My Blog

Retirement. Publishers, thank you for the many years of reading pleasure you gave me, but all good things must come to an end. Due to failing eyesight I am forced to retire. I can no longer review your books, and any that you send will be donated to the local library, unread. Do not send any more. I can only read for a couple hours every day, and this does not allow me to finish a book in reasonable time. I will be devoting time to my own books from now on, and reading on a personal level. Books that interest me. I prefer paperbacks and hardbacks, not eBooks. My eyesight has been failing the last few years, and I cannot handle hundreds of review books any more. My books are still available for review. Anyone interested in reviewing any of them, they are found in the Link to Tom’s Books On Amazon. Contact me for pdf copies at fadingshadows40@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tomato Can Comeback


Tomato Can Comeback (Fight Card)
By Henry “Hank” Brown
Kindle
ASIN #B008PD59Z0
Price $2.99
Rating 5-Star

“Entertaining, and hard hitting action.”

Tom Garrick had been an upcoming contender until his last fight, which left him so bloody the sports writers tagged him the Tomato Can. After the loss, the ex Army corporal, a veteran of the Korean Conflict, uncharacteristically drops out of the fight game for a period. But now he’s back, and working with a new manager, his old Army platoon sergeant, Lester Kolodzei, and the Tomato Can is looking for opponents.

However, things aren’t as they appear. There is something bothering Tom Garrick, and it might be enough to end his new boxing career. Sports writer, Gil Swartz, of the Detroit Free Press takes an interest in the boxer and becomes involved in the personal side of the tough corporal, and begins to unravel the mystery. But he may be too late to save the boxer’s career.

This was another top notch Fight Card entry, but taking a different slant than previous stories. Gil Garrick the sports writer not the boxer narrates it, so we don’t see into the mind of Tom Garrick. I felt this angle worked very nicely, and gave the reader some mystery to the boxer’s actions.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Cold War Heroes


Cold War Heroes (Drama/Comedy/Military)
By Tom Johnson
ISBN #978-0982679562
Price $13.50
Pages 164
Rating 5-Star

COLD WAR HEROES by Tom Johnson:  The merry misfits of the 202nd Military Police Company in France have their priorities straight – drinking French cognac and chasing French women.  In between they have to deal with spies, the black market, and an on Post boxing tournament that may be too much for their hero.  Think M*A*S*H - a decade later, different country, different unit,  but as Radar would say over the public address system, “Follow the adventures of those good old boys from home as they fight to keep the world safe one bottle and broad at a time.” 

Jack Quick
Reviewers Choice

Friday, July 27, 2012

Echoes 30 Now Available


ECHOES 30: Three decades of Pulp Fandom’s greatest hobby magazine. Echoes, the longest-running pulp fanzine of all time is back for a special 30th anniversary issue, and it’s the largest single-issue pulp fanzine ever published. Enjoy over 300 pages of articles on pulps as well as a pair of classic reprints, written by pulp experts. The following fiction is included:

“The Green Ghost” by Johnston McCulley
“The Red Sword” by John Drummond
“The Black Shadow”, a Dorus Noel story by Tom Johnson

Articles on The Black Hood, Red Finger, Pulp Ladies, Lone Wolf Detective Magazine, The Octopus & Scorpion, Captain Future, Captain Satan, Masked Detective, Dr. Zeng, Green Ghost, Secret Service Smith, The Shadow’s Ladies, The Spider, Belmont Shadows, Red Mask, Secret Agent X, Dan Fowler, Moon Man, Bronze Shadows, Johnston McCulley, and many, many more; including new pulp characters as well.

A pulp collection for the pulp community, filled with scans of your favorite pulp covers, and packaged as only Altus Press can produce them. This 7 x 10 perfect bound book is priced at a mere $24.95.  Available on Altus Press (preferable on Altus Press so we can keep track of early sales) http://www.altuspress.com/ and on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1618270796/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1618270796&linkCode=as2&tag=altpre-20

Thursday, July 26, 2012

7th Decade


Forgive me for posting something about myself, but at my age who knows how many more birthdays I will have. As I turn 72 today, I realize I wasn't always old and fat. Once I was twenty, slim and trim. But in the 7th decade, we have to understand that we are reaching our zenith, and our youth is behind us. Gee, just think, only eight more years till I reach the 8th decade!!! Here I was at 20. I'm not going to show you a current picture, though (lol).

