Hi All! GSS Admin here. So it’s probably that time.
Ever since the great technical problems days the database that runs on the GoodShowSir has been… well in an incredible mess behind the scenes. Honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to the site for a while… my sincere thanks to Bibliomancer for basically running everything here for as long (if not longer) than I did.
I’m going to be hacking away at the site for a bit over the next few weeks and not sure what it’s going to become or even remain.
Would love to know everyone’s thoughts, is GSS still an essential part of your daily internet life? I’ll keep this posted here and would love to think this won’t be our final post, maybe try to do something special if I can make things work.
Everyone here has been amazing and there have been some great adventures. I have loved everything from everyone’s comments, talking to amazing graphical artists to… Harlen Ellison sending me the largest rant I have seen from anyone about censorship… why he had to have the words Viagra, spam and drug references in his comment post I will never know.
On a recent visit to a book shop, I sat for a while going through the SCI-FI fantasy section, looking at all the new books I found myself laughing because they were all so good. Not a single anthropomorphic katana wielding creature. I looked to my wife, smiling away and said, “I wonder if we (GSS) had a hand in changing that.” I at least I like to think we might of played our part.
I’ll never stop searching though… for that perfect cover… the one with a dragon playing a guitar all while a man tiger scales a pyramid of semi-naked women. And I’ll say, “Good Show Sir… good show!”
GSS Admin!
EDIT 1 – So it looks like the submission form might have been a bit broken for a while. Possibily since Janurary. I wonder what beauties we have missed, sorry to anyone who thought we might just be ignoring them!
EDIT 2 – Sorry quick update. Have found a good method to move and at least maintain everything here. Apologises though I am just very much lacking in personal time to do the work though. Common thing with me, but I will try and get things moved and hopefully improved soon!
(Average: 8.73 out of 10)
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July 19th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
I do hope you’re able to deal with the backend problems and that this won’t be the final post. I do enjoy GSS, it’s always fun to see ways that artists have interpreted the books (and sometimes to wonder what they were on!)
July 19th, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Have ALWAYS enjoyed this site and the daily updates to it. Though the results are often hilarious, the creativity and imagination and effort that was put into drafting all those covers is still pretty amazing. It must be quite a lot of work to keep things up on your end. I would happily keep reading these until the end of time, but I understand a desire to take a break and step back. Thanks!
July 19th, 2024 at 1:38 pm
First of all, thank you, Bibliomancer and everyone else for all that you have done, making this one of the best sites on the web. And yes, it is an essential part of my day.
I thoroughly understand how much time and work a site like this must be, especially when it is a labor of love and not a revenue source.
That said, I would terribly hate to see it fold. It troubles me that the world will no longer be able to see my brilliant comments … uh, I mean OUR brilliant comments. OURS. All of us.
July 19th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Love the site, visit it daily (well, okay, more than daily — I confess to being a bit OCD about these things). Fully understand the pain of maintaining the server and database. Just be aware that, should GSS go to that great bit-bucket in the sky, it will remain on my bookmarks list and I’ll be visiting it occasionally anyway, as I do with any number of (apparently) moribund sites in the forlorn hope that someday, somehow, someone will post again.
July 19th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
This is actually one of the few sites I check daily. Hopefully, it will all work out…but if not, thanks for the many years of bad art and great comments.
July 19th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Yeah, I also check daily, even if only to see an Error page. With Awful Library Books having ended, this is my remaining fix for stupid book covers. 🙂
July 19th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
This site has always been a great deal of fun, and if it goes away for good I will really miss it. Afraid I can’t be of any help: last time I designed a webpage, Bush II was still trying to make a case for invading Iraq.
July 19th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
I lurked here for a decade prior to starting to comment or submit, and this site has always been a source of terrific entertainment and diversion. A tiny light of delight in the day.
So thank you and Bibliomancer and anyone else who had a hand in its operations. I hope you find a solution, and if I can help, let me know.
July 19th, 2024 at 6:41 pm
You are my 3rd website of the day… check email, look at a friend’s blog, head to GSS in anticipation of an entertainingly awful cover. You introduced the concept of Ting! into my life, for which I shall always be grateful.
So thanks to everyone for all the hard work and entertaining comments, and I have fingers crossed you will continue in some form.
July 19th, 2024 at 7:15 pm
Some days, this is the first site I look at before I dare face the news or my inbox.
