched eyes, the Minx with the Most...Neekin! (If you've already checked out The Neekin Chronicles you know what you're in for. If you haven't...you don't.) Cast ashore on an uncharted isle, Neekin encounters the outpost of a lost civilization and a horticultural horror that makes Audrey II look like a touch of toe fungus!...But you know if anyone has the guts to take on a big green whosis, it's our gal Neekin. So, join us for the next five weeks as we learn the sinister secret of...The Garden of Death!!!
COMPLETE!!! "Fukitso and the Lair of the Havok!"...You asked for it -- so don't complain! Yes, Faithful Fiends, it's true! The sun shines just a little bit brighter, the birds are just a little bit chippier and that dark mole on your butt is not malignant...because the mighty ronin, Fukitso, is back! Yes, once again Jeffrey Blair Latta's strange-eyed samurai takes up his trusty katana, and makes kibbles out of the baddies in this long awaited mega-sized 11-chapter sword and sorcery spectacular! In the turbo-charged tradition of his previous two adventures, Stalkers of the Tiger's Bride and Fukitso and the Golden Egg, the rompin' Ronin takes on magic and monsters in a non-stop killride that will have you begging for more! Plus, a return appearance by Fukitso's lovely companion in arms, Migoti! Life doesn't get any sweeter than this...at least not without the use of illicit narcotics. Read on! Banzai!!!
COMPLETE!!! "Sail High, Sail Far"...PDF welcomes back "Marvelous" Michael Jason with another turbo-charged take-down featuring his youthful heroes, Malcolm Smith and the lovely Ursa Major Jones (who you will no doubt recall from their previous fistful fightfest, "Flight from the Pigites"!), with their airship, Valeria II! No pigs this time, but who needs 'em? Ptui! We've got something just as good -- sky pirates! In this 4-episode cloud-clinging crimebuster, the skies of Paris are surprisingly crowded as our dauntless duo take on Gor Riviera, ruthless sky scum out to steal the fabulous jewel known as the Eye of Malle! Well, you know what they say -- it isn't the fall that'll kill you...it's the part where you go splat!
COMPLETE!!! "Kavlar's Boast"...Once again "Long" John Outram (who previously brought us the two-fisted trio, "Seen Through Mist", "A Trick of the Night" and "A Lesson in Warfare") cuts in with this further audacious adventure featuring his youthful swordsman, Kavlar! The tribal chief is dead and someone must inherit his mighty runesword. Who will it be? That all depends on how far they are prepared to go to win it! Kavlar means to go far indeed in this 6-chapter sword and sorcerous spectacular...but has he gone too far? Well, probably. But you never know -- he might get lucky.
COMPLETE!!! "Secrets of the Forgotten Valley"...PDF once again welcomes an exciting, hi-octane serial from the master of mayhem, "Drooling" D.K. Latta! Featuring the return of his albino Royal Canadian Mountie, Corporal Kit Thunder, and his wolf-dog Kevin, this time around Corporal Thunder (who you'll recall from "The Monster on the Tundra") stumbles on a lost tropical valley deep in the mysterious Canadian bush -- a valley with decidedly hungry inhabitants! Will Thunder get his man, or will he end up as the Mountie-du-jour! Find out in this 10-chapter non-stop, nail-biting, cliff-hanging concatenation!!!
COMPLETE!!! "Beneath the Glacier"...David Reeder offers up this 5-chapter hi-tech homage to the monster-meister himself, H.P. Lovecraft! In this unofficial sequel to "At the Mountains of Madness", Miskatonic University's "Special Assignments Detail" journeys to the Antarctic armed to the teeth and ready for anything. It seems the University has lost contact with a bunch of their scientists. Now I'd like to say they find the scientists alive and in good spirits, working to fix a broken radio...but we both know that isn't likely, don't we? Oh, yes, don't we just...
COMPLETE!!! "The Terror of the Rails" is an epic adventure of mystery and menace as a 19th Century secret agent must uncover the source of monstrous attacks on the transcontinental railroad -- and the answers are more bizarre than he could have imagined. Buckle up and be prepared for the ride -- excuse the pun -- of the year!
COMPLETE!!! "The Android Princess Warriors from Neptune!"...How about a slight change of pace, eh, Faithful Fiends? We've published light-hearted serials before, but this marks the first time PDF has dared venture into outright comedy! Mike Ferguson has courageously concocted this hilariously zany 15-episode serial featuring his superagent Mister Gunn, a.k.a. Agent 18, on the planet Mars. Be sure to write in and let us know what you think. Now sit back and prepare to blast off. And don't say we didn't warn you...
COMPLETE!!! "Fukitso and the Golden Egg!"...You read right, Faithful Fiends! The Herculean hero of our previous fistful foray, Stalkers of the Tiger's Bride, returns at last in an all new 10-part powerhouse sword and sorcery spectacular! The mighty strange-eyed Ronin, Fukitso, takes up his katana Ginago and once more bounds to the rescue of a lovely damsel in distress -- or dis-dress! But this time, it may take more than a keen blade to win the day, as our Conan-wannabe finds himself matching wits with court intrigue and malicious machinations all set in an exotic Eastern city in a mystical land of magic and mystery! If you've already read SOTTB, you know what you're in for. If not, what are you waiting for? Banzai!!!
Sign the New Guestbook and you'll sleep better at night, we promise! (You can also view the original guestbook here.) Come on, Faithful Fiends, let's hear what you think!
