A Boy's Adventure Revival

How a Remnant of Authors Hope to Revive the Boy's Adventure Genre

As any father of young, reading boys knows, there is a near-criminal undersupply of boys adventure stories these days. Even used book stores are pillaged for this content by discerning parents, meaning the pre-existing supply has greatly evaporated. Where boy’s anthologies (like the old Hamlyn publications depicted below) were once ubiquitous, they are now a sad, dusty relic of our past.

Of course this comes at a time when masculinity itself is facing a crisis, where boys are taught from preschool that their very nature has toxic traits that need to be purged. So much of children’s literature today is egalitarian to its core, and so it’s no wonder that the stories find themselves neutered.

My son, diving into an old, dusty relic of our past.

Boys need positive male role models in the fiction they read; characters that exemplify godly manhood (of course) but also stories told in a way that respects boys as future men. No more Shark Boy and Lava Girl. When will we see the next Treasure Island? The next Tom Sawyer?! The next Robin Hood?!!

Well, I’m glad you asked, because there happens to be a remnant of talented authors who are hoping to remedy our society’s egalitarian shortcomings. Some of you will recognize the names

Frank Theodat

and

Zack Grafman

from Pipe, Pulp, Poetry Magazine who are leading the charge. I am quite familiar with the brilliant works of

Joseph W. Knowles

from Silence and Starsong Magazine and I’m a big fan of

James Carran

’s poetry. And if you follow me on X you’ve probably read my praises for

Andrew Flattery

, the author of The Adventures of Leo & Henry children's series. I am honoured to be counted among these good men, and look forward to familiarizing myself with the other accomplished authors, who are named here.

In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to acquire a brand new anthology of Adventure Stories for Boys. And so, stay dialed in — you won’t want to miss this.

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