PulpFest is very pleased to announce that FarmerCon will be on hand in August to help us celebrate both the pulps and Grand Master of Science Fiction Philip José Farmer.
Since 2011, PulpFest has hosted FarmerCon, a convention that began in Peoria, Illinois, the hometown of Philip José Farmer.
Originally a gathering of Farmer fans literally right outside Phil’s back door, FarmerCon offered presentations, dinners, and even picnics at the author’s house.
After the passing of both Phil and Bette Farmer in 2009, it was decided to take FarmerCon on the road to broaden its horizons. By holding the convention alongside PulpFest, Farmer fans get a variety of programming and a room full of pulp and book dealers to enjoy.
Over the years, FarmerCon has presented a range of panels and presentations at each PulpFest that they attended.
We’ve had presentations on the pulp elements found in the author’s canon; the horror fiction of Philip José Farmer; the pulp influences on some of Farmer’s most notable characters; collaborations between Phil and writers of contemporary popular fiction; the late Robert Bloch’s relationship with Peoria’s Grand Master of Science Fiction; and even a big, multi-presentation celebration of Phil Farmer in 2018, marking the centennial of the author’s birth.
Our Farmer friends will be returning to PulpFest in 2023 for FarmerCon XVIII, celebrating the life and times of longtime pulp fan Philip José Farmer.
Please join us at 2 pm on Friday afternoon, August 4, for “Doc Savage — The Man and Myth of Bronze.” As part of our celebrations of Phil Farmer and the 90th anniversary of Doc Savage and other great pulp heroes, this year’s FarmerCon panel will feature Christopher Paul Carey and Win Scott Eckert. They’ll explore Philip José Farmer’s Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life and Escape from Loki — the authorized novel that explains how Doc met his aides, and the adventure they bonded over.
Chris and Win will discuss Farmer’s contributions to Doc’s history and mythology, why Farmer was the perfect person to write Doc’s first chronological escapade, and why, as Farmer demonstrated in his biography of the hero, the Doc Savage archetype continues to resonate with readers 90 years after his debut.
And to mark the golden anniversary of Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, specialty publisher Meteor House will be releasing a Deluxe Limited 50th Anniversary Edition of Farmer’s biography of the hero. Limited to 100 copies, it will feature two different covers. These will be available in the PulpFest dealers’ room, at the Meteor House tables.
But that’s not all. Don’t forget the after-hours socializing that the fans of Philip José Farmer are known to enjoy. These gatherings are always vibrant, entertaining, and informative. You’ll find all this and more at FarmerCon XVIII, taking place from August 3 – 6 at PulpFest XVIII.
For those who want to enjoy all of this year’s FarmerCon, click the Registration button at the top of this page. Your PulpFest membership will also provide you with a membership to FarmerCon XVIII and ERBFest 2023. That’s three conventions for the price of one!
And if you’re able — rooms are very scarce — don’t forget to book a room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry. If you can’t find a room, the DoubleTree recommends the Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, or Home2 Suites. They’re all just a few miles away from our host hotel. Click here to learn more.
The general public is welcome to attend our evening programming events free of charge. To learn more about our Farmer-related programming, please click the “Schedule” button on our homepage.
Our featured image is excerpted from Griffith Foxley’s cover for the March 1946 number of Adventure. The issue is important in the life of Philip José Farmer because it marked the publication of his first sale as a writer. His novella, “O’Brien and Obrenov,” concerns the occupation of a German town at the end of World War II. The American and Russian forces occupying the town argue over who can claim the high-ranking German they have captured. According to The Official Philip José Farmer Web Page, “The way they decide to settle their argument is hilarious, but the final outcome is even better.”
Our lead image is the dust jacket art for Doubleday’s 1973 edition of Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, Farmer’s “biography” of Clark Savage, Jr. The artwork is by Walter Baumhofer, excerpted from the April 1935 issue of Street & Smith’s Doc Savage Magazine. Born in 1918, Philip José Farmer grew up with the pulps. He particularly favored Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes. Running a close second was Lester Dent’s Doc Savage.
One of two versions of the Deluxe Limited 50th Anniversary Edition of Philip José Farmer’s Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life — published by Meteor House in 2023 — features a bronze foil stamping of “The Man of Bronze” on the front cover, created by Keith Howell. The artist also did the artwork for the spine and back cover stamp. There is also a limitation page on the interior featuring his artwork.
