“The Masculine Geek Pulp Anthology, Book One” is not just a collection of four great short stories, it’s a mandate for both a return to the Pulp Stories of yesteryear, as well as revival of such stories for modern times, for the modern reader.  As such, in my opinion, this first volume is a resounding success.

The introduction to this anthology laments the gap in the market for the “heavy on the action, light on the exposition” pulp stories made popular by such writers as Edgar Rice Burroughs (of “Tarzan” and “John Carter” fame) and H.P. Lovecraft. But the three writers of this anthology, Vincent J. LaRosa, TJ Martinell, and Noble Brown, have a solution: Write some damn good pulp stories of their own and get the blood flowing for a new generation into this once-beloved genre!

The stories themselves are disparate in tone, setting, and genre and are unrelated to each other. As such, each is a fresh look into a new world and a new set of characters and circumstances.  As stated before, there are four stories total, with two written by Martinell, and one each by Brown and LaRosa. The following is a brief synopsis of each, with no spoilers (naturally):

The Curse of the Chosen Cult: This story takes place in a bleak futuristic America, where the nation has been divided into several sections. One of those sections is called Cambridge County, a theocracy under the rule of “The Church”, which has begun having outbreaks of a new, unknown disease. A bounty hunter named Amos Cavendish begins putting together the clues in his investigation about the cause and nature of this most curious outbreak.  Note: This story takes place prior to the events of Martinell’s book “The Pilgrim’s Digress” (available here on Amazon).

The Last Son of Thor: This is my personal favorite, though that could be because I’ve previously traversed the world in which this story is set, from the novel “The White Arrow” (click for previous review). This is a story of fantasy, and though it has a mythology all its own, the reader can’t help but notice familiar references, such as the titular “Thor”. It begins with a town awaiting the return of its ruler, days overdue. The town, consisting of only women, is made up of Thor’s daughters and wives. The daughters come to suspect that Thor will not be returning, and that bordering clans will begin an assault on their town sooner rather than later.  What follows is a captivating story of survival, magic, lore, and adventure that makes for an exciting and easy read.

Outpost DARE: Martinell’s second submittal to the anthology is also set in the future, but not in America, and not even on Earth. The titular Outpost DARE is a settlement on the planet Protea, where a population of rugged humans have set up a colony to mine a precious ore they sell to other planets. Protea, a barren wasteland aside from the mining, is a difficult place to live, but the protagonist describes culture and traditions that keep his people there despite the harsh environments. However, the environment is often the least of the colonists’ worries, as they are often attacked by swarms of serteps, creatures native to Protea, that the inhabitants of Outpost DARE must constantly keep at bay. As you read this story, you feel the inevitability of a coming war, a final clash that will determine the colonists’ final fate.

Laser Dicks – A Pulp Detective Story: This story is a little bit of everything: A detective story, sure, but it’s mixed with some science-fiction, add a dash of horror, all while the narrator finds the most creative way to describe the foxy dame serving drinks at the local watering hole. At its core, it’s a story of three detectives who become embroiled in a new case when one of their exes, a girl by the name Marissa, goes missing. Some shootouts, car chases, interrogations, and witty banter later and you’ve got yourself a mystery investigation unlike you’ve ever read before. LaRosa’s use of humor and action, sometimes simultaneously, as well as the short, to-the-point chapters makes for a fun read, and one that I enjoyed from start to finish.

In true Pulp fashion, this anthology is only available as a paperback, and the reader will be rewarded, first and foremost, by the amazing cover by M. Wayne Miller, depicting some of the characters they will encounter as they read through these four stories.

I thoroughly enjoyed every story in this collection, and am glad to give it an enthusiastic recommendation. The only questions now is when do we see Book 2?