Alf
Crab On The Rampage
Swans break arms
Posts: 15
|
Post by Alf on Jun 9, 2022 17:07:11 GMT
Hello all
After much procrastination have finally signed up.
I managed to read "Eat Them Alive" , so probably up for some equally grim suggestions
Rekindled my interest in pulp, but was an avid reader as a teen in late 70s
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jun 9, 2022 18:21:44 GMT
Welcome Alf. Thanks for registering, and I hope you enjoy your time with us. If you can take Eat Them Alive, then Vault should hold few fears for you.
|
|
Alf
Crab On The Rampage
Swans break arms
Posts: 15
|
Post by Alf on Jun 9, 2022 20:19:03 GMT
Thanks I have been reading the boards for some time, and have probably now read about half of the classic 70s-80s reviewed novels
I have an initial observation...
"Back in the day" I read lots of the Guy N Smith, Herbert and Graham Masterton. I always thought Herbert was the most "proper" writer.... but during lockdown rereading, Masterton is my favourite.
The Fog comes across as a sweary version of Enid Blyton. Guy N Smith is like something a teenager would write.
Out of all my rereads, The Devils of D Day was the closest to bring disturbingly spooky.
PS Eat Them Alive is extraordinarily difficult to pigeon hole. It's so fucked up on so many levels. Was it written as some sort of challenge? At times it almost reads like biblical text
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Jun 10, 2022 8:51:25 GMT
The Fog comes across as a sweary version of Enid Blyton. Guy N Smith is like something a teenager would write. Out of all my rereads, The Devils of D Day was the closest to bring disturbingly spooky. Interesting observations. It has been ages I read The Devils of D Day and I have just a hazy recollection of it. Same goes for The Fog. I recently had to re-read The Rats, and it still worked so well.
But in hindsight I also think that the short format of those days was often better for those writers both in terms of plot and execution.A lot of the later novels are surley better in terms of the craft of writing, but they tend to be too long for their story and often fall apart at the end.
|
|
Alf
Crab On The Rampage
Swans break arms
Posts: 15
|
Post by Alf on Jun 10, 2022 11:20:36 GMT
Agree - I like the shorter 150 page approach of 70s pulp. Has a much better B Movie feel, and the writers were not afraid of setting the story on big canvas (worms destroy the SE of England, not just a farmhouse)
What I struggle with tho is the willing suspension of disbelief issue. It may be heresy, but Shaun Hutson and some others are simply not strong enough writers to carry it.
I recently read X the Unknown by Hutson, a relatively modern release in the Hammer paperback series. There were repeated use of lines, "where are they" moments and other (possibly editorial) gaffs.
I know they are written to a template, but the better written ones stand out
PS I still don't honestly know what to say about Eat Them Alive tho. It made no sense, but was compelling I might just get pissed up and shout a story ad lib into a digital recorder, put it through speech to text app and self publish. "Eat Them Alive 2: Devoured by Stick Insects"
|
|