Saturday, August 5, 2017

Paperback 1001: I, Barbarian / Jay Scotland (Avon T-375)

Paperback 1001: Avon T-375 (PBO, 1959)

Title: I, Barbarian
Author: Jay Scotland
Cover artist: [George Ziel]

Condition: 7/10
Estimated value: $12

AvonT375
Best things about this cover:
  • His mind on women, his groin on horses
  • I, Shirtless—the flamingest novel east of the Urals!
  • His left hand is weird. Like it should be holding something. An ice cream cone, or a lovely bouquet of flowers, perhaps

Avon T375bc
Best things about this back cover:
  • This novel's not frank, but it is frankish
  • Adjective every noun!
  • I like this little sword-split design

Page 123~

"Didn't you notice the unbounded delight in the eyes of his highest excellency when you gave that last feverish lunge toward the edibles?"

If there's another way to approach edibles, I haven't found it.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Paperback 1000: The Case of the Musical Cow / Erle Stanley Gardner (Pocket Books 1063)

Paperback 1000: Pocket Books 1063 (1st ptg, 1955)

Title: The Case of the Musical Cow
Author: Erle Stanley Gardner
Cover artist: photo cover (Silver Studios)

Condition: 7/10
Estimated value: $12-15

PB1063
Best things about this cover:
  • After "All About Eve," Bette Davis's career took a weird turn there for a bit...
  • Out with the old kind of mystery about DOPE and MURDER, in with the new kind of mystery about DOPE and MURDER. What's new, you ask? Well, musical cows, for one. Admit it, you did not see that coming.
  • Is that an Eames chair? That's some pretty stylish bondage.
  • There is a *lot* of rope in her lap, which the red-painted case title and the immersive mustard experience are probably supposed to distract you from.

PB1063bc
Best things about this back cover:
  • I love (like, Love) that the exciting red cursive intro text just says "Rob Trenton."
  • I also love (like, Am In Awe Of) Erle Stanley Gardner's psychopathic signature.
  • Ooh, Europe. How exoticish!

Page 123~

Rob Trenton, who had been listening incredulously, said, "That's a lie! That whole statement is false. This man is one of the . . . "

At this point, Rob Trenton was deemed both too implausible and too boring to continue as a functioning character in this story, and so he simply exploded, leaving the remaining characters staring (incredulously, of course) at an empty chair.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]