BY KATHY BELGE
LesbianLife at About.com
Meant to entertain and titillate, pulp novels of the 1950s and 60s were found in newsstands, bus stations and drug stores. Unlike “literature” of this era, pulp fiction was produced for the masses and was meant more for entertainment than for literary quality. Of course, there were some exceptions to this. Some great writers wrote great books. Pulp author Vin Packer, who’s real name was Marijane Meaker, was one of the first pulp writers to get her books reviewed by the prestigious “New York Times.” Vin Packer wrote mysteries and lesbian pulp novels. She became known as a folk hero for lesbians in the 1950s and 60s because she wrote books that were sympathetic to lesbians, something that was unheard of at the time.
Vin Packer’s books were printed on cheap paper and were meant to be read and tossed. But her words have withstood the test of time. Her first lesbian novel “Spring Fire” sold more than 1.5 million copies when it came out in 1952 and was said to have kicked off the lesbian pulp fiction era.
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