Smugglers of Death & The Blackmail King (The Shadow, Volume 23) by Walter B. (writing as Maxwell Grant) Gibson (2008-05-04) Paperback – January 1, 2008

This was the first of the Shadow Pulp reprint I have read. I have been a fan of the radio show for quite some time but wanted to start reading the stories that inspired them. This is a great collection. The stories are wonderful. I couldn't put it down. And the forwards are alot of fun. The interview with Margot Stevens was very informative and gave a new view on the radio shows. I highly recomend this to anyone that is a fan of the Shadow's or other pulp stars.

Nostalgia Ventures and Anthony Tollin have teamed up to do a comprehensive reprint of several Street & Smith pulp heroes. At present, they are doing double reprints of The Shadow and Doc Savage. Shortly, they will start new series reprinting The Avenger and The Whisperer. All have complete pulp texts (no edits or removals, like past reprints), tho reset so its easier to read, the original illustrations, reprinted covers (one is used as the cover of the book, but both original pulp covers are shown on the back), and several additional articles and extras.Hopefully, they can succeed to reprinting all these characters in these new editions, they are all excellent.With The Shadow having over 325 pulp novels, only a few reprinted, for the most part they are avoiding those that have been reprinted. They do try to pick two that more or less 'go together' in terms of a common theme.With this book, #23, we have "Smugglers of Death" (June 1, 1939) and "The Blackmail King" (Nov 1, 1941). The common theme is strong female co-stars. The cover of "Smugglers of Death" is used as the cover of this volume, and the original pulp covers of both are shown on the back cover.This volume also marks a major milestone. With this volume, Nostalgia Ventures/Sanctum Productions have reprinted more Shadow novels then ALL other publishers combined! It also heralds a change, as from this point on, Tollin's Sanctum Productions/Sanctum Books will be the sole publisher of the Shadow & Doc (and forth coming Avenger and Whisperer) reprints."Smugglers of Death" has a female champion swimmer teaming up with The Shadow to stop a murderess and her gang."The Blackmail King" has Margo Lane working with The Shadow to unmask the Blackmail King as a full-fledged agent.As extras in this issue are:A Foreward by Margot Stevenson, the actress who was the inspiration for Margo Lane (read the previous volume for more on her), and who later took over the role.An Interlude by pulp historian Will Murray, explaining the theme of these stories.A "Spotlight on The Shadow" by series editor Anthony Tollin on 'intrepid ingenues' in the various media versions of The Shadow, and an intro to the reprinted Shadow radio script."Revenge of the Shadow", a Shadow radio script first broadcast on July 31, 1938, and which fits the theme of this volume.An article/photo set by Anthony Tollin on the radio Margos.A very brief bio of Gibson.

The Shadow double novel series continues unabated with Smugglers of Death and The Blackmail King.While the novellas are splendid, what really makes this 'issue' is the special additions that include a radio play "Revenge on the Shadow", and the "Intrepid Ingenues" by Tolin and a forward by Margot Stevenson.What is so cool about this issue is the gorgeous Smuggler cover by Grave Gladney, the interior art by the late Edd Cartier (RIP), and Paul Orban.This 'new' series is incredible! If you love adventure and pulp fiction, the Shadow knows...[...]Tim Lasiuta