Personally, I’m impressed that the leap from Prelude to Space to Master of Space was so short and direct. Perhaps this whole rocket science thing is less daunting than we’ve been led to believe.
“”Prelude to space?” Sounds boring. Let’s pulp it up – maybe something like “Space Master” or “Master of Space.” And the cover is boring too – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/Prelude_to_space.jpg (not to mention the artist isn’t cheap) – let’s go with one of those “surreal” covers that are big now. Oh, and write a blurb that emphasizes the US space program – too many poncy Brits in the story.”
Apparently he’s being sucked into a black hole, thus the distortion. And time’s slowed down; we’re still seeing his agonized zombie face 57 years later.
It could be worse (or at least as bad). The 1976 printing ought to be titled “Dildos to Space”, and the German ones are “V2’s to London Space”. All the post-1969 ones bear no resemblance to what spaceships look like, and the 1980 British one reads “ARTHUR C. PRELUDE TO CLARKE SPACE”.
Editor: “Let’s cross out the word “fiction’, then everyone will think that this is real science book. They’ll probably even order some as text books for college.”
October 17th, 2018 at 10:17 am
Washing Machine of Space.
October 17th, 2018 at 11:38 am
So this novel’s about our US astronaut from America who is an American citizen of the United States?
No? Oh well, at least the illustration accurately depicts the effects of the vomit comet.
October 17th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Major Tom forgot to take his protein pills.
Edit:@Bibliomamcer, thank you for the Ren and Stimpy reference!
October 17th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Oscar Liebman, Master of the Crayon.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Whoa, dude. Lighten up on the eyeshadow.
October 17th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
@Raoul – Raccoons in Space
October 17th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Personally, I’m impressed that the leap from Prelude to Space to Master of Space was so short and direct. Perhaps this whole rocket science thing is less daunting than we’ve been led to believe.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
This is what happens when you attempt to do the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
@B. Chiclitz – Tip of the hat to Liebman for actually signing this hot mess.
October 17th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
@Lillie A—Wait a minute, you’re saying Prelude to Space was the former title of this novel? I thought it was the former title of the New York Times.
October 17th, 2018 at 6:35 pm
In space, no one can hear you blortch.
October 17th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Either “fiction” is supposed to be crossed out to confuse the average reader, or someone vandalized the cover.
Is it semi-disturbing, how hard it is to tell?
October 18th, 2018 at 12:25 am
“”Prelude to space?” Sounds boring. Let’s pulp it up – maybe something like “Space Master” or “Master of Space.” And the cover is boring too – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/Prelude_to_space.jpg (not to mention the artist isn’t cheap) – let’s go with one of those “surreal” covers that are big now. Oh, and write a blurb that emphasizes the US space program – too many poncy Brits in the story.”
October 18th, 2018 at 1:55 am
You EEEDIOTT!
Apparently he’s being sucked into a black hole, thus the distortion. And time’s slowed down; we’re still seeing his agonized zombie face 57 years later.
It could be worse (or at least as bad). The 1976 printing ought to be titled “Dildos to Space”, and the German ones are “V2’s to
LondonSpace”. All the post-1969 ones bear no resemblance to what spaceships look like, and the 1980 British one reads “ARTHUR C. PRELUDE TO CLARKE SPACE”.Another book that never had a good cover.
OMG, the Italian one has moon kangaroos.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Master of Space; unpleasant face. Such a disgrace!
October 18th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Editor: “Let’s cross out the word “fiction’, then everyone will think that this is real science book. They’ll probably even order some as text books for college.”
September 14th, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Zombie Master of Space
March 8th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Edward Munch’s only known skiffy cover.
March 8th, 2020 at 4:34 pm
@ARY: well, he apparently has no mouth…
March 8th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
“Astronaut’s Log: day 1,078 since leaving Earth: day 712 since running out of coffee. “