After thirteen years, this is going to be almost a bad a wrench than leaving London for Rhode Island.
And you never did post the cover of ‘About Time’ Volume 3.
July 19th, 2024 at 9:13 pm
Well, I always check the site to see if it’s been updated (or if you’ve used those photos of Patrick Woodroffe’s multimedia project I sent you yet), but if the hassle has got on top of you and Bibliomancer, you’ve more than put in your time.
Hope you can get it sorted, but if not: thanks for everything. I’ve really enjoyed this site and I’ll be sad to see it over and done with
Thanks again, and Godspeed if it’s over now….
July 19th, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Thank you for everyones kind comments so far. I’ll make a better repsonse to everyone after a bit.
MaxBathroom – It looks like the submission form hasn’t be working probably since about Januray. 🙁 I am going to edit the post to mention that.
July 19th, 2024 at 10:32 pm
Please do your best to stay! The fun of the covers and the even greater fun of interacting with the commenters is something I look forward to every weekday. Usually before my email, like @Tat said. I’ve learned a lot and the GSS gang has helped my mood better than many prescriptions. Also agree with @Dave that it’s our last bastion of horrible books.
The rabbit holes we end up in are always good, like the recent one where I found a Continental Op story I’d never read, and neither had @B. Chiclitz.
Not to mention the truly epic Thread That Came To Sarnath. Someone needs to save that for posterity.
(Is the problem you or your ISP? If the latter, can you get a new one?)
Thanks THE SIZE OF A LAMBENT, CORUSCATING GALAXY OF TING! to Admin, Tag, and Bibliomancer.
Please give us a final go/no go date so we can say goodbye to all that. Is there any plan for keeping the site as-is, frozen in time till the HEAT DEATH OF THE UNIVERSE so we can still look at the covers and wit? (or at least a few months) As an American, it has been particularly cheering for me every 4 years.
Also, we’ll need a few days to make it so everyone knows how to get to the LIbraryThing bolthole.
In conclusion, “I…I…I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUUUU”.
July 20th, 2024 at 12:07 am
My wife and daughter’s howls of distress and anger ought to be audible to you from their separate continents from when I told them the news. My wife had just sent me a bunch of covers she found on Victoria Island.
Helpful tips from Chad on dealing with this loss: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o4owANaYAIw
July 20th, 2024 at 1:51 am
Let me join in to thank @Bibliomancer for his work (unbeknownst to me) to keep the site going.
I am a latecomer but have greatly enjoyed(?) the cosmically awful covers, and even more, the surprising and immediate wit I have seen here. I would miss it terribly if it ended.
July 20th, 2024 at 2:52 am
I, too, join in thanking GSS Admin, Bibliomancer, Tag Wizard, Tweet Jane (wherever she is), and all the posters for bringing joy to my computer screens.
I do check in here at least once a day, usually more. I hope that the site can at least be, as GSS-xn says so eloquently put it, “frozen in time till the HEAT DEATH OF THE UNIVERSE”. If not, please do let us know when we can come by to pay our last respects.
I offer what little computer skills I have in the quest to keep the lights on and the current humming in the place. I can’t say that I know much about websites, blogging or anything, but I’m willing to take a shot (I do know a bit about Python programming).
/me joins, in a tipsily endearing, off-key way, in the chorus with GSS-xn. Where’s A.R.Yngve to add his/her voice?
July 20th, 2024 at 3:36 am
First, I’d like to second everyone who is hoping that this site will remain online. Second, I’ve got a couple of bad covers that the form probably ate. Is there some other way to get them to you, if only for your private amusement?
July 20th, 2024 at 5:27 am
I love seeing these pop up in RSS reader, I hope it’s not an arduous fix.
July 20th, 2024 at 6:07 am
Knurd. I need a drink.
July 20th, 2024 at 9:41 am
This website is one of the very few things that make life on this primitive planet bearable. The covers and commenters have brought me, for one, great joy and lotsa laffs over the years.
July 20th, 2024 at 11:21 am
Stumbled on this site back in 2011 or maybe before I think looking for info on a sci-fi paperback with the most interesting cover that had come through a friends of the library sale where I volunteer (still!). https://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/?p=2664 if you are wondering. Have lately wondered why I’m not seeing it in my RSS reader so much but I’m not seeing so much that moves me to write posts either. It may be that the field is mined out.
