“Writing short stories started as a clever way to outsmart publishing algorithms, but it quickly became a passion. They’re fast, fierce, and let me explore parts of my worlds that novels can’t always reach.”
“Short stories are like paper planes—light, quick to launch, and sometimes, they soar higher than you’d ever expect. They’re small vessels that carry big ideas.”
Romance in science fiction isn’t a takeover. It’s an infusion. A graft that’s thriving—and in some ways, it may be what’s keeping the heart of genre fiction beating.
Why am I talking about pulp fiction? (No, not the movie — which got its name from Tarantino’s inspiration for the story.)
Two reasons: Classic SF got its start in the pulp magazines. And my Ptolemy Lane Tales series was my nod to classic hardcore pulp fiction.
Classic pulp stories are often decried for their simplicity and dependence upon erotic elements to move copies. The criticism overlooks one of the primary functions of pulp stories: They were written to entertain.
And my god, they did that in spades.
At their peak of popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, the most successful pulps could sell up to one million copies per issue. In 1934, Frank Gruber (writer) said there were some 150 pulp titles.*
SRP author Cameron Cooper today released a new alternative history, near future SF novella, Quiet Like Fire.
There are some books in science fiction that never seem to fade. Dune. Foundation. The Left Hand of Darkness. Decades later, we’re still reading them, studying them, arguing about them. They’ve carved out a permanent space on the shelf—and not just for their fans, but for the genre itself.
So what is it that makes a book a “classic”?
The line between dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction has always felt a little blurry, hasn’t it? As someone who loves speculative fiction in all its forms, I often find myself asking: Is this book really dystopian, or is it post-apocalyptic wearing a shiny, Capitol-colored coat?
Could We Actually Do It? From SRP author Cameron Cooper: Under one of my other pen names, I’ve written an
Stories Rule Press author Cameron Cooper today released the first book in a brand new space opera series. The series is Hammer Down — the third series in the world of Danny Andela, and featuring many of the same characters. The book is Solar Whisper.
Every year when the Nebula finalists are announced, I get a little zing of anticipation. If you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you probably know the feeling—wondering what made the cut this time, what surprises the list holds, and what favorites didn’t quite make it. The 2024 shortlist just dropped, and there’s a lot to dig into.
