This is the kind of derogatory sexism that’s so typical of SF and Fantasy book covers. Always — always! — the female protagonist is depicted as dressed and in charge, while the objectified male “ankle clinger” is shown as scantily clad, naked and menaced by robots.
I’ve been waiting for someone to submit something from this series. All the covers are exactly as awful/great as this. (Yes, I admit to reading the series. But it was the 70’s- I was young and foolish. Now I read bad scifi/fantasy cover websites.)
I agree with A.R. Yngve. I still can not get over the fact that that man is bare-assed. Maybe that woman is blessed to have that metal monster show up.
Time-space is probably the same thing as spacetime. It just sounds stupid. Now, putting it as “time AND space” sounds cool, as does the reverse. “Space and time” even works in the same contexts!
Mind you, when you’re being assailed naked by a spaceship with red-taloned tentacles, that may not be the first thing on your mind.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:31 am
The future is going to be so helpful, we’ll have robots to help and guide couples during their first time together.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Everyone loves a good tentacle rape!
January 12th, 2011 at 11:20 am
This is the most ridiculous game of lawn darts ever played in Dimension X.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
This is the kind of derogatory sexism that’s so typical of SF and Fantasy book covers. Always — always! — the female protagonist is depicted as dressed and in charge, while the objectified male “ankle clinger” is shown as scantily clad, naked and menaced by robots.
That’s why almost no men read SF or Fantasy.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
I particularly like the painted red fingernails on the robot tentacles. That’s a robot who cares about its appearance.
January 12th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
In Sweden, we get 2 dimensions more (Dimensions “Ö” and “Ä”) than you!
Nyah nyah! ;-P
January 12th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@Adam Roberts Are you sure those aren’t tongues? For the…you know…
@A.R.Yngve Agreed, we as men should step up from under the shoes of opression – we are not just objects to be ogled at on book covers!
January 12th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Maybe it makes more sense after reading #18 – Warlords Of Gaikon?
Or #3 – Jewel of Tharn? Just glad they didn’t show the jewels on this cover.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Who knew Blade the vampire hunter wrote?
January 12th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
“19 Heroic Fantasy Series” it says on the top… so “Richard Blade” is obviously Paul Hardcastle’s pen name.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Is this the same Richard Blade as top transatlantic voiceover man and DJ Richard Blade? You can be as naked as you like when no one can see you.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
The tentacled robot-thing at least has a happy face: eyes like Wimpy from Popeye, a bright red nose, and an odd drooping moustache.
Is time-space the same as spacetime? Did Einstein know about it?
This is the first novel I’ve heard of where characters travel to a popular 1950s radio series.
Oh yes, and something odd is going on with the lady’s, er, bosoms. Either she has only one, or only one is covered. Hooters of Tharn, perhaps…
Best cover of 2011 so far!
January 12th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
“Honey, I thought the travel agent said there were no Rape-O-Bots in Dimension X!”
“This is Dimension X? Oh, golly, I thought the sign said Dimension G! Oh, well, you better show him your – why are you naked?”
“I thought clothes were outlawed in Dimension X!”
“That’s Dimension E! Did you even graduate from Future School?”
January 13th, 2011 at 2:52 am
Noticed something. Crappy sci-fi/fantasy books is $1.25 as infomercial products is to $19.95.
January 13th, 2011 at 8:38 am
And I take my hat off to you all, for the excellent riffs that made me laugh a lot.
🙂
January 13th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I’ve been waiting for someone to submit something from this series. All the covers are exactly as awful/great as this. (Yes, I admit to reading the series. But it was the 70’s- I was young and foolish. Now I read bad scifi/fantasy cover websites.)
January 15th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Tentacle porn FTW!
January 19th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I agree with A.R. Yngve. I still can not get over the fact that that man is bare-assed. Maybe that woman is blessed to have that metal monster show up.
July 31st, 2013 at 1:06 am
I finally got round to Wikipaedia this one. I find the article rather droll:
‘Richard Blade is an adult fantasy pulp novel series…
‘…The novels were also released as audio books…’
‘…Richard Blade was distinctly British…’
No doubt, they were also distinctly British audio books. 🙂
July 31st, 2013 at 6:05 pm
As well as the Blade books had him as the hero who could fight to a standstill any enemy with almost nothing in his hands.
August 27th, 2015 at 12:46 am
Time-space is probably the same thing as spacetime. It just sounds stupid. Now, putting it as “time AND space” sounds cool, as does the reverse. “Space and time” even works in the same contexts!
Mind you, when you’re being assailed naked by a spaceship with red-taloned tentacles, that may not be the first thing on your mind.
February 16th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
At a brief glance I thought the title said “Lobsters of Tharn,” which you have to admit sounds pretty amazing.
February 16th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
@Tom Noir, you could make it a spin off of this series and create the ultimate bad pulp books!
http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/?p=2956
http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/?p=4340
March 16th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
Here he comes to save the day
Magnus Robot Fighter’s on the way
When Dick Blade’s deep in the shite
Magnus Robot Fighter joins the fight.
https://culttvman.com/main/tom-herings-magnus-robot-fighter-4000-a-d/
Dick Blade needs something like this. Would definitely buy one.
March 16th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
After a long chase across the galaxies, the Public Decency Police have finally caught up with Dick Blade: it’s pants from here on out!
March 17th, 2024 at 4:20 am
@fred: GSS! Bravo! Standing ovation.
@Bruce: If only! Then can they do something about Lord L always needing to grease up nekkid Dick?
(Pause for the audience’s inner 12-year-olds to giggle at the last two words)