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Mar 27

Every knows all the planet sized girls who live in Jupiter love a man in a decorative space suit!Click for full image

Jaouad Comments: More proof of the ongoing Maori conquest of the universe.
Published 1987

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: 5.39 out of 10)
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19 Responses to “The Deceivers”

  1. Phil Says:

    That’s a mighty big V. What’s the motivation for that?

    This is another one for my Behind You! collection.

    Loving the return of the goldfish bowl space helmet. Curious about the placement of the pockets. Wondering if he knows one of them is empty.

    And:

    What IS he going to do with that rock? (I don’t care about the fluffy spear or the jeweled dagger; those are de rigeur for a space adventurer. But the rock is ever so slightly suspenseful.)

  2. Alessandra Kelley Says:

    Michael Whelan? Oh dear. I suspect very … controlling art direction.

    The Great Red Spot as woman is kinda trippy.

    Is something wrong with the perspective on the big planet? I keep thinking its lower border isn’t an actual arc of a circle, and its cloud bands don’t look like they’re on a sphere.

  3. Hep C Says:

    The story of a civilisation that mastered space travel but never discovered fire arms. They had, however, a thing for tribal necklaces.

  4. Jaouad Says:

    @Alessandra Kelley: I was surprised to see Whelan’s name in the tags. It’s nowhere on this paperback. And yes, the planet looks somewhat egg-like.

  5. Alessandra Kelley Says:

    Elliot was terrible at Easter egg hunts (It’s behind you!).

  6. J. Says:

    It’s a Whelan. His sig is on the suits triangle patch. Considering how many covers the man was doing at this point in time, you have to expect a flop here and there.

  7. Alessandra Kelley Says:

    Thanks, J. I was looking, knowing Whelan likes to incorporate his signature into his works. This one is definitely not one of his better efforts.

  8. THX 1138 Says:

    This is just one further inflation away from a Woody Allen in Sleeper puffy suit.

  9. fred Says:

    Anatomically correct knife scabbard art?

  10. Smith Says:

    “Hey hey we’re the Deceivers!
    People think we’re just deceivin’ around!”

    “Cut cut cut fellas. That just doesn’t scan. How about… erm… Monkeys?”

  11. Tom Noir Says:

    “Check it out! That cloud totally looks like a woman with her hand on her face!”

    “I don’t see it. Looks more like an ice cream cone to me.”

  12. A.R.Yngve Says:

    I’ve read THE DECEIVERS — incidentally, it’s one of Bester’s weakest novels (and far below the towering heights of THE STARS MY DESTINATION).

    The weird Maori stuff on the cover is actually in the book.

  13. Muttley Says:

    Oh, yes. I have this book, with a much worse cover (PanSF, 1981). That’s Rogue Winter, king of the Maori commandos, and what he’s going to do with that rock is kill a mammoth pig.

    On Ganymede.

    Come on, it’s Bester, you don’t expect anything mundane do you?

    I think the cover is very well done, with the exception of the heroine’s face replacing the Red Spot.

  14. Ian Says:

    The artist certainly never saw a Maori tattoo.

  15. Jaouad Says:

    @Ian says: “The artist certainly never saw a Maori tattoo.”

    That’s what bugged me too. And it makes me wonder about the other ‘tribal’ elements of his outfit.

  16. Jerk of all Trades Says:

    More realistic a space weapon than a ray gun; at least you won’t rupture the pressurized building when you fire it at your enemies during the plot-destined Big Tussle.

  17. Anna T. Says:

    I assume the spear is ceremonial, as there is no excuse in a future society spanning the galaxy for anyone to actually need an old-fashioned melee weapon in an age of energy weapons.

    Not sure why Jupiter’s been possessed by a giant female energy being, though.

  18. A.R.Yngve Says:

    This book has the most lying blurb of all time:
    “The true successor to THE STARS MY DESTINATION”

    Whoever wrote that line must have changed identity and escaped to a desert island long ago.

  19. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    @AR: ah, yes. Changing Your Identity and Escaping to a Desert Island. The true successor to OUR TRIP TO THE FLORIDA KEYS.

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