On June 30, 2014, the pulp community lost not only a great collector, but, more importantly, a great friend. Frank M. Robinson died at 87. A science-fiction and thriller writer, editor, speechwriter for gay activist Harvey Milk, and a movie actor, Frank was known in the pulp community as the leading collector of top-grade pulp magazines.
Although he majored in physics in college, Frank Robinson always wanted to write. He sold his first story to Astounding Science Fiction in 1950. After the Korean War, Robinson studied journalism and soon began a career as an editor, first with Science Digest and later with Rogue and Playboy. In 1974, Robinson and Thomas Scortia published The Glass Inferno. Later filmed as The Towering Inferno, Frank invested the book’s proceeds in his pulp collection. Years later, the sale of the “Frank Robinson Pulp Collection” became almost legendary in the pulp community.
Winner of the 2000 Lamont Award, Frank Robinson wrote The Power, Pulp Culture, Science Fiction of the 20th Century, and other works. On Thursday, August 7th, beginning at 8 PM, PulpFest will pay tribute to this fine writer and editor, great collector, and good friend who recently passed. Be sure to be at the Hyatt Regency Columbus for “Remembering Frank Robinson.”
Pulp Culture by Frank Robinson and Lawrence Davidson, with cover based on Adventure for November 1939, with cover art by Wesley Neff.
