Return of Science Fiction Pulps

Yeah.? Like that will ever happen.

I’ll tell ya, some of the happiest moments of my life were had walking into a well-stocked magazine shop, hitting the racks for a handful of SF, the counter by the register for a handful of chocolate-covered cherries and then sitting in the car, or on a park bench, munching and sucking away while I flipped the pages, scanned the TOC and admired the illustrations.? All for less than five bucks.

Over the years I’ve kept that feeling alive by collecting pulp magazines of the science fiction and fantasy variety.? Realizing early on that my budget would not keep up with my wants and needs, I decided to concentrate on – the first issues of the various titles and, secondarily, particular issues, either for their cover art or for specific authors or stories.

I’ve got a pretty darned good collection of Volume 1, Number 1 mags – only a few really pricey holes to fill (like Scoops – and I almost bought the entire run of that UK newspaper/mag a couple of years ago) – and a bunch of lesser-known mags that are farily easy to obtain and therefore not high on the priority list.

I’m also always hoping for that magical garage sale, flea market or antique store hit, where the offerings include entire runs of just about everything – for a song (“Sure – if you help me get rid of them all, I’ll pay YOU!”)

Unlikely, but one remains optimistic.

In the meantime, I rely on certain Ebay sellers, particular stores and a very few specialists who I’ve been doing occassional business with for years – Bob Madle (a truly class fannish act and the man I optained my first real collectible from), Graham Holroyd (who often has things no one else does) and – Ray Bowman.

Ray has had a website for years, but has apparently decided to enter the internet age a little more deeply some time in the recent past and upgraded his pages.? Ray offers two important services – CDs with a HUGE number of excellent scans of pulp covers and

truly unbelievable prices.? Books (Vintage Ace Doubles) for a buck to five bucks, mags ranging from a dollar and up – always finely and accurately graded.

BUT.? Ray always has and always will do things HIS way.? You can’t order online and you have to wait for your order to be filled (sometimes) and he doesn’t tolerate BS in any way, shape or form.

Despite that, I’ve never failed to get good service from him (even honest refunds when my item was no longer in stock and credit for returns:? only once has he sent me the wrong item and I think that was mostly my fault).

So, if you’re a bona fide or honorary member of a generation that doesn’t mind exhibiting a little patience and doesn’t have to have absolutely immediate gratification of its needs (may, in fact, enjoy forced anticipation) check out Ray’s site – www.oldsfbooks.com

Oh – and you can see nearly all of the V1, N1 covers here on one of my webpages