Paperback Parade #46
$7 from Gary Lovisi
Gryphon Publications
P.O. Box 280-209
Brooklyn, NY 11228-0209

Paperback Parade has been around for years and is an almost indispensable addition to any paperback collectors library. Frankly, if you collect paperbacks you need this magazine. Actually, the magazine is useful for paperback readers as well since much of the history of the paperback markets is pretty recent and involves many books and authors we all love. Editor Lovisi does a fine job mixing up the content and from issue to issue your likely to find a real selection of genres, authors, publishers and histories.

This particular issue is the Mickey Spillane special and it has a rather complete Spillane bibliography by Lovisi, an interview with Spillane also by Lovisi, a recollection of one fan's visit to Spillane by Lynn F. Myers, Jr., an appreciation of Spillane again by Lovisi and a veritable plethora of reproduced covers. There's also a piece by Thomas Bonn who tells us how Spillane got discovered and the people behind that discovery.

Spillane is best known as the creator of Mike Hammer and for almost single-handedly inventing the Hard-boiled type of two fisted paperback fiction we all think of when we think of detective gum shoe types. But Spillane is also responsible for much more than that having been around during the birth of the paperback. To find out more you'll have to get an issue and read it.

Editor Lovisi consistently produces issue after issue of in-depth, creative, useful information for collectors and lovers of paperbacks. Regardless of the genre you may collect and read this magazine will have something for you. The cover reproductions are not always the best but considering the technology involved and the shape that many of these covers are in in the first place, it's more than adequate. Besides, you don't really get this magazine for the cover reproductions, yes they do add interest, but the real meat here is the articles, produced by fans and collectors for fans and collectors.

Copyright © 1996 by Steven Sawicki. All Rights Reserved.