I have thought for a while that it would be nice to fix the SEO-friendly URLs. Um, I have been known to make WordPress go again using the mysql command-line.
July 20th, 2024 at 3:12 pm
Always amusing, hope you stick around
July 20th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
I’d like to give a big “amen!” to what people have been saying: thanks so very much to everyone who has made this site what it has been all these years, posters and the folks working behind the scenes to keep the machinery in operation. Bravo to all.
July 20th, 2024 at 9:29 pm
I already expressed my chagrin and sense of los to GSSxn over on that other post, but I just would like to be here, as a part of this thread, until the heat death of the universe . . . .
And along with the other notable mentions, I want to remember Dead Stuff With Big Teeth, and all the others who’ve gone dark.
And keep searching for the return, someday, of narwals upon the parapets.
July 20th, 2024 at 11:47 pm
@GSS admin
I wasn’t trying to be catty mentioning that, and I apologise if it looked like I was being snotty. You’ve more than put in your time, and however sad I’ll be to see the site gone some photos I sent you not being used is a trivial matter.
July 21st, 2024 at 12:02 am
@BC: Where else online (much less IRL) could one ever hope to find narwhals upon the parapets?
@Max: I’m about to put up a series of bad covers I’ve found onto the LibraryThing group, hosted on Flickr. Perhaps you could do the same?
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24253/Good-Show-Sir
Would love it if everyone was to join there.
July 21st, 2024 at 2:16 am
@GSSxn—i’d need instructions on how to navigate that site and find all the other bozos on the bus. Bozos like me get nervous when we can’t find the herd.
July 21st, 2024 at 3:00 am
Thanks to all for their work.
I visit the site a few times a week, and would be sad to see it go.
I’m not sure how, but I’d love to be ale to help keep the site going.
July 21st, 2024 at 4:50 am
Regular reader via RSS chiming in.
Big fan of the site, hope you stick around — or at the very least migrate to some other platform (that supports RSS and doesn’t require an account). Tumblr still exists.
If cash would help, start a patreon, or post a Zelle or PayPal address, (or this: https://tiptopjar.com/ ) and I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one to chip in.
July 21st, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Well, it’s your decision as the father of this site, but I do hope that it’s going to continue, at your convenience and in whatever form you prefer.
I really enjoy the posts and the comments, it’s really a most fine place in the internetty universe.
Like Hoss says, if necessary do consider a Patreon or similar, there IS going to be interest!
July 21st, 2024 at 6:27 pm
GSS has been on my list of daily web sites visits since I first discovered it years ago. I’m a big SF fan and just love the covers you show. Hope you can keep it going.
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:01 am
@Hoss: That’s a great idea. If the problem is money and not burnout.
I’ve never built a webpage with comments — and like @Bruce, haven’t coded one since long ago — so can’t offer any substantive help.
@BC: I just click on the link I gave and flail around from there. Unhappy Maknam.* Replying to things is straightforward. Although some people are using other names; we may need a sticky for those. We need more bozos there, for sure.
It’s been interesting how many people whose names I don’t recognize have popped in here to share how much they like the site.
*Mr. xn, as a lifelong DEC geek, likes that album best. Saw the Firesigns live in the 90s. Still have the pickle.
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:24 am
I’ve started a new thread and have 2 more on that to come.
Please enjoy, and LMK if you can see it properly.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/362179
@Haydn (sorry, forgot your name here) saw this right away.
July 22nd, 2024 at 7:27 am
I have now posted my second find. Further adventures of the Lackey.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/362179#n8582697
July 22nd, 2024 at 8:03 am
I notice that if you look at the linked LT page, you can’t see the comments. I use Firefox for everything but LT: I wonder if that’s why.
July 22nd, 2024 at 4:20 pm
GSS never fails to bring a smile to my face in the mornings, and I would miss it if it went away. But I’m also old enough to understand and accept that all good things come to an end. Do what you gotta do and Godspeed.
July 22nd, 2024 at 5:40 pm
GSS has been a constant for me since I learned about it years ago. More weekly than daily lately, but what can you do?
I would love to see it carry on, but even more important if it is time for it to end, then let it end instead of carry on in some sort of zombie state like so many other sites.
If nothing else, I think we all need to see Harlan Ellison’s rant. Maybe you can get Viagra to sponsor it.
