Black Dog Books has announced the first two volumes in a new series that will reprint the early works of Talbot Mundy, legendary author of classic adventure novels and military tales recounting the glory days of the British Empire. The first volume, "A Transaction in Diamonds: Talbot Mundy in the Pulps, 1911," will collect all of the stories and articles published by Mundy during his first year as a professional writer, with a new introduction by Brian Taves, author of "Talbot Mundy—Philosopher of Adventure. " The second, "The Soul of a Regiment: Talbot Mundy in Adventure, 1912," contains the bulk of his sales during that year to the Adventure pulp magazine, his primary outlet during this period. It will include a new introduction by prolific and popular writer S. M. Stirling, author of "The Peshawar Lancers." Both will be available in October 2008, with further volumes appearing on a regular basis. Later volumes will include introductions by Peter Berresford Ellis, author of "The Last Adventurer: the Life of Talbot Mundy," and Doug Ellis, author of "Uncovered." “The Talbot Mundy Library will bring back into print virtually all of the stories and articles from approximately the first ten years of Mundy’s career,” notes Black Dog Books publisher Tom Roberts. “Most of the these works have been out of print for decades, and many have never been reprinted since their first appearance in the magazines nearly a hundred years ago.” (Roberts is also the author of "Alex Raymond: His Life and Art" (Adventure House, 2008), the first detailed biography of the creator of Flash Gordon and other classic comic strips.) Pulp historian Gene Christie will serve as the series editor. In addition to appearances in American pulp magazines, Christie says, the library will include rare works from British publications, the Saturday Evening Post, the New York Times and other sources. Black Dog has scheduled the following eight volumes in the Talbot Mundy Library for 2008-2009, including collections of two limited series—the Billy Blain boxing stories (1912-16), and the adventures of Dick Anthony of Arran as he battles the forces of the Russian Czar (1914-15). Neither of the series has been previously collected. Vol. 1 — A Transaction in Diamonds: Talbot Mundy in the Pulps, 1911 Vol. 2 — The Soul of a Regiment: Talbot Mundy in Adventure, 1912 Vol. 3 — In a Righteous Cause: Talbot Mundy in Adventure, 1913 Vol. 4 — The Letter of His Orders: Three Short Novels from Adventure, 1913 Vol. 5 — Love and War: The Battles of Billy Blain Vol. 6 — The Sword of Ishkander: The Adventures of Dick Anthony of Arran Vol. 7 — A Soldier and a Gentleman: Talbot Mundy in Adventure, 1914-1918 Vol. 8 — From Hell, Hull and Halifax: Stories and Articles by Talbot Mundy, 1909-1919