The Fugue

The official pulp culture blog of Sic Semper Serpent. Now go read a book.

[sicsemperserpent]

Keep writing though the world rages on. #nanowrimo . . . Hannes Bok painted this November 1941 cover of “Weird Tales” magazine. Who else is writing a “weird tale” this month? Also, this is our first encounter with Manly Wade Wellman, whopper of a name! #weirdtales #pulpmagazine #pulpmagazineart #pulpcover #vintagepulps #manlywadewellman #henrykuttner #augustderleth #edmondhamilton #alonzodeencole #1940s https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKaE6bnH91/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r30avhaq5b7o

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The Witch and the Warrior #1 - Infiltration

So, a witch tries to boil you when you're a kid.

It does weird things to you.

Gretel and her brother Hansel have spent a lifetime reconciling a certain childhood trauma. Witch-hunting is a dangerous and thankless grind, yet a strangely fitting past-time for the duo.

It's a living.

When a clichéd job turns anything but ordinary, The Witch and the Warrior kick start a two-part adventure to the Forbidden Fortress in Part 1: Infiltration. This is one Twisted Tale, the likes of which only Christina "DZA" Marie can write.

Available now and forever in Everlasting Stories from Sic Semper Serpent.

[sicsemperserpent]

Frank R. Paul painted this strikingly realistic cover of “Amazing Stories” a full 40 years before anyone actually walked on the moon. May, 1929. #amazingstories #classicpulp #vintagepulps #classicscifi #scifipulp #scifi #scifiart #frankrpaul #julesverne #stantonacoblentz #clarewingerharris #pulpmagazine #vintageillustration #vintagecovers https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp1u21JFhql/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=q4bpgytds822

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This ornament mysteriously appeared in the front lawn of our offices last night. Spirits know we got the good magicks. #happyhalloween https://www.instagram.com/p/BppAfLhlLfd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wna1u46btbpp

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We got a book called “The Pulps” (Tony Goodstone) for $2 at @mcbacomicons this spring. . . . You better believe we’ll be sharing some rad covers from that, like this Frederick Blakesee cover for “Dare-Devil Aces” in May of 1937. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpjprAYFPAk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=faeefu6xxhar

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Halloween at Crystal Lake (free story)

As a group of college seniors head to the wilderness for a final Halloween together, they don't expect to rip open the fabric space-time.

Don't be tricked by this story masquerading as another "cabin in the woods" tale. You're in for a surprising treat of the trippy, trans-dimensional, terrifying sort.

Halloween at Crystal Lake isn't your typical scary story. Save the monsters and gore for another day, and get ready to experience true terror—the terror that lies within. Journey inward for an adventure that quickly goes from a "walk in the woods" to a "walk in another realm."

If you enjoy sci-fi, bold characters, mystery, the multiverse, or anything Terence McKenna, then Michael Strand wrote this just for you.

In the spirit of the season, this holday gift from the editors of Sic Semper Serpent is free to all. You can subscribe to Everlasting Stories and access all of our short fiction for just $1—or simply enjoy this free story today.

Of course, our current subscribers are the reason we can afford to give away any stories at all. You keep our community alive!

It only takes $1 to be cool like them.

From your friends at SSS, Happy Halloween!

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Ed Emshwiller really outdid himself for this March 1963 cover of “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction” - wouldn’t you say? . . . #emsh #edemshwiller #magazineoffantasyandsciencefiction #richardmckenna #fritzleiber #isaacasimov #classicscifi #scifiart #scificovers #sciencefictionart #sciencefiction #scifiillustration #vintagescifi #1960s https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRo-cYFmf-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tlvnmnzdtjo

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“Panel 2 Pumpkin” inspired by #dinosaurcomics and @qwantz - #jackolantern #happyhalloween https://www.instagram.com/p/BpKwde5lqFB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ko6jlscn6e2n

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Cool costume, bro. . . . This medieval/futuristic cover of “Astounding Science Fiction” is a Kelly Freas original for the July 1958 issue. #astoundingsciencefiction #kellyfreas #classicscifi #jackvance #pulpscifi #scifiart #vintagescifi #vintageillustration #sciencefiction #sciencefictionart #scifimagazine #ralphwilliams #halclement #1950s https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_lFYdF3z1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cyq123jq4adm

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Kidnapped! #3 - Frank the Detective

Yes, Carmichael Macalister is still missing. No, the authorities have NOT been contacted.