July 22nd, 2024 at 8:01 pm
I was also a lurker for years before actually getting up the nerve to comment a few years back. This site kept me sane and upbeat during Covid and other bummer stuff going on around the globe. GSS has been part of my happy tea time, snorting over great cover offerings and reading the related sass. Sarnath… the thread that never ends…
I understand if it may be time to retire the site, but man-o-man what a special place to hang out… Thanks GSS, Tag Wizard, Biblomancer, all the regulars, non-regulars, one-offs GSS had to block, introduction to parody earworms that I will never get out of my head, rockin’ ukuleles, and warnings to other transit riders that a bus is a great place to read old dogeared faves with questionable cover art while wearin’ socks’n’sandals, togues’n’mismatched oversized jewelry.
July 22nd, 2024 at 9:54 pm
I agree with @Grizz: at least show us Harlan’s rant (or a link to it) as a lovely parting gift.
I mean, I’ve been in fandom for decades and actually spoken to him on several occasions and I never got a rant.
Petition to copy the existing Sarnath thread and re-host it on LibraryThing. It should not be allowed to go eldrichly into that bad night.
July 22nd, 2024 at 11:33 pm
What everybody else said, only more.
@33: Haydninvienna (I promise you, it made sense when I chose it, 16 or so years ago).
July 23rd, 2024 at 7:23 am
I am up to 3 Lackey/BAEN!!!embarrassedeventotakephotosof covers on LT and have 2 more.
And then off to the dozens of others over the last 6 years.
I’m adding the title info. In case someone can’t see my pix, they can still have all the “fun” via ISFDB.
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:14 am
Well, this is weird. I log into LibraryThing, go to the page https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24253/Good-Show-Sir%21-%E2%80%94-bad-science-fiction-and-fantasy-covers, and go to the specific topic https://www.librarything.com/topic/362179 – and then it says “Join Library Thing to Post”. I go back to the previous page, refresh, and I’m shown as logged in and a member in the group: and when I go in to “Lackey is Lacking” again, again it says “Join Library Thing to Post”. Anyone know what’s going on?
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:20 pm
@BAM—that’s pretty much exactly what happens to me–just going round and round . . . . I think I will not be able to get in there, even though I see comments by some fellow GSSers, mostly GSSxn. I think I’m trapped in the Phantom Zone with Mon-El (I guess that dates me; I don’t know where Mon-El is now).
July 23rd, 2024 at 10:13 pm
@B. Chiclitz: the thing is, I was able to get in and post comments a few months back, when we had another extended hiatus. Dunno what has changed. I’ll have to try and see if I can do it on my phone.
I think Mon-el has been out for a while, but (depending on your continuity), you could still have quite a bit of company.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Phantom_Zone#Residents
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:02 pm
I can’t remember how I found this site, but it’s been in my bookmarks forever. For a few months now, I’ve been spending my work breaks going back through the archives. Though I’d be sad to see the site disappear, I can’t pretend y’all haven’t done your time if you’re ready to quit.
July 24th, 2024 at 3:31 am
Sometimes I can be logged in but it won’t let me comment, so I dunno. Might be their servers, we seemed to be doomed to that wherever we go. I blame Big Art. Or else computers hate UAI.
I hope you guys can at least see my bad covers from the past week. 2 more in that topic to go!
July 24th, 2024 at 3:58 am
As creator of the group on LT, I feel kind of responsible for this. I’m going to cross-post some of this thread in the Talk about LibraryThing group and see if I can get any idea of what is going on.
July 24th, 2024 at 4:08 am
Just a thought: BAM, what happens with your cookies? You allow cookies from LT, right?
July 24th, 2024 at 4:12 am
See https://www.librarything.com/topic/362206 (said he, hopefully).
July 24th, 2024 at 7:22 am
See https://www.librarything.com/topic/362206#8583891.
July 24th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
I do love this site. I do hope it stays up, at least archivally, if not active going forward. That been said, we’ll certainly understand if it just too much to maintain this beast going forward.
July 24th, 2024 at 11:46 pm
I’ve added another to this thread over in our dinghy (this site is the super-yacht, and we’re certainly dingy).
https://www.librarything.com/topic/362179#n8583332
One more to come there; any future contributions will each be in separate threads like here. But, hey, Megapost for our grand opening.
@Bruce has solved his commenting problem, I’ve figured out how to get pictures there (sort of), and @LL is working hard and has even brought in new blood. Please join us.
