“ Before the war, Orwell had his moments of contempt for graphic scenes of violence in fiction, particularly the American hard-boiled crime fiction available in pulp magazines. In 1936, in a review of a detective novel, he quotes a passage describing a brutal and methodical beating, which uncannily foreshadows Winston Smith’s experiences inside the Ministry of Love. What has happened? Spain and the second world war, it would seem. What was “disgusting rubbish” back in a more insulated time has become, by the postwar era, part of the vernacular of political education, and by 1984 in Oceania it will be institutionalized. Yet Orwell cannot, like the average pulp writer, enjoy the luxury of unreflectively insulting the flesh and spirit of any character. The writing is at places difficult to stay with, as if Orwell himself is feeling every moment of Winston’s ordeal. ”

Inexpensive fiction magazines Emerged from “dime novels” 1920’s to 1950’s The Argosy During this time there was no television, only silent movies, and radios were rare Intended audience: adults

Published on cheap “pulp” paper Low quality paper Sold for $.10 Made it affordable for working class and young teenagers Magazines usually contained several short stories Sensational cover art

Offered readers a chance to visit and imagine a different world Such a wide variety of publications, anyone could find a genre they enjoyed Genres: action, adventure, humor, romance, drama, mystery, fantasy, sports, etc.

Opportunities for authors to improve creative writing Experience and imagine places, people, and events Influenced all forms of entertainment for years to come Starting ground for many famous authors Transitioned to other forms of writing -Ray Bradbury -Paul Chadwick -Stephen Crane -Arthur Conan Doyle -Upton Sinclair -E.E Smith -Mark Twain -H.G Wells Well-Known Pulp Writers:

One of the most popular genres of pulp magazines 1920’s Prohibition and Great Depression Main character: Lived on cruel city streets Violence, poverty, and death Survival vs. justice In order to be tougher than the evil surrounding him, had to be come “hard-boiled” More important for detective to get out of tough spot than to solve murder Often had graphic violence and fighting

New era of action-packed detective stories Murders constantly happening around hero and during story Changed the way people thought of and imagined detectives

“ Adventure -- intrigue -- hard sleek villains -- beautiful women -- and a hero who is really tough. Race Wlliams can shoot circles around any man you ever read about. ” “ Adventure -- intrigue -- hard sleek villains -- beautiful women -- and a hero who is really tough. Race Williams can shoot circles around any man you ever read about. ”

“ Is Gabrielle the victim of a family curse? Or is the truth about her weirder and infinitely more dangerous? The Dain Curse is one of the Continental Op's most bizarre cases, and a tautly crafted masterpiece of suspense. ” “ A treasure worth killing for. Sam Spade, a slightly shopworn private eye with his own solitary code of ethics. A perfumed grifter named Joel Cairo, a fat man named Gutman, and Brigid O'Shaughnessy, a beautiful and treacherous woman whose loyalties shift at the drop of a dime. These are the ingredients of Dashiell Hammett's coolly glittering gem of detective fiction. ”

During World War II, lost popularity Paper rationing made it harder to print magazines The graphic scenes and violent acts that happened in the magazines, began to be everyday reality during wartime

What has happened “In 1936, in a review of a detective novel, he [Orwell] quotes a passage describing a brutal and methodical beating, which uncannily foreshadows Winston Smith’s experiences inside the Ministry of Love. What has happened? Spain and the second world war, it would seem. What was “disgusting rubbish” back in a more insulated time has become, by the postwar era, part of the vernacular of political education”