Paperback Warrior

Paperback Warrior

Paperback Warrior is an American content creator that specializes in critiquing vintage fiction. The creator's flagship is it's eponymous blog that contains over 2,000 comprehensive posts about vintage and contemporary fiction including media such as comic books, graphic novels, pulps, action-adventure magazines, digests, black and white magazines, comic strips, and movie and television tie-in content. Additionally, the brand's owner, Christopher Eric Compton, hosts the Paperback Warrior Podcast, an outreach of the blog featuring reviews, author biographies, publisher histories, bookstore guides, buying tips, interviews, and analytic commentary about the 19th and 20th century publishing industry. The brand's YouTube channel contains over 200 videos that channels the same spirit as the blog and podcast with additional commentary about Eric's national bookstore experiences and a monthly ranking video of the prior month's reads. Paperback Warrior continues to collaborate with publishers such as Stark House Press, Black Gat Books, Brash Books, Cutting Edge Books, Wolfpack Publishing, Rough Edges, and Encyclopocalypse. The brand also incorporates affiliate partnerships with Amazon, Abe Books, and YouTube with Ad Sense. Media and publishers can contact the brand at paperbackwarrior@yahoo.com. FOLLOW ME HERE! ▸ Subscribe ▸ X ▸ Donate ▸ Blog ▸ Spreaker Podcasts Videos Everyone Loves: ▸ Ranking the Dean R. Koontz Books ▸ Paperbacks from Hell ▸ Ranking the Stephen King Night Shift Stories ▸ Used Bookstore Blitz! #Action #Adventure #Mystery #Thriller #Suspense #BookReview #Reviews #Novel #Paperback #Vintage #Fiction #Read #Reading #Crime #Crime-Noir #Noir #Whodunit #Sleuth #Detective #Investigate #War #Battle #Combat #Spy #Espionage #Spy-Fiction #Secret Agent #Cold War #Spies #Horror #Scary #Stories #Pulp #Pulp Fiction #Heroes #Comics #Graphic Novels #Terror #Scary Stories #Scary Story #Creepy #Eerie #Fantasy #Science-Fiction #Sci-Fi #Gothic #Sword and Sorcery #Old Comics #Old Books #Old Magazines #WWII #Vietnam War #Book

Episodes

Episode 125: Top Reads of 2025

December 14, 2025 • 37 mins
In this energetic year-end episode, Eric looks back at a wildly productive 2025 for Paperback Warrior — packed with reviews, interviews, collaborations, and behind-the-scenes adventures. He shares big milestones, surprising personal updates, and a rapid-fire countdown of his Top 10 Reads of the Year (spoiler-free!). Eric also teases exciting projects coming in 2026, including new partnerships, publishing work, and podcast appearanc...
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Conversations - The Book Graveyard

November 16, 2025 • 72 mins
In this month’s installment of Guide to Gothics, Paperback Warrior teams up once again with Nick Anderson of The Book Graveyard to unearth a paperback relic: Dorothy Daniel’s The Tormented, a 1969 gothic suspense novel from Paperback Library. 

The book was successful enough to warrant two printings, one in 1971 and another in 1974. Since then, this book has lingered for decades in the shadowy corners of vintage gothic collections.
Bu...
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Conversations - John Shirley

November 9, 2025 • 90 mins
Legendary writer John Shirley blasts into Paperback Warrior to talk crime, cyberpunk, and chaos. From his hard-boiled new novel The Silver Revolver to the upcoming streaming revival of his ’80s action series The Specialist, Shirley pulls no punches.

He opens up about writing for Blue Öyster Cult, collaborating with Todd McFarlane on Spawn, penning the darkly brilliant Batman novel Dead White, and crafting post-apocalyptic classics l...
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Conversations - The Book Graveyard

October 20, 2025 • 54 mins
The Brooding Lake – A Gothic Gem Resurrected

In this episode of Paperback Warrior: Conversations, our host joins forces with Nick Anderson of YouTube’s Book Graveyard to unearth a haunting treasure from 1953 — The Brooding Lake by Dorothy Eden. Originally published twice by Dell, this classic gothic novel drips with atmosphere, mystery, and psychological tension. Together, they explore what makes The Brooding Lake a true gothic mas...
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Conversations - David Agranoff

September 21, 2025 • 79 mins
This in-depth interview explores the work and creative philosophy of author David Agranoff, known for blending horror, science fiction, and political commentary. The discussion covers his literary influences—ranging from heavy metal and punk rock to authors like Alistair MacLean and Philip K. Dick—and how they inform his fast-paced, visceral writing style.

0:00 - Intro
1:28 - Heavy Metal
4:14 - Alistair MacLean Influences
7:05 - GD Kil...
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Conversations - Greg F. Gifune

September 16, 2025 • 91 mins
In this in-depth conversation, acclaimed horror author Greg F. Gifune discusses his literary journey, publishing experiences, writing philosophy, and the psychological themes that define his work. From early magazine publications to film adaptations, this episode offers a comprehensive look into the mind of one of dark fiction’s most nuanced storytellers. Also, an exclusive first look at the cover art for Gifune's newest novel, the...
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Conversations - The Book Graveyard

August 31, 2025 • 60 mins
The Paperback Warrior collides with The Book Graveyard for another "Guide to Gothics" episode. On this show, Eric and Nick discuss a 1972 Dell Gothic paperback titled, "Decoy in Diamonds". The episode includes a review of the book, discussion of the author Natalie Gates, the Cincinnati Reds, the New York Giants, and a showcase of 10 Gothic paperbacks. Also, view the video on YouTube HERE.
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Episode 124: William R. Cox

August 24, 2025 • 28 mins
This podcast episode features William R. Cox, a prolific author of over 1,000 pulp stories known for his crime-fiction, sports, and western novels. It also includes a review of a 1967 vintage suspense-thriller by John Farris. Listen today! 

