Bug-Eyed and Beloved: Fredric Brown’s Strange Offer of Creative Success

This is the Rocketeer coming at you with Podcast #67. Before going any further I want to thank all of my subscribers—you all mean the world to me! Not just because you tune in every week, but because you’re interested in old stories and art. Storytelling is a critical cultural activity, no matter the culture. Without remembrance of old stories, they slip from sight. And so do the lessons they tell. While I’m still around, I’ll continue to talk about (and write) pulp stories. I don’t want them to be forgotten.

Now, back to this week’s podcast. I’m delaying my series about creating pulp novels and art for one week because I don’t want to rush it and it’s not quite ready. In the meantime, I thought I’d tell you about a classic SF short story concerning artist fatigue.

Planet Stories May, 1951 issue, Illustration by Edd Cartier

Mentioned in this podcast:

Super Science Stories May, 1943 featuring, “Reader, I Hate You!” by Henry Kuttner. Cover art by Virgil Finlay.

I probably should review “Reader, I Hate You!” It’s a good one, too.

As an added bonus this week, here’s a vintage letter about pulp artists from the Spring, 1943 issue of “Captain Future: Man of Tomorrow.”