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Mar 25

Terminator 4 - Baby's Day OutClick for full image

Phil’s Art Direction: Who’s a cute little Harlie? Now, keep still for the cover artist, there’s a good little cyborg. When you grow up, you’ll be a famous writer and have your face on your own book!
Published 1975

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: 7.42 out of 10)
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21 Responses to “When Harlie Was One”

  1. THX 1138 Says:

    And his first words were “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do…”

  2. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    Harlie, the first self-aware computer to send data packets through semaphore.

  3. Bibliomancer Says:

    They could have gone either way. But when Harlie was two they removed the face half and went with the full cyborg look.

  4. Adam Roberts Says:

    This novel’s title has the acronym ‘WHWO’. Best spoken softly in a Keanu Reeves voice.

  5. Tom Noir Says:

    Apparently the artist had very little knowledge of actual circuit boards… but plenty of familiarity with Ancient Aztec Notebook Doodles.

  6. FearofMusic Says:

    He looks more Lego then cyborg. Built from the”Poorly Envisioned Future Technology Wonderland” kit ( a rare find these days, seldom seen).

  7. SI Says:

    “Honey… the baby has thrown up over himself causing a short circuit again!”

  8. Phil Nichols Says:

    Of all the many tags this cover might attract, “baldness” never occurred to me.

  9. fred Says:

    One of what? Churchill impersonators?

  10. Rags Says:

    I had the same problem with my toaster; dang thing thought it was human as well. Until that one fateful day good ol “toasty” decided to take a shower……..it’s too painful to speak of…

  11. Frank Says:

    I’d say the artist had a little bit of familiarity with printed circuit boards and/or IC lithography, such as they were in the 1960s and early 1970s.

    This is the cover I remember from reading this book when I was 13 or 14. I think I got it from a used book store, and yes I paid for it and took it home. I’ve got another couple cover shots for other editions that I can forward to Our Good Host for the slush pile. One’s very dark, the other is, um, photorealistic.

  12. David Gerrold Says:

    I consider this to be the single worst cover I have ever had on any of my books. This is from the early 70’s and I have no idea what the artist or the publisher were thinking. It’s an embarrassment.

    If you hadn’t selected it as an example of galloping godawful, I would have nominated it myself.

    The novel was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee. It deserved better than this.

    David Gerrold

  13. B. Chiclitz Says:

    Another would-be Gerber Baby head shot destined for the circular file, despite the pathetic attempt at cuteness with the pasted-on silicon dimple. Somehow, I suspect, Harlie vows revenge . . . .

  14. SI Says:

    @David Gerrold – Welcome aboard! At least the cover actually has something to do with the story.

    Though…. I’d still hide that one at the back of the bookshelf!

  15. Phil Says:

    Hooray, another GSS book attracts its author to join in the fun. Welcome, David Gerrold!

  16. Ian Says:

    What really? His name is Charlie? Oops.

  17. Hep C Says:

    Despite the ban, some scientists went on with their experimentation with Thalidomide.

  18. A.R.Yngve Says:

    Disney presents:
    HONEY, I WIRED THE KIDS

  19. Anna T. Says:

    I’m not sure what book, if any, deserves a cover with a demonic cyborg baby from the Uncanny Valley. Judging by Mr. Gerrold’s comment up there, this one in all likelihood was not it.

  20. lctwice Says:

    Nobody expected the singularity in the guise of the Gerber baby.

  21. GSS noob Says:

    Did the “author in comments” tag not exist yet when this was posted?

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