Jailed in his youth for thrill-seeking crimes, Howard Wandrei went on to a prolific career in an amazing variety of pulp magazines-- so many that he used several noms-de-plume to keep the stories separate. He wrote hard-boiled crime stories, boxing tales, mysteries... but his imaginative genius was most engaged when he was penning weird and fantastic stories. This collection is culled from stories accepted by Weird Tales, Unknown, Astounding Stories and Spicy Mystery Stories. With access to the original manuscripts, several of the stories have been restored to the author's intent-- effectively bypassing the editors and censors of the day.
Pulp scholar Dwayne Olson provides nearly 40 pages of introduction, placing the author in the pulp scene, scandals and all, with an annotated discussion.
When he wasn't pounding a typewriter or chasing women, alcohol and other bad habits which contributed to his early death, Howard was also an artist. Half a dozen of his original illustrations accent this collection. The reader will find a full-immersion pulp experience to savor in this collection!
This is a long-overdue collection of stories that originally appeared in the 1930s pulp magazines, plus two previously unpublished tales. Olson's 40-page introduction illuminates the life, art, and stories of Wandrei, a popular writer whose penchant for pseudonyms consigned him to obscurity?until now. Sixty years later these stories resonate with a timeless quality. Highly recommended for fantasy and horror collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.