July 25th, 2024 at 12:01 am
@GSS-xn (#prev.):
Super-yacht? Did Toby upgrade already? Well, since I heard his old one got trashed on the GSS Premium Club’s New Year’s cruise 2018/2019, he probably figured it was cheaper to buy new than try to have the old one repaired…
August 2nd, 2024 at 9:49 am
SO… I might have found a way to save everything and at least leave it in a more sustainable way. Who knows, maybe we can actually add some more features finally! 😉
Just thought I would say to everyone still working on things!
August 2nd, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for the update.
August 2nd, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Woo! Sounds promising. Also, the black AC/DC shirt I’ve been wearing during this “mourning period” has gotten a little ripe… my family and coworkers thank you for your efforts.
August 2nd, 2024 at 4:50 pm
@GSS admin.
Ah…good! I had thought of throwing together a quick WIX website/blog thing if all else fails.
I’m really hoping you get everything fixed. Thanks!
August 3rd, 2024 at 2:42 am
@GSS admin (#54):
Thank you for your valiant efforts!
August 3rd, 2024 at 2:51 am
Unexpected good news!
@L_L under their seekrit identity was able to archive SARNATH, but there’s no room for all of the covers and comments.
Until @Admin gets this fixed up (I am still expecting the database gremlins to pop up at least once more, because they do), and to add new stuff, I remind you again of our bolthole at:
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24253/Good-Show-Sir
I still haven’t figured out how to embed the photos and have to put in Flickr links (might be my brain overheating), and the structure doesn’t allow a tag cloud (maybe me?).
But it’s there. I’ve put covers up, Bruce has figured out how to embed photos and is making quality comments, and @paradoxosalpha is too, whoever they might be here. Pulp magazine covers also accepted, as are ISFDB pictures. So you don’t have to spot them in the wild.
And you can edit your comments for days, and directly reply.
My latest, which gave me a possibly-final chance to make the running joke about Gordon Dickson out standing in his field, is here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/362392#n8590357
See how it devolves into disco and Top of the Pops!
I’ve also inflicted no less than 5 Lackey books on the readers, largely — dear God — collector’s series hardbacks.
Please come join us till @GSSAdmin can work this last miracle. Let’s spread the work out among us all, as we’ve spread out the fun. @Ryan, you must have plenty more stored up.
August 3rd, 2024 at 8:43 pm
@GSS ex-noob: to embed pics use this template: https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_img.asp
img_girl.jpg is going to be the URL of the picture you’re using. alt= isn’t really necessary: it just displays text (“Girl in a jacket”, for instance) if the URL is bad. Width and height determine display size: it’s simplest to just use one, and the system automatically determines the other from the existing proportions.
(I’m giving you the link rather than the template itself, because when I try to post it here it doesn’t show up, through some html bafflegarb.)
August 4th, 2024 at 12:00 am
@Bruce: Thanks so much! I will attempt this, but not right now because weekend.
I might use the alt text sometimes if I can come up with anything half as funny as GSS has provided us with over the years. Ooh, I could make the final outstanding in his field or any other field reference!
August 4th, 2024 at 12:12 am
Dear Admin:
1. SF version
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG2.hFoqvoMDRreabht6kn7F?pid=ImgGn
2. Fantasy version (Asian)
https://www.bing.com/th/id/OIG3.ORfhBaamIcWaTm9qgclT?w=540&h=540&c=6&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=ImgGn
I’m not very good at AI prompts. Also it balked at “semi-naked”.
August 4th, 2024 at 12:20 am
And for the total WTF but groovy version from the early 70s:
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG2.OZwmh9I0RrdF7JxqPQae?w=1024&h=1024&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain
I’ve no idea where the extremely cool brother-man came from, but I’d at least look at the blurb.
🎶Shaft!🎶
August 4th, 2024 at 12:30 am
@Admin I don’t know if my comment needs approval or if I accidentally deleted it, but I have the SF version
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG2.hFoqvoMDRreabht6kn7F?pid=ImgGn
and the Asian fantasy version
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG3.ORfhBaamIcWaTm9qgclT?w=1024&h=1024&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain
August 4th, 2024 at 12:38 am
and I think this one is from DAW in the 70s
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG2.VvKXaI8KUKY1J.a4g5Tn?w=1024&h=1024&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain
and I’m outta free prompts today.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:08 am
Please keep GSS alive, it’s so much fun.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:59 pm
I’m really sorry for putting in Bing links, but that’s where I get my AI art made.
