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The Art of Pulp Horror: An Illustrated History (2020)

Edited by Stephen Jones
Foreword by Robert Silverberg

(a) Elephant Book Company Limited/Applause Theatre & Cinema Books/The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, USA • hc • $40.00
ISBN 978-1-5400-3297-3
The Art of Pulp Horror: An Illustrated History

This remarkable companion to the award-winning volumes The Art of Horror and The Art of Horror Movies, from the same creative team behind those acclaimed illustrated volumes, looks at the sexy, sleazy, and sensational subject matter in books, magazines, comics, and movies, that has helped to shape modern horror. Although often associated with cheapness and low quality, pulp fiction and filmmaking have influenced the way we live for more than a century. Many respected authors and artists worked for the pulp and paperback markets, while films made for the low budget or youth markets are now rightly regarded as classics as they continue to inspire the movies and television we watch today. Profusely illustrated with more than 800 rare and unique images from around the world—including book and magazine covers, interior illustrations, movie posters, comic books, promotional items, tie-ins, and previously unpublished artwork commissioned especially for this book—this handsome volume charts the history of escapist horror and the individuals who created it. Compiled by multiple award-winning writer and editor Stephen Jones, and with a Foreword by prolific and acclaimed author Robert Silverberg, this visual history brings together insightful and revelatory commentary from some of the genre’s most highly esteemed experts. The Art of Pulp Horror is a stunning and informative guide to how, for over 100 years, we have enthusiastically embraced and exploited the gratuitous and the gory into our popular culture.

FOREWORD: THOSE GAUDY PULPS! Robert Silverberg
INTRODUCTION: PULP FRICTION Stephen Jones
PENNY DREADFULS Sarah Cleary
PRE-CODE HORRORS Richard Harland Smith
THE SHUDDER PULPS Mike Ashley
POVERTY ROW Gregory William Mank
SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT Barry Forshaw
DRIVE-IN DELINQUENTS Lisa Morton
PULP FICTION Justin Marriott
EXPLOITATION EXPLOSION Christopher Fowler
BOOM AND BUST Stefan Dziemianowicz
CONTRIBUTOR BIOS  
INDEX  
ART CREDITS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  

Reviews

  • “(The book collects hundreds of high-quality pieces of art and is a must-have for both horror historians and connoisseurs of horror art . . . Every image has been
    lovingly sourced and is presented with the year it was produced and the artist whenever possible. The whole book feels like a museum exhibition on pulp
    horror, you can all but read the placards and easily imagine standing in a gallery organised just so . . . Altogether, this is a stunning collection of
    art. In a world of modern graphic design and safer, often formulaic art decisions it’s a real treat to see the outlandish ideas that came before. Editor
    Stephen Jones has even taken things a step further in including several modern pieces of art sprinkled throughout which pay homage to pulp horror and
    really drive home the extent to which pulp has inspired creators the world over. If you’re interested in understanding the history of the genre and
    its evolution The Art of Pulp Horror deserves a place on your shelf.”
    —Kyle Holl
    HORRORBUZZ.COM, September 23, 2020