The Shroud Underground

I have an idea for a novella series featuring recurring characters--pulpy but intelligent and featuring a base but lovable antihero.

The novellas would be generated by a pool of authors.

PM me if you are interested in learning more.

This is all in the idea stage.

As you know, I'm interested. So hope things shape up for this; it'll be very cool!

Hi Tim,

Depends on the details of course, but I might be interested in something like this.

Sounds right up my ally since the novel/novella I'm working on is a pulp inspired Detective v Lovecraftian horror story.

I like pulp; it's good for your constitution.

Although shared worlds are pretty common in SF/F they're much less so in crime, and probably for a reason: by and large crime fiction is much more character-driven. Authors might feel a little too confined when using a single main character instead of inventing their own.

I suggest that you don't use a recurring protagonist but rather set up the series to take place in a particular town, or corner of town, with a couple of notable settings (a particular bar, police station, etc.) and maybe a few situations (there's two main mobs trying to take over the town, the mayor was recently assassinated, the police chief was indicted). Now authors can either choose to focus in on those elements or not, and if they do they can use them to whatever extent they like as background.

The stories will still be connected and a shared world can still be built, but you'll have much more inclusive instead of exclusive story parameters.

That would be cool, and it'd be an excuse for me to trot out my main character from my novel I'm working on in another story.

PS, I'm looking for feedback on said story, so if anyone has some spare time and would be willing to help me with that, just drop me a line, I'm only a few chapters in so it's still in a very fluid stage and I would love any help I can get.

Tom Piccirilli wrote:Although shared worlds are pretty common in SF/F they're much less so in crime, and probably for a reason: by and large crime fiction is much more character-driven. Authors might feel a little too confined when using a single main character instead of inventing their own.

I suggest that you don't use a recurring protagonist but rather set up the series to take place in a particular town, or corner of town, with a couple of notable settings (a particular bar, police station, etc.) and maybe a few situations (there's two main mobs trying to take over the town, the mayor was recently assassinated, the police chief was indicted). Now authors can either choose to focus in on those elements or not, and if they do they can use them to whatever extent they like as background.

The stories will still be connected and a shared world can still be built, but you'll have much more inclusive instead of exclusive story parameters.

It would be cool if they all started off with the same "pulpy" sentence, like
"She had the kind of legs that would make a man rob a bank with a gravy boat."

The trouble is that fun pulpy sentences like that get old fast. There was an anthology a while back, edited by Ed Gorman I believe called INVITATION TO MURDER where all the stories began with the concept that someone walks into a room and finds a dead woman on the floor.

TRIAGE, featuring novellas from Richard Laymon, Edward Lee, and Jack Ketchum, all started with the same premise of a man walking into a place and shooting up the place.

I'm in!! Time to pulp it up.

Tom Piccirilli wrote:The trouble is that fun pulpy sentences like that get old fast. There was an anthology a while back, edited by Ed Gorman I believe called INVITATION TO MURDER where all the stories began with the concept that someone walks into a room and finds a dead woman on the floor.

TRIAGE, featuring novellas from Richard Laymon, Edward Lee, and Jack Ketchum, all started with the same premise of a man walking into a place and shooting up the place.

Roger that...
What if it were similar to Graveside Tales Harvest Hill anthology, minus the halloween theme? We have a town that is just teeming with pulp predicaments. Keep it as anywhere, USA as possible but a lot more chaotic and unpredictable.

Kevin Sweeny and I have come up with our own town in SIDESHOW PI called New Ramoth. It would be cool to tie something in there.

You've caught my attention. I'm 100 percent for an anti-hero. It's right up my alley. Whatever you're brewing, I'm all in.

I'm in. Be happy to participate at whatever level you want/need. It sounds like a cool idea with some logisitical roadblocks, but I'm sure thpse can be worked through

Sounds pretty cool.

I'm interested!

Guys, all will be revealed soon. The first round of authors has been selected. Please contact me the board if you are interested in participating.

tim@shroudmagazine.com