And I did want to give dragons, tigers, a pyramid of women, and guitars to @Admin for his years of service.
August 13th, 2024 at 8:51 pm
@BC: I tried a bunch of times and it often wouldn’t even be able to do it, so alas this is the best I can do for Narwhals Upon The Parapets:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/201031110@N03/53921129736
Really not what I had in mind. Sorry.
August 17th, 2024 at 11:09 pm
@GSSxn—It’s quite a nice image, actually. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Are we dead yet or just still in some sort of halfway zone? Will we come back at some point? Will I find an “Error 404 Not Found” or “Failed to establish database connection” notice next time I click on GSS? Strange days indeed. Be well, all, in case this is the end.
August 18th, 2024 at 6:19 am
@BC: You are most welcome. They look more like dolphins with fake horns, but I blame AI for that. It’s pretty cute though.
I come back here every other day to see if it’s still up. I hope at least what we already have is preserved.
In the meantime, we need more of you lot over at the Library Thing site. SARNATH is archived there in full, and some very amusing new covers have shown up, from both books and pulps. And the rules are loosened so that you don’t even have to find the gems in the wild! Although I’m working through my giant backlog of things that never made it here.
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24253/Good-Show-Sir
August 23rd, 2024 at 1:56 pm
Apologises everyone, I am just very much lacking in personal time to do the work in transfering things to a new server. Common thing with me, but I will try and get things moved and hopefully improved soon!
August 27th, 2024 at 9:02 am
Seconding GSSxn @70. When I set up the LT group, I carefully said that it wasnt intended as a substute for this site, It still isn’t, as far as I’m concerned, and I’d like to think we can have both.
August 31st, 2024 at 2:04 am
@L_L: More is always good.
It was very psychologically helpful when there was another database outage this week. Sometimes the brand-name version is sold out and you can get by with the store brand.
October 3rd, 2024 at 2:53 pm
Anybody out there? Hello to all! Just whispering down the lane.
October 3rd, 2024 at 4:53 pm
*cricket* *cricket*
October 4th, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Still checking in daily to see an old cover and laugh at the jokes.
October 5th, 2024 at 12:27 am
I still pop my head around the door every two or three days; Library Thing isn’t doing it for me.
October 5th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
I still look in, usually daily.
I think many are afraid that any attempt to post will cause another issue. Nobody wants to think they’re the cause for GSS to go away.
October 8th, 2024 at 4:56 pm
Still here, apologises everyone, life has been insanely busy. This weekend I promise to do something… saying that here to give me extra motivation 😀
October 8th, 2024 at 8:35 pm
@Tat W—ditto; can’t get a groove on for library thing. Not enough dada. Deep affection to you all. (We can still talk to each other at least; and it’s still better here than most of the internets.)
October 9th, 2024 at 4:01 am
@BC, I had to note a jaunty hip without you over on LT! Please join us!
Bruce is finding the most excellent pulp covers, and I had a week of Lackey.
I think we need a critical mass of people to go full Dada in comments, though the covers are fine.
Our old pal the Maytag repairmen with the crashed rocket appeared last week, but sans title so I can’t find it here.
You can post online pix too, not captured in the wild.
The buxom babes, tough heroes, and goofy aliens continue.
October 9th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
@GSSxn—you are inspirational in your unflagging energy and desire to keep the old gang more or less intact. Unfortunately, I get hopelessly lost trying to navigate that site. I think I created an account but I can’t find it anymore, and if I try to create a new one, it tells me there already is one. I’ll try again; any advice is welcomed.
Did you ever learn the classic poem “Eletelephony” in grade school? That’s what I feel like.
by Laura Elizabeth Richards
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant—
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone—
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee—
(I fear I’d better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
October 22nd, 2024 at 3:25 am
@BC: It’s not that hard, though admittedly tougher than here. Try just reading and lurking for a bit; maybe you can do that without an account? Bruce and others are marvelously helpful.
Pulps III is not to be missed.
Yes, I learned that too! Always made me laugh. My brother and I called it a “telephunk” for a few years.
November 5th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
I haven’t been checking in here regularly for a while, so I’m very glad to see the site is working again. It’s ironic that this is now one of the longest threads on GSS.
November 7th, 2024 at 4:51 am
Considering the depressing news, I’m glad the site is still up.
Bruce’s finding of pulps over on LT is amazing and astounding, ha.
