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Dec 13

Zoot Suit RiotClick for larger image

Benny Comments: Look what the dog fetched.

Published 1957

Actually, that cover IS a classical work of art!I would touch it without protective gloves.I've seen worse. Far, far, worse.Interesting, but I would still read it in public.Middlng: Neither awful nor awfully goodWould not like to be seen reading that!Awful... just awful...That belongs in a gold-lame picture frame!Gah... my eyes are burning! Feels so good!Good Show Sir! (Average: 6.25 out of 10)
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20 Responses to “Prisoner in the Skull”

  1. THX 1138 Says:

    Askit: fights the miseries.

  2. JuanPaul Says:

    He’s hoping that if he hangs on to that zoot suit long enough, it will eventually come back in style.

  3. B. Chiclitz Says:

    I think there are too many teeth in that skull.

  4. B. Chiclitz Says:

    Editor: “Look, you know how cheap Corgi is. We only have a limited number of upper case letters. So don’t go wasting them on the blurb or the title. Save them for the author’s name. That’s the ticket.”

    Art Director: “Got it, chief. Can we afford a zoot suit, at least?”

  5. Francis Boyle Says:

    Yep, that’s exactly what most of 2000 was like for me except, perhaps, for some days in July. (And, boy, was it great to get away from those damn rockets.)

  6. fred Says:

    An identity theft story from 1957 according to this cover. But if Conrad has no memory how does he know his name is Conrad.

    https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Prisoner-in-the-Skull.jpg

  7. Tat Wood Says:

    @Francis Boyle: those Gap adverts had a lot to answer for.

  8. Tor Mented Says:

    Zoot Suit Man finds out how difficult it is to walk on a surface coated with butter.

  9. GSS ex-noob Says:

    Of course he’s a stranger to himself — like @BC(3) said, he’s got too many teeth, and they all look like lateral incisors! Poor man can’t chew properly and the inside of his mouth feels all funny.* And I’m not sure all his skull parts line up.

    I must confess I don’t recall the zoot suit revival of 17 years ago, but then I’m never up on fashion. Perhaps it was de trop with model rocket enthusiasts — any more thoughts, Francis?

    In which direction of measure is the corgi 2 feet, 6 inches? Not height.

    I see Tag Wiz has added the “zoot suit” tag just for this one. I hope to see it used more… did any previous covers have one, or is this it?

    *Guess who just had extensive dental work done! And on which tooth!

  10. THX 1138 Says:

    @GSS-xn: 2’6 was the price in pre-decimal UK currency.

  11. Tat Wood Says:

    @THX 1138, GSS ex-Noob: appropriately, the colloquial term for this sun was ‘half a crown’.

  12. GSS ex-noob Says:

    @THX (10): I know that. It was just the mental juxtaposition of a very short dog with the height of a very large one.

    @Tat: heh! True for him. Although no crowns on his teeth, just an unnatural amount of apparently-healthy gnashers. A bit uneven, but better than many British teeth during the 50’s.

    I’ve had a closer look at Zoot Suit Man and I’m not certain he’s human. If he is, there’s something terribly wrong with his posture and proportions. Did this all take place on the Planet of Strange Bone Growth?

  13. Tom Noir Says:

    Remember when 2000 A.D. was the future? Good times.

    *Zips off in flying car*

  14. Bibliomancer Says:

    I like how they wrote 2,000 A.D. with the comma. Surprised that didn’t catch on.

  15. Anna T. Says:

    This looks very 2000, what with the retro-futurism and the fedoras and three-piece suits.

  16. GSS ex-noob Says:

    I don’t see a matching vest, so it’s not a three-piece. Just an odd shirt with asymmetric extra-wide lapels. Which might have happened in 2000, what with the retro-future and the hipsters and all. Fashion recycles so quickly these days that I can’t keep up.

  17. GSS ex-noob Says:

    And should you really leave so many bones exposed when there’s a Corgi right there, obviously willing to use his jaws?

    Can older Brits confirm whether or not Corgi books were delivered by short dogs, or had dog spit on them? I’ll bet the logo was false advertising…

  18. THX 1138 Says:

    Corgi were named after Our Dear Queen’s favourite pets, for that touch of class by association. You can see how well that went.

  19. GSS ex-noob Says:

    I suppose HM the Q gets her books delivered by Corgi. A herd of them.

    Am certain this cover would fall into the “We are not amused” category.

  20. A.R.Yngve Says:

    “Sir, the dog ate my book.”
    “You want a replacement?”
    “No, I want to reward the dog.”

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