Pulp Writer Nelson Bond

In the 1930s and 1940s, the genre of pulp fiction was not yet recognized widely for being a viable branch of literature. However, the science fiction novels and popular pulp magazines would enjoy a renaissance some fifty years later as readers discovered that the quality of some of the fantasy writers was actually very good. One name that floated to the surface during this new era of pulp fiction was Nelson Bond. While the majority of his work appeared in pulp magazines in the first half of the twentieth century, the material is still relevant to science fiction and Bond is often thought of as one of the forefathers of the genre.

The first known published short story by Nelson Bond was called Down in the Dimensions and appeared in Astounding, one of the most well read pulp magazines in the 1930s. After this initial tale, Bond would have many other short stories published in Astounding and other pulp magazines of the time before turning to the burgeoning arena of pulp fiction on the radio. As radio theater began to take off, Nelson Bond turned his talents towards this new area, with writing stints on popular programs like The Sheriff and Tales of Tomorrow. His time in the radio was sparked by the realization that he could writer better adaptations of his own stories that were starting to appear on the airwaves.

With the decline of pulp fiction and pulp magazines in the late 1950s, Nelson Bond hung up his writing shoes and concentrated his time on running an antique books company. However, his talent was recognized by such writers as Harlan Ellison, who eventually talked the reclusive writer to turn back to his original craft. In 1995, Bond published his first story in almost 35 years. In light of this new story and his contribution to the overall genre of pulp fiction, he was named an Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America organization.