Follow all the vintage fiction reviews, articles, and video links on PaperbackWarrior.com
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Episode 123: Pulps in Paperback

August 10, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode, Eric explores the transition of vintage pulp stories and heroes from magazine format to mass market paperbacks in the 1960s and 1970s. He also celebrates GarbAugust by highlighting three of the worst books he’s ever read.

Be sure to follow all of the Paperback Warrior reviews, articles, and links at Paperback Warrior.
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Conversations - The Book Graveyard

July 21, 2025 • 114 mins
Eric collaborates with Nick from The Book Graveyard BookTube channel to review the 1971 gothic paperback The Shadow Guest. They also explore the gothic paperback scene of the 1960s–80s, focusing on its mix of supernatural and mystery elements. The discussion is available as a podcast and as a video on The Book Graveyard channel HERE.
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Episode 122: Jack Karney & S.S. Rafferty

July 6, 2025 • 33 mins
In this double-feature episode, Eric investigates the mysterious life and work of crime-fiction and boxing-story writer Jack Karney, while also spotlighting S.S. Rafferty, a regular contributor to Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazines. The episode also includes a segment on a non-fiction book about MGM Studios, a look at this summer's conventions, and fiction's first colonial continental op.

Check out thousands of book...
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Audiobook: Guns Drawn by Thomas Hyland (narrated by Eric Compton)

June 29, 2025 • 75 mins
It's a book premier right here on Paperback Warrior! I narrate the new 75-page novella GUNS DRAWN by Thomas Hyland, a violent, tightly-knit character piece involving bad guys, sexy women, gunplay, and bloodshed. It's a stylish 1950ish potboiler...and it's free for you.

SYNOPSIS:

Daisy Mae married mob accountant Abner Little to escape the wrong side of the tracks. Her escape turned into a short-cut to Hell. Abner prefers other women. ...
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Episode 121: Arthur Catherall

June 15, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode, Eric embarks on a globe-trotting nautical adventure with a spotlight on Arthur Catherall, exploring his World War II-era series set in exotic locales. He also dives into a recent western discovery, reviews a thrilling novel about a runaway rollercoaster, and shares his thoughts on the latest short story collection from Bruce Elliott, newly released by Stark House Press.

You can watch this episode on YouTube HERE. Be...
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Episode 120: Lou Cameron

June 1, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode, Eric explores the life and career of Lou Cameron, a comic book artist who became a prolific paperback writer and pioneer in the adult western genre. He also reviews a Booktuber, showcases his latest used book acquisitions, and discusses the newest issue of Men's Adventure Quarterly.

Be sure to follow Paperback Warrior online for thousands of reviews on vintage fiction including video links for book shopping across A...
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Episode 119: Amityville Paperbacks from Hell

May 18, 2025 • 36 mins
In this podcast episode, Eric explores the infamous Amityville murders and their impact on pop culture through a deep dive into The Amityville Horror and its many paperback sequels and spinoffs that shaped haunted house fiction in the '80s and '90s. He also reviews Grady Hendrix’s novel How to Sell a Haunted House.

Be sure to visit Paperback Warrior to read thousands of reviews for vintage books, comics, magazines, pulps, and featur...
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Conversations - Paul Bishop

May 11, 2025 • 56 mins
Acclaimed author, editor, and podcast host Paul Bishop joins Eric for a lively conversation about his latest book, 52 Weeks 52 Sherlock Holmes Novels. In this engaging discussion, Paul offers a thoughtful introduction to Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, sharing tips on where newcomers should start, exploring why Sherlock Holmes remains timeless, and delving into the wide world of adaptations—from classic stories and novels...
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Conversations - Greg Shepard

April 27, 2025 • 88 mins
Over the last seven years, Paperback Warrior has discussed, reviewed, promoted, and contributed to Stark House Press publications. In this exclusive interview, Greg Shepard, Stark House's founder and editor, sits down with Eric to discuss his career in publishing, including Zebra's mass-market paperbacks in the 1980s and early 1990s, the humble beginnings of the Stark House name, working with the estates of heavyweight crime-fictio...
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Conversations - The Book Graveyard & Bad Taste Books

April 16, 2025 • 59 mins
Nick from The Book Graveyard and Bryan from Bad Taste Books drop in to help me out with a review of THE TERROR TRUCKERS, a 1977 vintage men's action-adventure paperback starring former Mafia hitman The Butcher. We dig into the series conception, writers, origin story, and the definitions of various CB radio slang terms. 

Be sure to visit Paperback Warrior for vintage book reviews, videos, podcast episodes, and articles.
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Episode 118: Frank G. Slaughter

April 13, 2025 • 33 mins
This new episode hits the operating room for a deep dive into the life and career of successful surgeon, officer, and author Frank G. Slaughter. He wrote over 60 novels, sold 23 million copes, and was published in 23 languages. Eric connects to the author in a personal way and shares his experiences. Additionally, Eric reviews a 1991 vintage paperback titled Winterkill and discusses his most recent vintage fiction finds.

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Episode 117: The Stratemeyer Syndicate

March 30, 2025 • 36 mins
The Paperback Warrior sets their investigate eye on the mysteriously named publishing phenom simply referred to as "The Stratemeyer Syndicate". Will courage and curiosity overcome the Warrior when he faces danger and peril reviewing the haunted happenings of "The Secret of Terror Castle"? Also in this exciting edition is an investigation of mysterious events happening on the moon and a madman stalking a Texas football game. Listen ...
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