Chapter 11
In the early 20th century, there was a publication in America called “pulp magazines.”
This term wasn’t referring to a specific magazine but was a label slapped on poorly made, cheap magazines printed on substandard paper.
Similarly, there were magazines of this sort in this world too.
To be precise, they had only recently started popping up. People who sensed dollar signs in shoddy short stories, which could be dubbed “hardboiled violent tales,” began cranking out magazines that specialized in those very same tales.
“Hello! I’m Ryan, the man behind the magazine ‘Half and Half’! I heard you came through an introduction from President Dorling!”
“Oh, yes. You don’t need to be so formal with the greetings…”
“Nonsense! If you’re a friend of President Dorling, to me, you’re like a brother!”
And ‘Half and Half’ was exactly one of those cheap magazines.
It got its name because it sold for half the price of other magazines. The quality of the paper was so pathetic that it could tear just by being looked at too hard.
This was exactly the kind of magazine I was looking for.
“The reason I came to see you, President Ryan, is that I’d love to serialize a novel in your magazine.”
“Oh, you mean a novel?”
“Yes.”
“Well… it’s a bit awkward for me to say this as the president, but our pay per character is only about half what other magazines offer.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I’m not in this for the money.”
“Really?”
Instead of answering, I pulled out a manuscript from my coat and handed it to him.
“Here’s the manuscript for the novel I want to serialize.”
“This is….”
The president, slightly taken aback, began reading the manuscript right there on the spot.
I liked his vibe.
He seemed like someone who genuinely loved novels and wasn’t just in it for the paycheck.
“…This is interesting. The reflection of actual culture and history seems downright messy. But it’s so darn entertaining that I can overlook that!”
“Right?”
“Are you really going to serialize this novel in our magazine?”
“If I didn’t intend to, I wouldn’t have come knocking on your door.”
“…I’ve never regretted having a magazine that’s only good enough to be used as toilet paper as much as I do right now.”
“Well, actually, I think this novel suits such a magazine beautifully.”
What I brought was essentially the root of what’s known as ‘American-style fantasy,’ the prototype for all ‘sword and magic fantasy’ leading to modern web novels, and the OG of all genre stories infamous for their simplistic plots, like litRPG and formulaic narratives.
“This is my first time seeing such a hasty yet not-off-putting protagonist. Conan the Barbarian… even the name has a rugged charm.”
“I’m considering calling the series ‘Conan Saga.’”
Conan Saga.
“Conan Saga… Looking forward to this, author.”
“I look forward to working with you too, President.”
* * *
“Is this the novel that Young Master is starting to serialize?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Hm, it’s fun, but… it feels a bit light. There are parts that seem a bit off and bug me.”
“But it’s fun, right?”
“Yep. That’s quite fascinating.”
The Conan Saga─ Conan the Barbarian series is the model for all protagonist-centered fantasy.
This type of fantasy, often called ‘the world of swords and magic,’ later influenced Dungeons & Dragons, helping shape the video game universe through TRPGs and CRPGs.
If ‘Don Quixote’ is the father of all modern literature…
Then the ‘Conan the Barbarian’ series is the father of all subculture!
“If it’s entertaining, that’s all that matters!”
“I think I get why Young Master published this novel under a different pen name. Certainly, if the critics in the capital read this, they would tear it apart.”
“Huh? Oh, that’s not the reason.”
What do I care what critics think, lifetimes past or present? I’ve always tuned them out.
“Then what’s the reason behind hiding your pen name?”
“If they knew I was Homer, they’d try to raise my pay.”
“…Really?”
My goal is to plant the seeds of genre fiction in the pulp fiction market.
To do that, I need as many magazines to sell and as many people to read the novels as possible. I definitely don’t want magazine prices skyrocketing.
“And there’s another benefit to writing under a new pen name.”
“Oh? What’s that benefit?”
“It makes it easier to be overlooked.”
Simply put, the rough prose, shoddy historical accuracy, linear plots, and flat characters of pulp fiction create this ridiculous notion among readers that ‘I could write better than this.’
‘Edgar Rice Burroughs,’ who’s famous for ‘Tarzan,’ is one of those who picked up a pen after reading pulp fiction and thought, “I could write better than this.”
“Then isn’t that just a bunch of disadvantages?”
