Title: The Delicate Ape
Author: Dorothy B. Hughes
Cover artist: Uncredited
Yours for: $17
Best things about this cover:
- I have not read this book, but I dearly hope that this cover is some kind of surreal metaphor and not an actual scene from the book.
- Who would pick this book up based on its cover? "Hmmm, I've always been curious about apes who are also sexual sadists and aesthetes ... I guess I'll give this a try."
- Love the flag motif against the camouflage background. It's like some horribly ill-conceived army recruitment poster. (Upon closer inspection, it's actually a camo-colored map of the world)
Best things about this back cover:
- Well, if you want to know what this book is about, that first paragraph really isn't going to help you much.
- I think the cover is a depiction of "a seductive force in evil hands."
- I assume the information he has, the information everyone wants, is data on the disastrous consequences of a flower diet in the ape population.
Page 123~
"He's an old man. Something could happen."
"These opportune events do not often occur." Watkins scooped a spoon of ice cream.
Spy's gotta eat.
~RP
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]
3 comments:
I must be messed in the head because I want to read the book after seeing this cover. I don't want to know what that says about me!
That flag motif was fairly common for circuses up until some time in the early post-war period. The blue band and the stars were gone by the 60s, but I think the red and white stripes are still used.
I love how bored the blonde looks. This chimp-like thing (there aren't any great apes I know of that look like that) has hold of her hair and she's just rolling her eyes like she's thinking "Oh, geez. Not this shit again."
"... is more than just a whirlwind tale of spies and intrigue."
Love those back-handed "compliments"!
Sure it is more than just that, but that's what it primarily is -- just another boring spy story. Oh yeah, it also has some goofy decorations we hope will suck in a few losers like you.
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