Pulp Bibliography

Bibliography: pulpsters

Listed below is bibliographic information for books and articles dealing with authors, editors, artists and other contributors to the pulp magazines.

A stack of pulp reference booksIf you know of a book or an article not listed, please let us know by e-mailing ThePulp.Net.

Comments regarding entries appear below the bibliographic information. Unsigned comments are those of ThePulp.Net staff; comments by contributors are credited.


Britt, George. Forty Years — Forty Millions: The Career of Frank A. Munsey Farrar & Rinehart, 1935.
Brooks, C.W. The Revised Hannes Bok Checklist T.K. Graphics, 1970/74.
This 44-page chapbook lists Bok’s known artwork in pulps, magazines, books and more.
Brower, Steven; and Jim Simon. Astounding, Mysterious, Weird & True: Vol. 1, The Pulp Art of Comic Book Artists SB Studio Books, 2013.
Bruccoli, Matthew J; and Richard Layman. Hardboiled Mystery Writers: Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ross Macdonald Carroll & Graf, 2002.
Cannaday, Marilyn. Bigger than Life: The Creator of Doc Savage Popular Press, 1990.
Cartier, Dean. Edd Cartier: The Known and the Unknown Gerry de la Rosa, 1977.
Cave, Hugh B. Magazines I Remember: Some Pulps, Their Editors, and What It Was Like to Write for Them Tattered Pages Press, 1994.
Cerasini, Marc A.; and Charles E. Hoffman. Robert E. Howard Starmont Reader’s Guides. Starmont House, 1987.
Cox, J. Randolph. Man of Magic and Mystery: A Guide to the Work of Walter B. Gibson Scarecrow Press, 1988.
Here’s a thorough accounting of the work that Gibson did for The Shadow, other pulps, comics, books, and more.
Davin, Eric Leif. Pioneers of Wonder: Conversations With the Founders of Science Fiction Prometheus Books, 1999.
Day, Bradford M. Bibliography of Adventure: Mundy, Burroughs, Rohmer, Haggard Bradford M. Day, 1995.
Day, Bradford M. Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Bibliography Science-Fiction and Fantasy Publications, 1962.
de Camp, L. Sprague. H.P. Lovecraft: A Biography New English Library, 1975.
de Camp, L. Sprague, Catherine Crook de Camp and Jane Whittington Griffin. Dark Valley Destiny: The Life of Robert E. Howard Bluejay Books 1983.
Easton, Robert. Max Brand: The Big Westerner University of Oklahoma Press, 1970.
Elliot, Jeffrey M. Pulp Voices: Interviews with Pulp Magazine Writers and Editors; or Science Fiction Voices No. 6 The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today. Borgo Press, 1983.
Interviews with writers and editors of science fiction pulps, including Jack Williamson, Horace L. Gold, Stanton A. Coblentz, C.L. Moore and Raymond Z. Gallun. With an introduction by Poul Anderson.
Ellis, Novalyne Price. One Who Walked Alone: Robert E. Howard the Final Years Donald M. Grant, 1986.
The 1996 movie The Whole Wide World was based on Novalyne Price Ellis’s two-year relationship with Conan creator Howard detailed in this book.
Fenton, Robert W. The Big Swingers: Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), Tarzan (1912-) Prentice-Hall, 1967.
Garnier, Philippe; with Eddie Muller. Goodis: A Life in Black and White Black Pool Productions, 2013.
The first English translation of the 1984 biography of pulp fictioneer David Goodis.
Gildea, William. “ ‘The Shadow’s’ Creator Still Lurks in Hearts…” The Washington Post-L.A. Times Wire Service, 24 May 1978.
An interview with Walter B. Gibson.
Grant, Donald M. The Last Celt Donald M. Grant, 1976.
Grant, Donald M., ed. Talbot Mundy: Messenger of Destiny Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc., 1983.
Grondahl, Paul. “Fan of ‘Tarzan’ author is a hero among loyal readers.” Albany (N.Y.) Times Union 10 Feb. 2000.
This newspaper article profiles Henry Heins and his efforts which led to the first publishing of two forgotten Edgar Rice Burroughs works: a 1924 novel, Marcia of the Doorstep, and a 1927 play, You Lucky Girl, written for his daughter.
Gruber, Frank. The Pulp Jungle Sherbourne, 1967.
“He descibes his struggle to become a pulp author and he talks about all the pulp people he has met.” — Al Tonik
Gulick, Bill. Sixty-Four Years as a Writer Caxton Press, 2006.
