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Feb 05

Bubble Pop!Click for larger image

Wendy Comments: Some Ting tells me this cover is GSS-worthy.

Published 1952

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: 6.88 out of 10)
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15 Responses to “The Alternate Martians”

  1. THX 1139 Says:

    Look out, sir! The sword-chewer’s coming!

  2. Bibliomancer Says:

    Mars Zardoz is looking a little long in the tooth.

  3. fred Says:

    Dick Blade would not like this Mars.

    https://www.avclub.com/empress-of-outer-space-1965-the-alternate-martians-1798221749

  4. JuanPaul Says:

    The old man is so grizzly that his tears have teeth.

  5. Alice Says:

    Hey, dude, BEHIND YOU!

  6. Tat Wood Says:

    Did the world need a sexed-up ‘Catweazle’?

  7. B. Chiclitz Says:

    Seems the old man in the moon there is having a cerebral hemorrhage, poor thing. Maybe that scimitar can relieve some of the pressure.

  8. A.R.Yngve Says:

    “Paul, where did you get the idea for that crazy far-out song ‘I Am the Walrus’?”

    “Funny you should ask, John. I was walking down Barnaby Street when my eye caught this paperback cover…”

  9. Tat Wood Says:

    Twelve hours and not a single Corbyn joke.

  10. GSS ex-noob Says:

    Is this Martian week?

    Apparently none of the Marses have decent dentistry. That floating old head’s going to put his eyes out soon.

    Rarely has the “old man…” tag been more perfectly suited, Tag Wiz. GSS! But that is definitely BEHIND YOU!

    At least this chap seems to have a scabbard for his sword (I think — the detail’s grainy), but the buckle on his second belt looks to be in a painful spot. Definitely not WWDBD? (what would Dick Blade do) Is this guy going to use his scimitar to trim the fangs?

    @Tat: don’t look at me, I’m 8 hours behind and American… but you’re right. The tusks don’t show up in his photos, must be one of those BBC conspiracies I hear about.

  11. Bruce A Munro Says:

    “Apparently none of the Marses have decent dentistry. That floating old head’s going to put his eyes out soon.”

    @GSS ex-noob: BABIRUSA-MEN OF MARS!!!!

  12. Tracy Says:

    Since the Martians of Barsoom have long tusks that jut upward from the lower jaw, I assume Chandlar’s playing in ERB’s version of Mars. But I don’t think ERB’s Martians looked like humans. They were more insectoid.

    And if they are on Barsoom, what is that crowd of naked people in the back up to?

  13. Bruce A Munro Says:

    @Tracy: the old man _is_ green, so you may have something there. (OTOH, the cover is pretty green overall…)

    Why his head is in a giant bubble, I have no idea. I generally associate heads in bubbles with super-advanced aliens looking through a space warp or something, and this guy isn’t advanced enough for comb technology.

    The naked people are admiring the hero’s Big-Ass Sword, clearly.
    (Said naked people seem to include a bunch of children, and don’t seem to have any weapons, so perhaps he’s rescuing them from Old Man Walrus and his presumed kinfolk?)

    Speaking of the sword, I can’t tell if that’s a sword scabbard or a gun holster on his left (our right), and if it’s a gun, why is he bringing a knife, etc, etc? ER Burroughs’ Martians didn’t use guns much because of honor or some such, but I wouldn’t expect a Chandler character being so impractical.

  14. A.R.Yngve Says:

    Alt-Martians: Martians who have retreated into extreme Martianism.

  15. GSS ex-noob Says:

    @Bruce: I had to Google that. You are correct, sir! What odd critters.

    We hear about Little Green Men all the time; rarely a Big Green Man.

    I couldn’t tell whether it was a scabbard or holster either.

    @ARY: Could actually apply to this cover.

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