Monday, November 4, 2013

Paperback 719: The Fiery Furnace / Lawrence Williams (Avon T-497)

Paperback 719: Avon T-497 (1st ptg, 1961)

Title: The Fiery Furnace
Author: Lawrence Williams
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $15

AvonT497

Best things about this cover:

Alan Cumming *is* … The Fiery Furnace!
Anyone know what his "strange compulsion" is. I want it to be Barbie™collecting.
Though that is a pretty decent Floating Head, I'm gonna say this cover could use more her, less him.

AvonT497bc

Best things about this back cover:
  • Oh my god how much do I love the photo of Smirky McAscot? (a lot)
  • Do they not have obsessions in Europe? What kind of logic is that?
  • Had to look up "Sicilian knife" to see how it differed from, say, a bread knife. Seems there is a traditional Italian art of knife-fighting called "Paranza Corta," but, acc. to Wikipedia, "It is still taught by individual masters but is not organized in a format suitable for divulgation to the masses." Yes, I've always found divulgation very tricky business indeed.

Page 123~


Carla was watching him, her chin set lightly in her hand, listening proudly to her businesslike lover in his professional capacity.

I guess that's better than listening to your professional lover in his businesslike capacity. Close call.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]

6 comments:

DemetriosX said...

I was thinking more Dean Stockwell, but after looking him up, I can see Alan Cumming, too.

Jean said...

But...what is the obsession?? It doesn't sound like he's gay, more like he's a serial killer. Come on dude, we must know the obsession!

Random White Guy said...

Yeah, somebody's gotta break down and read this thing and tell us what The Obsession is.

Xerxes Iguana said...

Well, a bit of Googling later and the obsession is revealed. Look away now if you want to maintain the mystique...

[SPOILER]
Obsession Be Here
[/SPOILER]

...which is now completely obvious and totally not what I was thinking.

Jean said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pete said...

Uh, I've been called a "businesslike lover" and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a compliment.