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Sep 15

I'm sure the blurb is a Yoda quoteClick for larger image

Marvin Comments: Shield-protected from an errant mouse cursor.

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: 6.23 out of 10)
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21 Responses to “Empire of the Atom”

  1. THX 1139 Says:

    He got to work late and this is all they had left.

  2. Francis Boyle Says:

    Needs either some ting or some arse.

  3. fred Says:

    Looking at the assembled firepower and general destruction they must be fighting cat people riding unicorns.

  4. The Blue Are Coming Says:

    I spot a quisling. Redhead switched to the winning side.

  5. The Blue Are Coming Says:

    @THX
    GSS right out of the gate.

  6. B. Chiclitz Says:

    (sigh) Another ridiculous scabbard placement. When will the UAI instructors ever learn?

  7. Tor Mented Says:

    A thousand nations of the Persian empire will descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun.
    Wait. Not those arrows. That’s just the Immortals farting around. OK, get ready, thousand nations of Persia. Aim, fire! Our arrows will blot out the sun like you wouldn’t believe. Any minute now. You’re gonna see so many fricken arrows your head will spin. Right. OK, I’m not kidding this time …

  8. Leak Says:

    @Francis Boyle: reminds me of the well-known movie quote “get your mass to arse!”…

  9. Tat Wood Says:

    Did he dye his beard to match his kilt?

  10. JuanPaul Says:

    When you are 450 moves into civilization 6 and still have melee units.

  11. fred Says:

    Pretty much a text book example of a ‘thousand yard stare’.

  12. Bruce A Munro Says:

    The guy in the tank is yelling at his driver to drive closer so he can stab the enemies with his spear.

  13. GSS ex-noob Says:

    @THX has pipped us all to the post. GSS!

    If it was me, I’d want to be in the tank — some of those arrows are bound to be dangerous, eventually — but judging from his facial expression, this guy is beyond caring.

  14. Bruce A Munro Says:

    @fred, ex-noob: after several thousand years, Strongkules the Immortal Warrior long ago ran out of shits to give.

  15. Hammy Says:

    A. E. Van Vogt, Author of “The Pawns of Null-A Abridged”? You mean, he really didn’t write the non-abridged version?

    I’m confused. (No surprise there!)

  16. Bruce A Munro Says:

    @Hammy: no, but the abridged version is much less of a slog and therefore more worth boasting about.

  17. Bruce A Munro Says:

    This book had quite a few covers of varying levels of goofyness:

    https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=van+vogt+empire+of+the+atom&form=HDRSC2&first=1&tsc=ImageBasicHover

  18. Tat Wood Says:

    @Hammy: his wife, E Mayne Hull, may have helped at some stage. If the abridgement meant cutting out her bits, this version probably makes even less sense.

  19. GSS ex-noob Says:

    @Bruce: those covers are all worthy of a Bing search.

  20. Bruce A Munro Says:

    @GSS ex-noob “@Bruce: those covers are all worthy of a Bing search.”

    And now: great moments in damning with faint praise.

  21. A. R. Yngve Says:

    The cover doesn’t make much sense today, but let’s put it in a historical context.
    Picture the publisher’s office in 1957 – a time of bigotry, repression and doubletalk:

    Editor: “Are you sure about this cover? It looks weird.”
    Artist: “Yeah! There’s a whole group of sci-fi fans who also love gladiator movies!”
    Editor: “Which fans are we talking about… specifically?”
    Artist [lowers voice]: “You know… friends of Dorothy.”
    Editor: “Okay. Print it.”

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