“That’s precisely the advantage. Heh heh…”
“…Young Master, you really are a peculiar one. It’s tough for a regular person like me to get your thoughts.”
“Think of it simply. Every reader is a potential writer. So, increasing the readership equals increasing the number of writers.”
No matter how much dough you have, or how high your status, if there’s no culture to enjoy, that’s a lifeless existence.
Literature is the only thing that can fill a person’s soul.
That’s why I’m stealing the works of my past life in this world. To create the soil where new literature can sprout, and to plant those seeds.
“But what does your newly chosen pen name mean?”
“Huh? Oh, well, it’s just something I picked randomly.”
Sion’s question made me awkwardly turn my gaze away.
Every time I bring up my pen name, I can’t help feeling a bit embarrassed.
Yet, honestly, I can’t resist.
“Herodotus… it feels kind of similar to your previous pen name ‘Homer.’”
“That’s right.”
The father of Western history.
The guy who invented the whole discipline of ‘history.’
Herodotus.
That was my second pen name.
“Excuse me, Young Master.”
“Hm?”
“When are you planning to write the next story?”
“…Heh, it’s interesting, isn’t it?”
“It’s just that, I’m so curious about what happens next, I can hardly stand it.”
“I’ve got something written. I’ll show you.”
“Thank you…!”
* * *
The first installment of the ‘Conan Saga’ quickly made its grand entrance into the world.
Since I used a separate pen name for the magazine serialization, it didn’t cause a ruckus as Homer’s new work.
Instead, thanks to the cheap accessibility of ‘Half and Half,’ it spread like wildfire among the lower classes.
“Hey, have you read this magazine?”
“Half and Half? Isn’t that just a cheap publication worth a few coins? Reading that would just be a waste of eyesight.”
“It’s not like that! There’s a series called Conan Saga being serialized, and it’s amazing! It really speaks to a man’s heart, if you know what I mean. You gotta check it out!”
“What’s it about that has you so hyped?”
“It’s about a barbarian from a savage tribe named Conan who crushes his enemies…”
“Ah, another one of those novels? I’m not really into sensationalist stuff.”
“No, no! Conan is a hero! A passionate, just hero that stirs the heart of a man!”
“Hmm, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I might just give it a read.”
Especially among the laborers at the magic tool factory, the story was spreading by word of mouth, generating explosive responses.
“Conan the Barbarian is the real man! Loyalty, love, violence!”
“Right? I want to emulate the barbarian too. Nobles always act high and mighty, putting on airs, but isn’t it the barbarian who is truly just?”
Unlike the bombardment of violent stories flooding the market, Conan the Barbarian’s character as a ‘noble savage’ was refreshingly straightforward without being offensive.
The image of the pure and noble barbarian Conan resonated with the traditional ‘chivalry’ of existing knight literature.
A line stating, “Civilized folks can say rude things without fear of retaliation, making them even ruder than barbarians” gained much sympathy from readers who felt oppressed by the absurdities of society.
However, not all feedback was rosy.
“Tsk, how can people be astonished that such a simplistic novel is entertaining? Shows their level.”
“There’s a lack of research on magic… Why is this getting popular? There were plenty of annoying aspects throughout!”
As the work gained traction, so did the critical voices.
The linear narrative focused solely on the protagonist was objectively seen as lacking in plausibility and depth.
Insufficient research and historical accuracy were among the reasons for the criticism. Since the ‘Sword and Sorcery’ genre is entirely a construct of Earthly imagination, real fantasy worlds with real magic couldn’t escape critique over authenticity.
As a result, readers’ responses to the work split into two paths.
“I want to write something just as entertaining!”
“I could write better than this if I really tried!”
* * *
Publishing house ‘Half and Half.’
Just like when they published Don Quixote, a flood of fan letters came pouring in again.
“Are all these fan letters really for me?”
“Yes, author…”
The one difference this time was,
“No matter how barbaric one might be, isn’t jumping into danger just to keep a promise rather frustrating? I expected a thrilling novel but…”
“Hello? I am Cléang, the Chief Mage of the Grey Mage Tower. I’m writing to point out inaccuracies in the depiction of magic in your work, especially regarding ancient magic…”
“Isn’t this plagiarizing Don Quixote?”
Fans are great, but these were the anti-fans in disguise.
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