Pulp

Pulp fiction can be characterized as "fast-paced, plot-oriented storytelling of a linear nature with clearly defined, larger than life protagonists and antagonists, creative descriptions, clever use of turns of phrase and other aspects of writing that add to the intensity and pacing of the story."

The earliest pulp stories were printed in pulp magazines from 1896 through the 1950s. The term pulp derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. Magazines printed on higher quality paper were called "glossies" or "slicks". Pulp were most often priced at ten cents per mag

Pulp fiction can be characterized as "fast-paced, plot-oriented storytelling of a linear nature with clearly defined, larger than life protagonists and antagonists, creative descriptions, clever use of turns of phrase and other aspects of writing that add to the intensity and pacing of the story."

The earliest pulp stories were printed in pulp magazines from 1896 through the 1950s. The term pulp derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. Magazines printed on higher quality paper were called "glossies" or "slicks". Pulp were most often priced at ten cents per magazine, while competing slicks were 25 cents apiece. Pulps were the successor to the penny dreadfuls, dime novels, and short fiction magazines of the 19th century. Although many respected writers wrote for pulps, the magazines are often remembered for their lurid and exploitative stories and sensational cover art. Modern superhero comic books are sometimes considered descendants of "hero pulps"; pulp magazines often featured illustrated novel-length stories of heroic characters, such as The Shadow, Doc Savage and The Phantom Detective.

The term pulp fiction can also refer to mass market paperbacks since the 1950s by publishers such as Ace, Dell, and Avon.

After the year 2000, several small independent publishers released magazines which published short fiction, either short stories or novel-length presentations, in the tradition of the pulp magazines of the early 20th century. This "New Pulp" is fiction written with the same sensibilities, linear storytelling, pattern of conflict, and phrases of original Pulp, but crafted by modern writers, artists, and publishers. These new stories are either completely original characters or new tales of established characters from Pulp past.

In addition, many books and stories are categorized as "pulp" or "in the pulp style" by readers and reviewers, even if not marketed as such by the publisher.