COMPLETE!!! "The City of Ul Chalan!"... Once again, PDF welcomes a tantalizing tale from the pen of Richard K. Lyon (co-author with Andrew J. Offutt of Pocket Books' War of the Wizards Trilogy!) This time out, unlikely masterspy Gertrude Eisenstein travels to far-flung Tibet, there in the howling heights to investigate the mystery of the Lost City of Ul Chalan! This serial was previously published in Analog Magazine, but Richard has kindly consented to allow us to reprint it here. (If you enjoyed Richard's previous PDF foray, The Long Dark Road to Wizardry, you already know you're in for something special!) So, join us, Faithful Fiends, over the next 10 weeks as our startling saga unfolds!
COMPLETE!!! "Goblin's Gold!"...
D.W. Owens digs up this glittering little nugget! A 9-part serial featuring two-fisted trouble shooter Jesse Nolan! The race is on to find a lost Confederate treasure, but before things are through, even Jesse may wish he'd never heard the name of...Goblin's Gold!
COMPLETE!!! "The Ship Eaters!"...
Jeffrey Blair Latta unleashes his 9-chapter adventure of Piracy on the Bounding Main! Lost treasure, an ancient hidden civilization, and a mysterious force that causes ships to vanish without a trace...Set to sea, me hearties, for Pirate thrills like ye've never seen before as "Bloody Ben" Coffin takes on the mind-blowing mystery of...The Ship Eaters!
COMPLETE!!! "The Legacy of the Scorpion!"...
Howard G. Martin's cowl-clad crusader, the Scorpion, from the 1940s' Big Apple finds himself catapulted into the year 2080 where it will take more than a fancy mask and stinger guns to fight the Shape of Thugs to Come! Does he have what it takes? Or is this bug gonna get squashed? Find out, in this 7-chapter, crimebusting concoction from the marvelous mind that brought you Mightyman!
COMPLETE!!! "The Bat-Men of the Yinga River!"...
"Doc" R.B. Danby steams in with this 8-chapter adventure set in the 1930s' South China Sea! That brawny Cape Breton brawler, "Battling" Barney Calhoun, steams his way up the sultry, croc-infested Yinga River, there to put his mighty fists to good use against the dreaded race of Bat-Men, all for the sake of a grotesque little idol...and a lissome lady, natch! Can he bring 'em back alive? Find out! Cast off the bow-line and keep your toes clear of the water, 'cause the fish are really gonna bite!
COMPLETE!!! "The Doom Ship of Time!"...
"Drooling" D.K. Latta fires full thrusters in this 6-Chapter diabolical dazzler of future mayhem featuring his superpowered Man of Tomorrow, Dalton Quasar! Trapped aboard a ghost ship, catapulted into the past, Quasar joins forces with robot B-780 and a lovely Solar Security agent to battle dinosaurs, cavemen, and Time itself! Rocket packs and ray guns, space ships and time warps! Strap in, Faithful Fiends, cause it's going to be one hell of a ride!
COMPLETE!!!"The Long Dark Road to Wizardry!"... PDF most proudly welcomes!...from the perilous pens of Richard K. Lyon and Andrew J. Offutt, co-authors of Pocket Books' "War of the Wizards" Trilogy (Demon in the Mirror, Eyes of Sarsis, Web of the Spider) this sorcerous saga of magical mayhem! A novel of wizardly wonders, slashing swords, floating mountains, wolf winds, and more!
COMPLETE!!! "Bleak Lives!"...
A PDF Premiere!...Scott H. Urban's moldering meditation on delectable decay and malicious mortality! You can't keep a dead man down! Case in point: A 9-part crime chiller in which one Edward Bleak investigates murder most foul...while stuck in the rotting corpse of the victim!
COMPLETE!!! "Death Deals"...PDF preeningly presents Jeremy Riddle's scarifying 11-chapter serial! -- part horror, part hard-boiled detective, part sci-fi, part superhero story! A grisly grimoire of mobsters and revenge, of severed limbs and death with a scythe...and death in the guise of a killer without a face!
COMPLETE!!!"In the Dark of Kingston"...
In the spirit of H.P. Lovecraft comes this sinister 7-part serial of otherworldly horror as an English professor learns that things are downright unneighbourly in the tiny town of Kingston, and there are more than sewers burrowing beneath.
COMPLETE!!!"The Monster on the Tundra!"...
The Mounties always get their man...but what if their "man" is a macabre monster with mayhem on its mind? Cpl. Kit Thunder, a two-fisted Mountie in the Far North of the 1930s, may learn the answer to that the hard way in this action-packed serial of psychic societies, mutilated corpses, cliff-hanger chills and...a Monster on the Tundra!
COMPLETE!!!"Savage Miraya"...the Edgar Rice Burroughs-style alien-world serial continues. Miraya! A water-covered world where the Earth pirate, Morgan Seagrave, fights to protect the beautiful princess from the evil Draykhis Dol Hashar!
COMPLETE!!! "Hell hath the Hindenburg!"...In the hi-octane spirit of Indiana Jones! A 10-part novella of audacious adventure in the far North as bush pilot, "Pontoon" Jack Carnac, takes on Nazi baddies, a bush beast (!), and a diabolical plot, while rescuing a lovely French-Canadian mademoiselle...with the aid of his bushplane, Hell-damner! Adventure does have a name, and PDF has got it!
Complete!!! "Necropolis"...PDF pridefully presents Jeff A. Hatch's stunning study of Crime and Pummelment! A 16-episode powerhouse serial featuring three superpowered crimebusters...Eclipse...Poltergeist...Nemesis, against the all-but-invincible Destroyer!
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