Paperback 1057: Ace F-422 (1st thus, 1967)
Title: The Sword of RhiannonAuthor: Leigh Brackett
Cover artist: John Schoenherr
Condition: 7/10
Estimated value: $8
Best things about this cover:
- This was a very famous Martian deodorant ad campaign. "Shirtless marauding got you feeling ... not so fresh? Well now you can raise your triumphant, blood-soaked hand in confidence with new Martian Sure! Raise your hand if you're Sure!"
- "Hey guys, guys, over here, I think I got her. She doesn't ring like a bell in the night but ... pretty sure she's Rhiannon. No, seriously guys, come over here! I'm using the new deodorant now, it's OK!"
- Digging the pink hues with lime green font. Feel the late '60s...
- What the hell is "Cosmic Peril"? "Cosmic Carol in a Lost World" would've been a way more interesting premise. "Who is Cosmic Carol!?" I'd be forced to wonder!
- Bold move to fill so much of the foreground with just the back of some guy's head. Who is this eggheaded watcher? Wait ... am I the eggheaded watcher!? Existential, man...
Best things about this back cover:
- Ugh, too much text, come on! If I wanted to read, I'd ... well ... buy a book, I guess
- Mars MARS MARS!!!
- Can't help singing "Matt Carse" to the tune of Gary Numan's "Cars": "Here with Matt Carse / I feel safest of all / He's a mythical god / And he's a got a big sword / Matt Carse"
- Leigh Brackett was one of the founders of modern space opera. She wrote the first draft of the screenplay for "Empire Strikes Back" (just before her death). She also wrote the screenplay for "Rio Bravo"! And "The Long Goodbye"! And co-wrote the screenplay for "The Big Sleep"! With William Faulkner. What a career.
Page 123~ (this book's only 128 pages long!)
"The blessings of the gods attend you, stranger," Emer whispered and kissed him gently on the lips.
I like to imagine that Emer's last name is Gency and that she had a minor R&B hit in 1983 called "The Blessings of the Gods Attend You, Stranger." Also, that on the cover of her one major-label album ("S.O.S.!") she's wearing a get-up that can only be described as Disco Chainmail.
~RP
[Follow Pop Sensation on Twitter]
2 comments:
Schoenherr was one of the greats, though this is not one of his better pieces. I almost wonder if this was cropped from a larger painting. That might explain foreground egghead guy.
I read the guy's name initially as "Schnorrer" out of the corner of my eye, which I was pretty sure had to be wrong.
Post a Comment