Gunnison, John; and Rudolph Belarski. Belarski: Pulp Art Masters Adventure House, 2003.
Gunnison, John; and Walter Baumhofer. Walter Baumhofer: Pulp Art Masters Adventure House, 2004.
Hawk, Pat. Hawk’s Author’s Pseudonyms for Book Collectors Pat Hawk, 1992.
Heather, Roderick. Indiana MacCreagh: The Real-Life Adventures of the Original Indiana Jones New Generation Publishing, 2019.
This biography is about Gordon MacCreagh, a fictioneer who wrote for Adventure, Argosy, People’s, and other pulps publishing adventure fiction.
Hersey, Harold Brainerd. Pulpwood Editor: The Fabulous World of the Thriller Magazines Revealed by a Veteran Editor and Publisher Frederick A. Stokes, 1937 (reprinted Greenwood Press, 1974; Adventure House, 2002).
“Not the book we’d like, but about all we’ve got from this period. Hersey worked on The Thrill Book, then for Clayton and MacFadden on many pulp titles.” — John DeWalt
Hughes, Dorothy B. The Case of the Real Perry Mason William Morrow, 1978.
“This is more than just a biography, it contains a bibliography of Erle Stanley Gardner’s pulp stories and everything else he wrote.” — Monte Herridge
Jones, Stephen. The Weird Tales Boys PS Publishing, 2023.
Joshi, S.T. H.P. Lovecraft Starmont Reader’s Guides #13. Starmont House, 1989.
The book’s second edition was published under the title of A Subtler Magick: The Writings and Philosophy of H.P. Lovecraft The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today. Starmont House .
Joshi, S.T. H.P. Lovecraft: A Life Necronomicon Press, 1996.
Joshi, S.T.; and David E. Schultz, eds. O Fortunate Floridian: H.P. Lovecraft’s Letters to R.H. Barlow University of Tampa Press, 2007.
Korshak, Stephen D.; and J. David Spurlock. The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage Vanguard Productions, 2013.
This book on the Weird Tales artist is available in three versions: paperback, at 124 pages; hardback, at 128 pages; and limited-edition hardback, at 150 pages.
Legaria, Marcos. L’Affaire Barlow: H.P. Lovecraft and the Battle for His Literary Legacy Bold Venture Press, 2023.
Laughlin, Charlotte and Daniel J.H. Levack, ed. De Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography Underwood/Miller, 1983.
Locke, John. Pulp Fictioneeers: Adventures in the Storytelling Business Adventure House, 2004.
Locke, John, ed. Pulpwood Days, Volume One: Editors You Want to Know Off-Trail Publications, 2007.
As with his Pulp Fictioneers book above, Locke has pulled together a selection of articles originally published in the writers’ magazines during the pulp heyday, all on the topic of pulp magazine editors.
Locke, John, ed. Pulpwood Days, Volume 2: Lives of the Pulp Writers Off-Trail Publications, 2013.
A follow-up to his previous “Pulpwood Days” book, this one looks at the lives of the fictioneers as told through articles in writers’ magazines.
Lord, Glenn, ed. The Howard Collector Ace Books, 1979.
This book is divided into two parts. The first half features fiction by Robert E. Howard; the second half includes articles and letters that originally appears in the 1960s zine The Howard Collector.
Lord, Glenn. The Last Celt Donald M. Grant, 1976.
A portrait of Robert E. Howard painted from his notes, manuscripts, letters and stories.
Lupoff, Richard A. Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure Canaveral Press, 1965 (revised, Ace Books, 1968).
McCarey-Laird, M. Martin. Lester Dent: The Man, His Craft and His Market Hidalgo Publishing Co., 1994.
Montgomery, George. The Shadow Knew Textile Bridge Press, 1989.
A personal reminiscence of times spent with Walter Gibson and how author Jack Kerouac may have been influenced by The Shadow stories. An odd, but interesting booklet. Introduction by the Amazing Kreskin.
Moskowitz, Sam. foreword to Worlds of Weird, edited by Leo Margulies. Pyramid Books, 1965.
A look at “The Forgotten Creator of Weird Tales,” the magazine’s originator and publisher J.C. Henneberger.
Mundell, E.H. Erle Stanley Gardner: A Checklist Kent State University Press, 1968/1970.
Mundell, E.H. A List of the Original Appearances of Dashiell Hammett’s Magazine Work Kent State University Press, 1968/1975.