The Lakota Theater and Lounge just can't handle that kind of negative publicity so close to showtime. Not if they're going to pull off the smash hit they need to stay afloat. They'll have to locate their star actor themselves.

Luckily, Detective Frank is on the scene. Or should we say, Frank the Detective, star of Kidnapped! #3 by Mike Lauer.

"Wait, that bartender guy is a detective now?"

Yeah, it's complicated, you better just go read it.

But be warned: Like many of our finest thespians, this story uses strong curses and cusses and colorful language.

Available now and forever in Everlasting Stories from Sic Semper Serpent.

[sicsemperserpent]

These “lonely robot” Illustrations were popular on sci-fi magazine covers from the 50s until the 70s. Our favorite is the one with the robot reading from a box of sci-fi magazines - so meta. We shared one here in March of a lonely robot tending a lonely rose garden. This one graces the July 1957 cover of “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction” - and they’re all by Mel Hunter. . . . #lonelyrobot #melhunter #magazineoffantasyandsciencefiction #richardmatheson #scifi #scifiart #vintagescifi #classicscifi #vintageillustration #vintagecovers #1950s #scifiillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/BotnQZ8lUfY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11v15a07281oy

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The graceful fall from summer to winter. . . . This March 1954 cover of “Fantastic Universe” was designed by Clarence Doore. #jimbrown #rogerdee #mannrubin #robertfrazier #clarencedoore #fantasticuniverse #classicscifi #scifiart #vintageillustration #pulpscifi #scifiillustration #scificovers #1950s #50sscifi https://www.instagram.com/p/BoblES7Fj7c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vscshf6u6qde

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Legendary Minnesota author Christina DZA Marie just released a new novella entitled The Minnesotan Witch for a scant $2.

“Why should I care,” you ask?

Well, Christina originally wrote this tale for our 24-hour writing marathon, Spontaneous Combustion, Vol. II, that’s why.

Christina explains: “I entered a contest run by Sic Semper Serpent Publishing. They wanted us to write a fun short story set in Minnesota, so I came up with The Witch from Minnesota. It didn’t win, but the feedback I got was incredible. Fast-forward a few months and several revisions, and voila! You get The Minnesotan Witch.”

Our Everlasting Stories subscribers will also recognize Christina as the author of multiple Twisted Tales—tasteful remixes of classic fairy tales that upend social traditions, reverse gender stereotypes, and encourage non-conformity.

We follow Christina’s work for a reason. You should, too.  

[sicsemperserpent]

Hobbies include knitting, bingo, and hyperdrive repair... . . . Why yes, this February 1960 cover of “Galaxy Magazine” is an #edemshwiller original. #emsh #galaxymagazine #willyley #robertsheckley #frederickpohl #margaretstclair #1960s #scifiart #scifi #vintageillustration #vintagescifi https://www.instagram.com/p/BoJhj1-lMoo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jr3e474l54e2

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News from Crate #6 - The Big Run Around

There's no keeping up with the news these days.

It's a struggle to wrap your mind around it all. Everything flies by in such a blur.

Subterranean labyrinths, a crooked house, mysterious underground infrastructure, the town fair—you know, regular stuff.

This ain't your momma's news. This is the News from Crate, from the one and only mind of Nathaniel Hicklin.

Stick around for a snack on a stick, because today's the fair and there's no telling what twists lie ahead. News from Crate #6 - The Big Run Around is available now and forever in Everlasting Stories from Sic Semper Serpent, your ultimate home for short stories online.

[sicsemperserpent]

Evidence of the sixth extinction... . . . Like many mags from the era, this speculative cover of “Galaxy Science Fiction” features #edemshwiller artwork. #emsh #galaxysciencefiction #damonknight #groffconklin #1950s #classicscifi #scifiart #vintagescifi #vintageillustration #sixthextinction https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn3nk8vl-Vg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zxibqeoz0z6f

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See you, space cowboy... . . . This tatted-up space suit was conceived and illustrated by the legendary #edemshwiller for the June 1962 cover of “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction” #retroart #classicscifi #emsh #johnbrunner #isaacasimov #alfredbester #1960s #scifiart #scificovers #magazineoffantasyandsciencefiction #vintagescifi #vintageillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnle53zFba9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v8mfnbh9tx9o