Pat Calhoun

JJ's back: GOOD news: got my Fast One: thanks for reminder on how cool it is and happy holidays!

This one's on my short list for the 'Great American Novel'. First published in 1935, Penguin-Signet put out the first PB edition in May 1948 due to the book's growing reputation in Europe as an enduring classic.

double header for the thread: ordered a 'Fast One' and a 'Fickle Finger': I appreciate the inspiration...

here's a couple of Graphics that really 'Popp'

'Shannach' is one of the best SF novellas of the 1950s, and there are a number of humdingers from that glorious decade. Happy birthday to Leigh Brackett!

1966

Up into the 1960s at least, the pulp collecting focus was on text rather than art: the acquisition of rare, even legendary, stories that were not available in any other form. The small-press reprint houses, led by August Derleth's Arkham, and publications like Famous Fantastic Mysteries and Avon Fantasy Reader, worked against the fear of classic tales crumbling into dust. Simak's 'The Creator' loomed high on the 'ungettable' list, but armed with the 21stC SFDB I saw that there was a 1961 reprint which I promptly ordered and read and was happy when the story lived up to its status as an elusive superstar.

a thank you into the beyond to Ufi: great gallery and I downloaded couple of faves. the 1910 Cavalier as frozentundraguy and I have been admiring 'sailing ship' covers as a worthy 'subset' for a while now. and the Star Weekly as I'm a Fearn fan, and I love the thought that the housewives and farm fraus of rural Canada spent their time off scooting into space with the Golden Amazon.

that Dell #5 is pretty sweet: I do have the comic book pb version...

from 'Songs and Sonnets Atlantean'

here's another nicely packaged DH Lawrence collection

Frances didn't publish much SF, but he did produce this 1949 John Russell Fearn novel, one of the first 'mushroom jungle' SFs.

Frances is author and publisher

the first: my favorite Thompson novel and a sweet Lion PBO package, the second: while the Lions are roaring, and the third: classique...

The Avati is wonderful, but I think of the 'Road Show' cover and it makes me imagine the Griffith Foxley ladies of 'Madball'...

This recent buy was somewhat expensive, but it really is an extravagant PB. Beyond delicious iconic cover and illustrated with many full-pagers and many partials. I'm guessing the William Gropper interiors came with the hardback first edition.

that Mystic is nice, huh waaagh...

I confess; I am my father's son as pictured. Here's a later photo. Michener used to talk about the 'Calhoun mind' as I think he was favorably comparing the Admiral to his great-grandpa, John C Calhoun. Hopefully the tradition has continued. Pic shows my wife Gina and I, standing in for Ambrose Bierce at the Bierce family plot as Ambrose never made it.

and, speak of the devil, here's a recent acquisition that I like a lot, especially as I collect Elisabeth Sanxay Holding...