At the recent OSRcon, I had
the great pleasure of a tour of the Lillian H. Smith Library Merril Collection
of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy (http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB137&R=LIB137). Without a doubt, the crown jewel, at least
for me, was the pulp magazine collection.
Yet, in retrospect, seeing the rows of stacks produced an odd sense of exclusion, perhaps voyeurism, not unknown to
academics. In short, while necessary
(and preservationist), the magazines sanitary, inaccessible, orderly, sterile
and ultimately lifeless entombment presents them as objects to be studied
rather than enjoyed.
So, where then can we find
the ‘pulp-spirit’? Where can we find
stories and poems to be devoured simply because they are fun to read?
Here’s a start: http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/
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