The Paperback Show Podcast

SHOW NOTES I owe a debt of gratitude for Michael S. Smith's article, "Things That Go Bump in the Night: Fringe Science and Ace Books" which appeared in Paperback Parade #113 October 2021. His careful research and excellent commentary on this series were an inspiration. My apologies for misstating his name in the podcast.  Ace Books' history is not that complicated for readers. Basic (and accurate) information can be found in the Wikipedia article and in most major books on paperback history. I particularly like the Ace history found in the superb, Two-Bit Culture: The Paper-Backing of America by Kenneth Davis.  Hans Holzer We chose Hans Holzer's Ghost Hunter for the paperback title in Ace Books Occult series for a closer look. Holzer was a remarkable person who wrote over 120 books on the paranormal and occult along with plays, musicals, and documentaries. He even hosted his own television show, Ghost Hunter. It's a shame there hasn't been a major biogra...

This is the second of a series of occasional podcasts focused on what I consider to be a "classic paperback". A classic paperback is one that has influenced a generation of readers and has sold phenomenally well (although classics aren't always bestsellers). These are paperbacks that changed our worldview significantly and are still relevant for contemporary readers.  Our choice for this episode is The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson . It was first published by Viking Press in 1959 (hardback).  The first paperback publication was by Popular Libary in 1963. The novel was very popular and was nominated for a National Book Award (it lost). The book was made into a very successful movie ( The Haunting ) by Robert Wise in 1963. Ironically, many people today have seen the movie, but have never read the book.  Shirley Jackson, photographed in 1940,  Erich Hartmann   Magnum Photos SHOW NOTES We cover Shirley Jackson's bio during the writing of HOHH in the firs...

This is the first of a series of occasional podcasts focused on what I consider to be a "classic paperback". A classic paperback is one that has influenced a generation of readers and has sold phenomenally well (although classics aren't always bestsellers). These are paperbacks that changed our worldview significantly and are still relevant for contemporary readers.  Our choice for this episode is Victor E. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning . It was first published in German in 1946, then in English in 1953 (hardback). The first paperback publication was by Pocket Books in 1963. Since its initial publication, Man's Search for Meanin g has never been out of print and the book still continues to be taught in high school and college English/History courses. Of course, general readers still read it and are moved by the book as were readers in 1946.  Victor Frankl in 1965 We cover Victor Frankl's background in the first part of the podcast. You can fin...