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

DeSoto Painting To Be Auctioned


From Mike Chomko:
About a month back, PulpFest 2012 was very proud to announce that we’d be selling longtime fan, scholar, and collector Al Tonik’s substantial collection of pulps, paperbacks, hardcovers, dime novels, comic books, fanzines, and, particularly, reference books.

Now that we have begun cataloging Albert's substantial holdings, it has become apparent that we must take a couple of years to work through the collection. Therefore, only a portion–still rather substantial–will be put up for bid at our 2012 Saturday Night Auction.

In order to thank the PulpFest membership for their patience, Al has decided to sell one of his most prized possessions–a recreation of the November 1934 front cover art to The Phantom Detective, painted by the original artist, Rafael DeSoto.


Visit http://www.pulpfest.com/2012/07/24/rafael-desoto-painting-to-be-sold-at-auction/ for further details, including a photo of the painting and replica of the pulp.
__._,_.___

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Shadowhawke

Deposed from her Balkan kingdom, the Spider Lady rules a new kingdom in America. Taking over the New York underworld, she operates from a hidden underground cavern. Those who oppose her are forced into her deadly web. But one man and his fighting team take up the trail to bring justice to the Queen of the underworld. The Shadowhawke!   

With the ever-rising cost of pulp-related books, Tom Johnson re-launched his old Fading Shadows imprint to see if it was possible to produce a book for under $10.00. With Gail McAbee’s birthday coming up in November, Tom chose their action-packed pulp story, “Shadowhawke: First Flight” as an experiment. 

This 128-page (4 x 7) paperback is the result. Printing isn’t cheap, but we’ve eliminated the middleman. With only a few copies ordered for this experimental product, Tom is offering them on a first come basis at $10.00 (includes US postage). This was not meant for regular sales and is not available on Amazon or in bookstores. Contact me.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Mouth Full of Blood


A Mouth Full of Blood (Fight Card Series)
By Eric Beetner
ISBN #978-1478152826
Kindle: $2.99
Paper: $9.95
Rating: 5-Stars

“Hard hitting action!”

In this sequel to “Split Decision”, Jimmy Wyler is back in Chicago, washing dishes at a Greek restaurant and barely getting by. When he learns a coworker’s sister is being held a pimp, Jimmy feels an obligation to get the girl away from the hoodlums. The hoodlums agree to release her – for a thousand dollars. Now Jimmy has to find quick money, and the fastest way is with an underground fight circuit. Busted up, he brings the thousand dollars, but now the pimp decides Jimmy should continue paying!

The Fight Card stories are undoubtedly the best new sports series out there, and “A Mouth Full of Blood” continues the series with hard-hitting action. The fighters in this series were trained in Father Tim’s gym in Chicago’s St. Vincent’s Asylum for Boys orphanage, so each story has an underlying theme of honor, and the need to help others before self. The reader will find corruption and evil in the back streets and dark alleys of the towns where the graduates of the gym fight, but you will also find a moral and stand-up fighter not afraid to face great odds for a cause.

“A Mouth Full of Blood” will keep you cheering for the underdog while giving you a taste of the seedy side of boxing. Jimmy Wyler faces great odds for his friend, and the safe return of the girl from the clutches of hoodlums. Don’t miss this exciting story!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Guns of The Black Ghost


Now Available On Kindle for $2.99.  Tom Johnson’s Guns of The Black Ghost. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008J263U2

This is my tribute to Walter Gibson and The Shadow. Set in contemporary times, Jimmy Malone dons a black hood and cape sending fear into the hearts of evildoers, as he battles the underworld in the tradition of a modern day Shadow or Spider. Burning eyes, a mocking laugh, and blazing automatics announce his entrance into an affray. Gangsters cringe when they come up against the guns of the Black Ghost!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Guns of The Black Ghost


Coming This Month From Kindle, Guns of The Black Ghost by Tom Johnson, with a great cover by Teresa Tunaley.

This is my tribute to Walter Gibson and The Shadow. Set in contemporary times, Jimmy Malone dons a black hood and cape sending fear into the hearts of evildoers, as he battles the underworld in the tradition of a modern day Shadow or Spider. Burning eyes, a mocking laugh, and blazing automatics announce his entrance into an affray. Gangsters cringe when they come up against the guns of the Black Ghost!