Comics, Pulps, and Paperbacks: Why such a discrepancy in values? 25 25

[Surfing Alien]

Just finished reading "War With The Newts" or rather re-reading because as I read, it started to come back to me that I knew this story, pretty sure I read it back in college days when I was voraciously consuming the classics. A tale well worth reading and/or re-reading. Very Continental in its satire on politics and human nature and quite humorous in a sad (and savage) way. Not full of dated space/time physics either so none of the suspension of disbelief required Other than remarking that a Pat recommendation usually can't go wrong, I'll leave it at that so there's no spoilers

This copy had some old water soiling to the back pages so I happily read it in the vintage pb edition. I can't do e-readers, I need smelly old paper

 

[OtherEric]

In today.  This is a fairly tricky one, given that it's the first standalone publication of the story.  It first appeared as a serial in Liberty, then in a collection of three Cain stories called Three of a Kind.  I could stand to upgrade this quite easily, but it will do until a better copy shows up.

[pmpknface]

On 2/23/2024 at 12:21 AM, OtherEric said:

In today.  This is a fairly tricky one, given that it's the first standalone publication of the story.  It first appeared as a serial in Liberty, then in a collection of three Cain stories called Three of a Kind.  I could stand to upgrade this quite easily, but it will do until a better copy shows up.

Good flick!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Indemnity

 

Edited February 23 by pmpknface

[Darwination]

Raymond Chandler worked the screenplay with Billy Wilder.  I remember reading the novel in college in maybe a 3 or 400 level English class on the Twain Tradition, this Black Lizard printing:

Great prof, the first time I'd seen one give consideration to "pop" material (also remember reading Thurber in the class).  The type of teacher who was just happy to pick some different books he liked and when a handful of students had actually read the book for the week.  I remember a discussion about the conclusion, and I still think that's how the best noirs end - in some sort of wild fever dream ala The Getaway. The movie ending is different but still excellent.

Cain in a class on Twain?  Absolutely.  He has an appreciation for dialogue and how people actually talk.  It may not be accurate to call him underappreciated, but I still don't think he is appreciated as he should be.

 

EDIT: I forgot I scanned the conclusion from the original Liberty serial which has the bonus of being illustrated by James Montgomery Flagg. I'm sure I meant to track down all the issues and was distracted...

If you click the placard from the Baumhofer cover here at Flickr there's a link to the ish:

(Baumhofer has a nice splash inside, too).

Edited February 23 by Darwination

[alecholland]

On 2/22/2024 at 5:44 PM, Surfing Alien said:

Just finished reading "War With The Newts" or rather re-reading because as I read, it started to come back to me that I knew this story, pretty sure I read it back in college days when I was voraciously consuming the classics. A tale well worth reading and/or re-reading. Very Continental in its satire on politics and human nature and quite humorous in a sad (and savage) way. Not full of dated space/time physics either so none of the suspension of disbelief required Other than remarking that a Pat recommendation usually can't go wrong, I'll leave it at that so there's no spoilers

This copy had some old water soiling to the back pages so I happily read it in the vintage pb edition. I can't do e-readers, I need smelly old paper

 

Just started reading my copy the other night. Read about the first 70 pages or so and am really enjoying it so far. My wife roped me into helping her with some graphic design/website design for a relative, so my reading time at night became much more limited. Hopefully I will be able to finish it either this weekend or the next. 

I enjoy the tactile feel of holding a book and the old paper smell as well. I just can't do Kindle or the like yet.

[MattTheDuck]

On 2/22/2024 at 11:39 PM, Darwination said:

English class on the Twain Tradition,

I was fortunate enough to take a "Tolkien and the Literature of Wonder" course in college (which was, I believe, "only" a 200-level course).  The prof announced on the first day that he had found a semester only allowed him enough time to really do justice to "The Lord of the Rings" so the rest of the Literature of Wonder would have to wait for another time.  Sure, I paid for the hours, but getting credit for studying and writing about a series I loved and had probably already read 3 or 4 times in high school?  Come on.