Murray, Will. “In His Own Words — John Fleming Gould.” Illustration No. 31 (Fall 2010), 58–74.
Murray wrote the introduction, but the bulk of the article is a transcript of a talk Fleming gave as a guest of honor at Pulpcon 19 (1990). It is profusely illustrated with Fleming’s interior and cover art.
Nadis, Fred. The Man from Mars: Ray Palmer’s Amazing Pulp Journey Tarcher/Penguin, 2013.
Nanovic, John. Introduction to The Crime Oracle/The Teeth of the Dragon Dover Publications Inc., 1975.
The pulp editor recalls his days at Street and Smith, and his dealings with William Ralston, Walter Gibson, Lester Dent and others.
Nielsen, Leon. Robert E. Howard: A Collector’s Descriptive Bibliography of American and British Hardcover, Paperback, Magazine, Special and Amateur Editions, with a Biography McFarland, 2010.
Nolan, William F. Black Mask Boys: Masters in the Hard-Boiled School of Detective Fiction Mysterious Press, 1987.
Nolan, William F. “Collecting Max Brand” Firsts: The Book Collector’s Magazine May 1997, 36-46.
The article, devoted to collecting books by Max Brand and shows covers of many hardbacks and pulps. … Another article about Brand in the same magazine is “Frederick Faust: A Checklist,” pages 47-51. This checklist is only of first editions and does not include magazines, although most of Brand’s books contain stories that originally appeared in pulp magazines. — Monte Herridge
Nolan, William F. Max Brand: Western Giant, The Life and Times of Frederick Schiller Faust Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1985.
Parente, Audrey. Pulp Man’s Odyssey: The Hugh B. Cave Story Starmont House, 1988.
Parente, Audrey. Pulpmaster: The Theodore Roscoe Story Starmont Popular Culture Studies. Starmont House, 1992.
Porges, Irwin. Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Man Who Created Tarzan Brigham Young University Press, 1975; Ballatine Books, 1976.
The Ballantine Books trade paperback edition is two volumes, wth 655 pages in the first volume and over 600 in the second.
Powers, Paul S. Pulp Writer: Twenty Years in the American Grub Street University of Nebraska Press, 2007.
Price, E. Hoffman. Book of the Dead: Friends of Yesteryear: Fictioneers & Others Arkham House, 2001.
Price, Robert M. H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos Starmont Studies in Literary Criticism. Starmont House, 1990.
Richardson, Darrell C. J. Allen St. John: An Illustrated Bibliography Mid-America Publishers Inc., 1991.
Roberts, Tom, ed. Memorial Tribute to Hugh B. Cave Black Dog Books, 2004.
Rock, James A. Who Goes There: A Bibliographic Dictionary of Pseudeonymous Literature in the Fields of Fantasy and Science Fiction James A. Rock, 1979.
Ruber, Peter; Darrell C. Richardson; and Victor A. Berch. King of the Pulps: The Life and Writings of H. Bedford-Jones Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 2003.
Saunders, David. Norman Saunders The Illustrated Press, 2008.
Saunders, David. H.J. Ward The Illustrated Press, 2010.
Schelly, Bill. Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary North Atlantic Books, 2016.
Schneider, Jerry L., compiler. Edgar Rice Burroughs Tells All ERBville Press, 2008.
Schweitzer, Darrell. Conan’s World and Robert E. Howard The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today. Borgo Press, 1978.
Schweitzer, Darrell, ed. Discovering H.P. Lovecraft Starmont Studies in Literary Criticism. Starmont House.
Schweitzer, Darrell. The Dream Quest of H.P. Lovecraft The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today. Borgo Press, 1978.
Seabrook, Jack. Martians and Misplaced Clues: The Life and Work of Fredric Brown Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1993.
Server, Lee. Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers Checkmark Books, 2002.
Sherman, Philip. Leo Margulies: Giant of the Pulps — His Thrilling, Exciting, and Popular Journey Altus Press, 2017.
Dr. Philip Sherman, the nephew of Leo Margulies, examines the life and career of the editor-in-chief of Standard Magazines/The Thrilling Group.
Shimeld, Thomas J. Walter B. Gibson and The Shadow McFarland & Co., 2003.
