Why Attend 2024 Windy City Pulp And Paper Convention? ("Non-collectors exist to be ignored…") 3 3

[PhantomLadyKiller]

Here’s a list of excuses for not attending that I hear all the time, and why none of them are good ones:

1–I have no money! Sorry but I’ve attended many a Pulpcon in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s and I went with very little money. Are there no credit cards? Are there no credit unions? Are there no non-collecting spouses to borrow money from?

   Even when I had the money, I often blew it before the convention by visiting local bookstores like Bonnett’s and Dragon’s Lair in Dayton, Ohio. If not in the bookstores, then in the hotel rooms of friends who let me see what they were bringing to sell. I learned to go without much cash but I brought a few boxes of pulps to trade and sell at my table.

2–I’m in poor health and too sick to attend. Sorry again! I had a friend who had a terminal illness and came to Pulpcon anyway. Another friend actually collapsed at the convention and died soon after. I myself once threw my back out three days before the show and my doctor and chiropractor both told me to forget making the long drive to the convention.

   I felt like I was crippled for life but I managed to squeeze into the car and drive out even though I had to stop numerous times near hotels because I thought I was not going to make it. I could then rent a room and lay there for a couple weeks until I could stand. It took me 16 hours instead of the usual 9 hours but I made it. I spent the entire convention standing because sitting down caused back spasms.

3–I have no space or I live in a small apartment. Collectors always make space for the things they love! When I first met Bob Lesser in the 1970’s he had an apartment full of Disney toys. This was NYC and the apt was tiny. A path from the front door to the bed and another path to the bathroom. Otherwise, every inch was toys, robots, paintings.

   I once ran out of space and I hunted for over a year until I found a bigger house. I went to dozens of open houses and looked at hundreds of houses. I finally found a big house. Unfortunately I soon filled it up with books and now I need a bigger place! The old story…

4–My wife is a non-collector and forbids me to go. Tell me about it! I’ve been married over 40 years and I’ve heard it all. I still go and I still collect. Once Les Mayer told me in 1990 at Wayne, NJ that his wife thought he was a business meeting. If she knew he was at a Pulpcon she might burn his pulps.

   Collectors have to become masters of deception and great liars to defeat the non-collector. Many a time I’ve lied and many a time I’ve smuggled books into the house in the dead of night while “she who must be obeyed” slept the innocent sleep of the non-collector. Non-collectors exist to be ignored…

5–I can’t get off from work. Sorry but not a valid reason. My employers always knew I was a rabid book collector who always without exception took off a week during Pulpcon in the summer. I made sure that my vacation request was in as early as I knew the convention dates.

   Once they sorrowfully told me I couldn’t go because of some work wildly_fanciful_statement. I went anyway and left it to them to ignore my absence without leave or put up with one pissed off book collector. I realize the employment situation is different nowadays but which is more important, your job or your collection, your marriage or your collection? Right, your collection.

6–Who cares about the convention. I can buy my pulps off ebay, etc. Once in the 1920’s and 1930’s the dime novel collectors existed. But they didn’t have a convention and died off. Now I know of only a few in existence and dime novels are just about worthless. If I had a table full of dime novels priced at a buck apiece, most collectors would scurry by in disgust.

   We have to support the two big pulp conventions: Windy City in Chicago and PulpFest in Columbus. If we don’t, then one day we will wake up and the pulps might be dead. These shows garner a lot of attention and people keep talking about the pulps because of the efforts of Mike Chomko, Jack Cullers, Barry Traylor, Doug Ellis, John Gunnison, and others.

7–And finally the best reason for attending! They are a hell of a lot of fun. Not only do you get to roam around a gigantic dealer’s room full of books and pulps but you get to meet and talk to some of the greatest collectors and dealers.

   These will lead to future deals and contacts. Plus you can eat and drink with these guys! Though I seem to be one of last of the drinkers. And the panels! All day and all night we will be discussing pulps and books. What’s cooler than that?

8–Walker, it’s too late! Like hell. There are hotels with rooms available nearby. What’s the most important thing in a serious collector’s life? His collection without a doubt.

   We work, we slave, we march on to the bitter end where we will eat dirt in the boneyard. We live lives of quiet desperation and worry about the afterlife. Go to PulpFest and collect some books and pulps! You only live once…

 

By Walker Martin, apparently the greatest pulp collector of all time!

 

 

[MattTheDuck]

So...when's the Show?

[comicjack]

On 3/31/2024 at 10:22 PM, MattTheDuck said:

So...when's the Show?

Windy City starts this week Thursday night and Pulp Fest Mars PA August 1-4 

[AnkurJ]

Hope to attend pulp fest in August!

[Darwination]

Thinking about making the last minute trip up since Chicago is closer than Pittsburgh.  Programming looks more extensive at Pittsburgh, though.

I'd like to meet some of the other pulp scholars I've corresponded with over the years for certain or people from the pulpscans group, but throwing down for a hotel room and entry costs just so I can throw down for pricey books might not be in the cards right now

Do they screen films all day?  Surely, I'd get board of box flipping and shopping after a few hours, maybe not though

I guess the early bird entry is important?  Lord knows the very idea makes me feel like a Black Friday loon -

How about prices.  High prices on the sweetest items but nice "dollar" bin material?

Edited April 1 by Darwination

[Bookery]

On 3/31/2024 at 7:45 PM, PhantomLadyKiller said:

...

I thought I was not going to make it...  masters of deception and great liars...  burn his pulps... collapsed and died... the big house... rabid... might be dead... lives of quiet desperation... 

march on to the bitter end where we will eat dirt in the boneyard...

