July 2010 Issue

Page Turners

Linda Feagler

By Linda Feagler

Pulp Fiction, Buckeye Style
These noted authors added their special panache to pulp fiction.

Ohio was home to two of the most popular and prolific pulp fiction writers of the early 20th century, explains Eric Johnson, associate curator of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at Ohio State University. Much of their work is still available, either in the mainstream publishing market or from specialty publishers.

Here, the curator explores the works of two noteworthy Buckeye authors.

Zane Grey (1872–1939) wrote westerns, and is recognized not only by pulp fiction aficionados, but by mainstream readers as well. Grey was born in Zanesville, Ohio, the town named after his pioneer ancestor Ebenezer Zane.

“He wrote more than 90 books, and, at last count, there were more than 100 movies made from his stories,” says Johnson. By creating his own film production studio for a brief period, Grey “paved the way for western fiction to move from the printed page to film.”

Johnson lists Riders of the Purple Sage (1912), The Vanishing American (1925) and the historical novel Betty Zane (1903) — about the Revolutionary War heroine in the author’s family tree — as Grey’s three most popular works. All are in print and available from your favorite bookseller.

Science fiction author and Youngstown native Edmond Hamilton (1904–1977) is the pulp writer who played a prominent role in the development of space opera — the genre characterized by sweeping epic stories that take place on a galactic scale.

“Without the space opera genre, we don’t have Star Wars,” says Johnson. “So Hamilton’s a pretty important figure in the evolution of science fiction.”

Hamilton wrote in a variety of pulp genres — including science fiction and detective stories — and later wrote Superman and Batman stories for DC comics. But he’s best known for writing most of the Captain Future pulp series that ran from 1940 to 1951, initially in Captain Future magazine and later in Startling Stories. Captain Future, aka Curtis Newton, is a scientist/adventurer who battles supervillains throughout the solar system. The series is recently back in print, thanks to Haffner Press, a specialty publisher located in Royal Oak, Michigan. To date, Haffner Press has published two volumes of Hamilton’s Captain Future stories.
— John C. Bruening

	Rock On How was Cleveland chosen to be the site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum? How did “WKRP in Cincinnati” come to be? Who the heck is Alan Freed? Akron music historian Nick Talevski answers those queries in Hang on Sloopy: The History of Rock and Roll in Ohio. (Guardian Express Media)
	Home Sweet Home No matter what your political persuasion, there’ll be no heated debate about the governor’s residence. Quite simply, it’s magnificent. Our Family’s First Home by Ian Adams, Dianne McElwain and Mary Alice Mairose, chronicles the history of the 84-year-old Jacobethan Revival dwelling that nine statesmen have lived in since 1957, and the lavish heritage garden focusing on green energy. (Ohio University Press)
	Connections They’re beloved remnants of things past. In Covered Bridges: Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, photographer Bill Miller and writers Miriam Wood and David Simmons explore the history, legends and significance of 171 impressive structures. (The Wooster Book Company)

	Love Stories Ohio moms share the emotions that come with sending their sons and daughters to war. Read Article >> By Linda Feagler
	Mother’s Day Columbus author D.G. Fulford shares her journey into caregiving. Read Article >> By Linda Feagler
	Hot Commodity Cincinnati author Brock Clarke turns accidental arson into a wryly funny book. Read Article >> By Jennifer Haliburton
	Echoes of the Past Delaware author Robert Olmstead explores war and family ties in his novel, Coal Black Horse. Read Article >> By Linda Feagler