Even if you can’t join in, do at least look in once in a while to enjoy the bad covers. Today there’s some AI art for classic books that is, well…
The link in #70 will take you to view the “art”. I hope it helps.
I myself am binging reruns of “The Wild Wild West” today, because OG steampunk is a good distraction.
November 7th, 2024 at 10:58 am
@ex-noob: I’ll give it another go but my server didn’t like it last time.
With you on “Wild Wild West”, until the fourth year when they make it a more orthodox western and we get the Artimus-of-the-week auditions. It remains the one time Fred Frieberger coming into a series didn’t immediately lead to cancellation.
Two big memories: one is finding it on VHS in Tati, the French equivalent of Primark, and enjoying the desperate way the translated dialogue tried to keep pace with the plot; the other, just after the Moon Landing, when they showed it on LWT, and my dad patiently explaining that the episode was funny because America doesn’t have a queen. It took me a while to comprehend that this meant they had actually chosen Richard Nixon. I resolved to have nothing to do with these strange people – a vow I maintained until I married one of them.
November 8th, 2024 at 5:10 am
I’m in season 2, so no chance of that. I saw 3 and 4 last cycle; they don’t seem to show much of 1, maybe because it’s B&W. Although there’s plenty of B&W Westerns on the same channel. I didn’t approve of the fake Artemi at the time or now, but whatcha gonna do when your star has a broken leg and a major heart attack.
America’s never had a queen much beyond late in QE I’s reign. She got credit for Virginia and the tiny bits clinging to the East Coast, but no queen beyond 1603. Things named for James VI/I and the earlier Georges (plus families) are far more common.
November 10th, 2024 at 2:44 am
*rides off into the sunset*
November 10th, 2024 at 4:00 am
@DSWBT(#prev.):
Waves and bids a sad “adieu”. It’s good to know you’re still among us, though.
November 10th, 2024 at 5:06 am
@DSWBT—great to detect a signal! This really is life in the Phantom Zone. GSS!
November 10th, 2024 at 5:17 am
Dead Stuff: You would be uncommonly welcome in our new LibraryThing group (as would any other GSS denizens who haven’t made their way there yet): https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24253/Good-Show-Sir!-—-bad-science-fiction-and-fantasy-covers.
November 11th, 2024 at 3:55 am
DSWBT!!!! Huzzah! We have been missing you for years! In my darkest moments, I’d worried you had gone the way of your dinos.
Come join us at the new place if you can. If not, then I will stand here crying “Shane, come back!”
December 14th, 2024 at 10:51 am
I don’t know which is more pathetic: my habit of assuming that inability to contact database means something’s being repaired or my good cheer when it comes back, even if there’s nothing new.
December 14th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
I hear you, Tat Wood.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
@Tat Wood—my feelings exactly. BTW, try as I might, I just can’t deal with Library Thing, so my only hope is an eventual resurrection here. Happy Holidays to all!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Happy new year everyone.
Sorry for my lack of anything. I really really am looking at doing something soon. I am not going to say when so I dont have to disappoint people. Just life has been a bit crazy of late.
I even have a couple of covers I found in a second hand shop. 😀
January 16th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Woo! Just popped by… Happy 2025, everyone! I hope everyone is doing well it a delightfully nerdy kinda way.
I have also been on the crazy train as of late and have not given Library Thing much of a chance…
January 17th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Happy New Year, everyone.
January 18th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Happy New Year, everyone! At least there’s finally something here, instead of nothing!
January 18th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
Happy New Year to you all, all the best for the Tag Wizard.
January 18th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Boy it’s good to *hear* your voices. BTW, a friend just sent me a Xmas present copy of Harlan Ellison’s finally-published-after-fifty-years THE LAST DANGEROUS VISIONS. Not much of a cover, but highly recommended. Even from beyond the grave, we have to deal with Ellison . . . .
Best wishes to all!
January 20th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
Happy New Year All.
@Tat W. – I was an infrequent visitor even back when everything was working, but I still check once in while and hope that seeing ‘Database Error’ means good tinkering is happening, not The End. (my knowledge of the back end of websites consists of the phrase ‘back end of websites’ so I have no idea what GSS is trying to deal with)
@Tor, Nov5 – I wonder if it was the Sarnath thread that broke it.
@B.C. – 1) The Apr 1 2017 post won’t make sense now. 2) The search box still works.