I'm confused!  I thought I was looking at a pulp thread, but apparently have wandered into some first-hand account of life with the Cartels!!!

[Darwination]

I've discovered I can't make it, anyways, as my wife and I have plans I'd forgotten about six hours in the opposite direction.  Sorority Mother's Weekend, jfc, "self - how did I get here?" Maybe I can do Pittsburgh, though 🤔

[johnenock]

Isn't there going to be a blizzard in Chicago this week? Brrr.

[Robot Man]

On 4/2/2024 at 7:23 AM, johnenock said:

Isn't there going to be a blizzard in Chicago this week? Brrr.

I can’t imagine. I lived through a couple of brutal winters there. Ironically, we got a DELUGE of rain at CalCon a couple months ago and another ton of rain at WonderCon last weekend. Just on con weekends… stay warm gang!

[Robot Man]

On 4/1/2024 at 10:59 AM, Darwination said:

Thinking about making the last minute trip up since Chicago is closer than Pittsburgh.  Programming looks more extensive at Pittsburgh, though.

I'd like to meet some of the other pulp scholars I've corresponded with over the years for certain or people from the pulpscans group, but throwing down for a hotel room and entry costs just so I can throw down for pricey books might not be in the cards right now

Do they screen films all day?  Surely, I'd get board of box flipping and shopping after a few hours, maybe not though

I guess the early bird entry is important?  Lord knows the very idea makes me feel like a Black Friday loon -

How about prices.  High prices on the sweetest items but nice "dollar" bin material?

I think I missed my “window of opportunity” for this show. Should have gone a few years ago. With plane tickets, hotel and food costs and the current “fever pitch” pulp prices, it most certainly wouldn’t be worth a trip from the West Coast. 

[Darwination]

I prefer Chicago as a travel destination (greatly) to Pittsburgh, but the programming looks much better at Pulpfest.  Am I wrong?

It has to be more than about the shopping, but then again I'm curious about what's on offer in that department, too.

I get a little bit cynical about the profit motive driving conventions, but that's easy for an outsider to say.

[Robot Man]

On 4/2/2024 at 9:11 AM, Darwination said:

I prefer Chicago as a travel destination (greatly) to Pittsburgh, but the programming looks much better at Pulpfest.  Am I wrong?

It has to be more than about the shopping, but then again I'm curious about what's on offer in that department, too.

I get a little bit cynical about the profit motive driving conventions, but that's easy for an outsider to say.

I think “profit motive” has diminished quite a bit for con promoters at least on the West Coast. Even small shows. Real sad and I sure not a sign of things to come. I really look forward to shows. MUCH better than simply buying “on line”. I think the Torpedo show in LA in July will be a strong indicator. 

[jimjum12]

On 4/2/2024 at 12:02 PM, Robot Man said:

I think I missed my “window of opportunity” for this show. Should have gone a few years ago. With plane tickets, hotel and food costs and the current “fever pitch” pulp prices, it most certainly wouldn’t be worth a trip from the West Coast. 

Even if you were picked up in a Volkswagon van with the beads separating the front and back with a fridge and such, ...on the house? GOD BLESS .... 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[Darwination]

I don't think my Vdub's gonna make it.

sold that one when the first kid was a baby

[PhantomLadyKiller]

On 4/2/2024 at 7:54 AM, Bookery said:

I thought I was not going to make it...  masters of deception and great liars...  burn his pulps... collapsed and died... the big house... rabid... might be dead... lives of quiet desperation... 

march on to the bitter end where we will eat dirt in the boneyard...

I'm confused!  I thought I was looking at a pulp thread, but apparently have wandered into some first-hand account of life with the Cartels!!!

Life imitates art -- can't expect people to read (or write) pulp fiction for 50+ years solid and and not get medieval every so often.  You know the old story Tim, the first pulp is free but pulps cost money, and then, someone gots to pay...

[Surfing Alien]

Well, the last two years were excellent for PB buying at Windy City so I am still trying to finagle the opportunity to go again. Although having just gone to the LA show put a crimp in my sales pitch to the wif (and wallet), she still hasn't said "no way honey" if I can find the right flights . I have a buddy's place to stay at downtown so the TCO will be low if I can swing it, even if just for saturday. I'll know within the next 48. It's a wonderful show. If prices are too high on things I just walk by them, who cares? There's a lot of tables.

[catrick339]

I'll be there with a spankin' new hardcover collection and a good sized pile of new pulps. 
Some nice vintage comics to boot. Paperbacks are thin this year. 

[Robot Man]

On 4/3/2024 at 7:29 AM, catrick339 said:

I'll be there with a spankin' new hardcover collection and a good sized pile of new pulps. 
Some nice vintage comics to boot. Paperbacks are thin this year. 

Just hitting Catrick’s booth might be reason enough to go. I have heard nothing but glowing revues of this show for years. If I lived anywhere even remotely close, I would be there with bells on.

I hope to see a couple of revues with pictures.

[catrick339]

On 4/3/2024 at 10:45 AM, Robot Man said:

Just hitting Catrick’s booth might be reason enough to go. I have heard nothing but glowing revues of this show for years. If I lived anywhere even remotely close, I would be there with bells on.

I hope to see a couple of revues with pictures.

I hope to post plenty of pix again this year. 
And yes, those are all first editions, including all the Philip K Dirk and the Hemingway. I'm keeping the Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldrich. 

Edited April 3 by catrick339

[catrick339]

My best paperback this year:

Harlan Ellison's smut title from 1959. Gorgeous copy to boot.