[jimjum12]

On 2/23/2024 at 12:05 PM, MattTheDuck said:

I was fortunate enough to take a "Tolkien and the Literature of Wonder" course in college (which was, I believe, "only" a 200-level course).  The prof announced on the first day that he had found a semester only allowed him enough time to really do justice to "The Lord of the Rings" so the rest of the Literature of Wonder would have to wait for another time.  Sure, I paid for the hours, but getting credit for studying and writing about a series I loved and had probably already read 3 or 4 times in high school?  Come on.

 ... I remember back in 7th grade science with Mrs. Sides, we reached the herpetology session in the class. Now Mrs. Sides was hot as fire and wore these delightful mini skirts, so I tried to misbehave enough to where I was often in the desk of shame next to her stool  Anyway, I boasted to her that there probably wasn't much she could teach me about reptiles. For the sake of debate, she gave me the final test, before we started the material, and I aced it. I was over the moon.  It's always cool to take a course on a subject of passion. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Edited February 23 by jimjum12

[Surfing Alien]

Friday fun... the "regular" Avon edition of "Double Indemnity"  Avon #60, 1945 cover by Paul Stahr. Although both editions are cool, I think this cover is cooler.

[Book Guy]

On 2/22/2024 at 9:21 PM, OtherEric said:

In today.  This is a fairly tricky one, given that it's the first standalone publication of the story.  It first appeared as a serial in Liberty, then in a collection of three Cain stories called Three of a Kind.  I could stand to upgrade this quite easily, but it will do until a better copy shows up.

I love Cain! His stuff still reads very well.

[jimjum12]

Prelude to a cat fight and a little cougar action, from the smoldering 60's  GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[jimjum12]

Those folks at Dell could be SO incorrigible, and this one is a mapback, to boot.  GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) 

[jimjum12]

This is a cover that I particularly like, not sure why. A search on Google has yielded no fruit as to who the cover artist is. One link attributed it to the writer, which I doubt. Any help is appreciated. The style seems familiar, but there were a LOT of very competent cover artists in the vintage era. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[GACollectibles]

Pawing through an unsorted collection and this beheading cover caught my eye

Edited February 27 by GACollectibles

[GACollectibles]

Hopefully the Revelations in Black PB is in there as well.

[Darwination]

On 2/27/2024 at 10:14 AM, GACollectibles said:

Pawing through an unsorted collection and this beheading cover caught my eye

Egad!

[GACollectibles]

On 2/27/2024 at 12:55 PM, Darwination said:

Egad!

Lol, when I saw it I did a double take and a "Wait, what?"

[waaaghboss]

On 2/27/2024 at 11:03 AM, GACollectibles said:

Lol, when I saw it I did a double take and a "Wait, what?"

Yah, took me a minute, but wow.  Just wow 

[jimjum12]

Such mad variety in the Paperback Dimension, it doesn't always have to be smut and mad scientists. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

 

[Surfing Alien]

On 2/26/2024 at 11:16 AM, jimjum12 said:

This is a cover that I particularly like, not sure why. A search on Google has yielded no fruit as to who the cover artist is. One link attributed it to the writer, which I doubt. Any help is appreciated. The style seems familiar, but there were a LOT of very competent cover artists in the vintage era. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

Definitely not the writer. I think it looks a lot like Ernest Chiriaka's work, seen here (as his pseudonym "Darcy") on Charles Williams' superb "Girl Out Back" from the same time frame. I see my pal Steve Wallace on Flickr hasn't put a credit on but I bet he'd agree the semi-loose brushwork and composition style is very similar. Chiriaka did a TON of cover paintings in the 50's & early 60's, many for Dell. If not him, someone in the style for sure.

This pretty undercopy may appear in another thread around here this weekend

 

[Surfing Alien]

Yeah, It's not all about GGA    As I've expressed before, I don't collect Westerns per se, but man the early Ace westerns are both beautiful and tough to find in any kind of nice shape. With the action packed Saunders (mostly) covers, what's not to love? 

 

Showdown at Yellow Butte is also a Louis L'Amour PBO and highly sought after (for a western)