What do you think of when you hear the term “pulp fiction”? If you’re a movie buff, you might think of the 1994 movie of the same name. But if you’re an avid reader (and let’s assume you are since you’re reading the blog of a book publisher), you probably think of the pulp paperback.

The pulp paperback played a key role in the history of publishing—and one could argue the evolution of our social consciousness. There’s a great New Yorker article on the topic from earlier this year, which also includes a brief history of book publishing. You can read it here.

And if you’re a fan of Dean Wesley Smith and follow his blog, you are aware of his deep and undivided love for the pulp paperback.

But Dean and the New Yorker are not the only ones who love pulp fiction. Fiction River editor John Helfers does, too. And he used that love to create a fantastic new volume called Fiction River: Recycled Pulp, which releases on Wednesday.

For Recycled Pulp, John gave writers pulp titles and asked them to write modern stories with no other restrictions. He wanted award-quality stories that hide beneath their pulp titles and one-line tags.

The task he set for himself was monumental. And the results: a wonderfully unpredictable journey that speaks to the heart of what Fiction River strives to achieve.

This fifteenth regular volume from the Fiction River original anthology series provides stories that range from humorous to terrifying to downright heartbreaking. Fifteen original tales include rebel angels fighting a heavenly enforcement squad, a cop whose life might depend on ordering the right deli sandwich, and a wizard who has just three days to pay off the loan on his tower or lose his very soul. And the way John edits these stories together provides a mesmerizing experience from beginning to end.

But don’t take my word for it. Astro Guyz calls Recycled Pulp, “…a unique collection 15 tales worthy of the Fiction River name. … Don’t miss Recycled Pulp for a great set of unique and fast-paced tales of the imagination!”

And if that’s not enough, here’s a look at the story lineup, which is sure to draw you in:

Table of Contents
“The Revolt of the Philosophers of Fomalhaut” by Phaedra Weldon
“Marvelous Contrivances of the Heart” by Cat Rambo
“The Flower of the Tabernacle” by Annie Reed
“Lost in the Tarnished Cube” by Thomas K. Carpenter
“Crypt of the Metal Ghouls” by Angela Penrose
“The Imperfect Otter Empire” by Dayle A. Dermatis
“The Unknowable Mansion of the Night” by Sandra M. Odell
“The Portal of Wrong Love” by Dean Wesley Smith
“Sacred Poet from the Future” by Kelly Cairo
“Swamp of the Prehistoric Clan” by Christy Fifield
“The Magnificent Citadel” by Rebecca M. Senese
“Night of the Dancing Champions” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“The Delicatessen from Beyond the Monolith” by Lisa Silverthorne
“Prism of the Crab Gods” by Kelly Washington
“The Gleaming Crater” by Thea Hutcheson

So, be sure to check out Fiction River: Recycled Pulp. And don’t forget that you can subscribe to Fiction River and never miss a volume. Just click here for more information.

Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer.