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The Gallery-You Can't Tell a Book...(3)

   by its cover, or at least that's how the old adage goes. It's also true, however, that you can't tell a book by its title, author, or recommendation. Presented here, is yet another selection of book covers for books that just didn't deliver what was promised-at least in one collector's opinion.
Atlantida by Peter Benoit
I'm not sure who decided this is a classic novel, but it meanders around a great deal and completely lost this reader in the realms of boredom.
Ace 60s ?
Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings
I believe this is really an older, shorter novel that had a new beginning grafted onto it to fill out the pages. Cummings was a friend of Wollheim, so that seems a possibility. The end result is poor.
Ace 1963
The Chaos Fighters by Robert Moore Williams
Secret agents! Outer space! Rockets, guns, girls and a stunning cover! Bad book!
Ace 1955
Dark is the Sun by Philip Jose Farmer
Another Farmer novel that just doesn't pan out.
Del Rey 1979
The Greks Bring Gifts by Murray Leinster
Macfadden was where authors sold books for a quick buck and the quality showed. Leinster was no exception. And what's with this cover, anyhow?
Macfadden Books 1964
The Weapon Shops of Isher by A E Van Vogt
I've always loved this cover and can never quite figure out how it relates to the novel, which I've never enjoyed. Some say that Van Vogt re-wrote his original pulp stories for book publication and lost something in the trasition.
Ace 2nd print 1961
Checkpoint Lambda by Murray Leinster
Another just "okay" Leinster effort with a 60s nebulous cover. Berkely's covers were always nebulous in the 60s.
Berkley 1966
The Unreasoning Mask by Philip Jose Farmer
A better effort from Farmer, but still not A-list.
Berkley 1983
Monsters and Such by Murray Lenster
Actually a good collection with a way cool cover. I've found a more comprehensive edition of Leinster's short stories and had to make room somewhere, so this is a bit of an exception. Avon is listed on the copyright page as being a division of the Hearst Corporation.
Avon 1959
Tom Swift and his Motor Cycle by Victor Appleton
I had long heard of Tom Swift and his exciting adventures. This is the first novel of the series and I'm afraid that Tom's motorcycle has not aged well (nor has Tom, for that matter).
Applewood Books fascimile edition 1992
Thief of Llarn by Gardner Fox
Much as I like Fox's comic work, I don't think his prose novels were well written. Gray Morrow cover.
Ace 1966
The Wind Whales of Ishmael by Philip Jose Farmer
One type of book Farmer has done is to take characters from fiction and write new adventures for them. Here we have Ishmael from Moby Dick on another planet. Might have worked if it had gone through a couple of more drafts.
Ace 1971

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