Siegel, Mark. Hugo Gernsback, Father of Modern Science Fiction The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today. Borgo Press, 1988.
Also includes essays on Frank Herbert and Bram Stoker.
Smith, R. Dixon. Lost in the Rentharpian Hills: Spanning the Decades with Carl Jacobi Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1985.
Steranko, James. “Tribute to Bruce Elliott” Comixscene No. 4 (May-June 1973), 22.
Artist and pulp historian Steranko offers a tribute to one of his inspirations. The tribute includes a photo of magician Elliott and several of The Shadow pulp covers.
Taliaferro, John. Tarzan Forever: The Life of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Creator of Tarzan Simon & Schuster, 1999.
Taraba, Frederic B. “Walter M. Baumhofer: King of the pulps” Step-by-Step Graphics Vol. 13 No. 6 (November-December 1997), 107-117.
Baumhofer, most celebrated for his cover paintings for Doc Savage, is profiled in the graphic arts magazine’s “Masters” series. Taraba traces Baumhofer’s career in the magazine illustration industry and highlights of his life. The article includes an original painting from the May 1934 Doc Savage, as well as paintings or covers from Dime Western, Dime Detective Magazine, Speakeasy Stories, and Western Story Magazine, and non-pulps such as American Magazine and Woman’s Day.
Taraba, Frederic B. “The Weird Tales of Margaret Brundage” Step-by-Step Graphics Vol. 11 No. 5 (September-October 1995), 118-129.
Part of the magazine’s “Masters” series, this article chronicles the artist’s career in the pulps and includes some biographical information on her life after the pulps. It includes nine Weird Tales covers (several of the cover paintings are paired with the printed covers), as well as five other paintings.
Taves, Brian. Talbot Mundy, Philosopher of Adventure: A Critical Biography McFarland & Co., 2006.
Tuska, Jon; and Vicki Piekarski. Max Brand Companion Greenwood Press, 1996.
Unknown. Finlay’s Illustrations for “Weird Tales” Showcase Art Productions Inc., 1976.
A slim chapbook with eight black-and-white plates and one color of illustrations by Virgil Finlay.
Van Hise, James, ed. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Fantastic Worlds Midnight Graffiti Publications, 1997.
Van Hise, James, ed. The Fantastic Worlds of Robert E. Howard Midnight Graffiti Publications, 1997.
Includes 21 articles on the creator of Conan and Kull, with artwork by Steve Fabian and Roy Krenkel.
Vadeboncoeur, Jim Jr.; and Everett Raymond Kinstler. Everett Raymond Kinstler: The Artist’s Journey Through Popular Culture, 1942-62 Underwood Books, 2005.
Vick, Todd B. Renegades and Rogues: The Life and Legacy of Robert E. Howard University of Texas Press, 2021.
Wallace, Morgan A. His Second Self: The Bio-Bibliography of Victor Rousseau Emanuel Spectre, 2011.
Weinberg, Robert. Biographical Dictionary to Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists Greenwood Press, 1988.
Weinberg, Robert. The Louis L’Amour Companion Andrews and McMeel, 1992.
“Describes his ventures into different media with lists of his stories in the pulps and his novels.” — Al Tonik
Weinberg, Robert. The Man Behind Doc Savage 1974.
Widder, William J. The Fiction of L. Ron Hubbard: A Comprehensive Bibliography and Reference Guide to Published and Selected Unpublished Works Bridge Publications Inc., 1994.
Widder, William J. Master Storyteller: An Illustrated Tour of the Fiction of L. Ron Hubbard Galaxy Press, 2003.
Williamson, Jack. Wonder’s Child: My Life in Science Fiction Bluejay Books, 1984.
Zeuschner, Robert B. Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Exhaustive Scholar’s and Collector’s Descriptive Bibliography McFarland, 1996.

Pulp events

Events are subject to change.

April 5-7, 2024: Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention, Lombard, Ill.

June 1, 2024: Fantastic Pulps Show & Sale, Toronto, ON, Canada.

June 7-8, 2024: Howard Days, Cross Plains, Texas

Aug. 1-4, 2024: PulpFest 2024, Pittsburgh, Pa.

On–going:
• Gotham Pulp Collectors Club, 1 p.m. the third Saturday of each month via Zoom. Check its website for location.