Good Show Sir

Jul 14

Tom Noir’s Art Direction: Okay, this book is heroic Celtic fantasy, but the question is how do we sell it to the ladies? I’ll tell you how: full frontal nudity. What do you mean we can’t – okay, fine. Throw some strategically placed splashes over it to please the censors. But just so people get the picture, fill the remaining cover space with pictures of swords.

Published 1993

You might remember this from here.

Seriously, why do all these guys shave their body hair?
Amazing! Many thanks to Tom!

(Average: 8.63 out of 10)

Tagged with: Avonova Books • bladed weapons • Daniel Horne • dude • muscles • scrolls • shields • Song of Albion series • Stephen R. Lawhead • sword • WTF

Jan 23

The Creation of Human Ability

52 Comments »

Ah.. the chicken flute... a noble instrument... Click for full image

Bibliomancer Comments: And after only a few dozen sessions on the E-meter you will so far exceed normal human ability that you can eat a turkey drumstick wearing a bear suit and not feel stupid. Honest!
Published 1989

(Average: 8.98 out of 10)

Tagged with: bear • bearsuit • Bridge Publications • font problems • Henning Benndorf • L. Ron Hubbard • person in a bearsuit sitting onstage eating a turkey drumstick • WTF

Oct 05

Hail Hibbler

31 Comments »

Marmontoast Comments: As an online repository of truly dreadful sci-fi covers grows larger, the probability of seeing a rocket with Hitler’s face approaches 1 – Godwin’s Law of ghastly art direction.
Published 1980

(Average: 9.02 out of 10)

Tagged with: DAW Books • evil • Josh Kirby • nazi • planets • Ron Goulart • space • space ships • spaceships with faces • WTF

Nov 16

Connoisseur’s Science Fiction

33 Comments »

Well I don't know where we are going dinosaur horse but I thank god I don't have a nose! Click for full image

Alessandra’s Art Direction:It’s short fiction by some of the best, most respected science fiction authors in the field. So I want… A Viking with a bottom for a face! Riding the world’s most exhausted-looking dinosaur horse! With its tongue hanging out! Through a Dali-esque landscape out of the Old West! And give the Viking kind of … Samurai armor!
Published 1976

(Average: 8.70 out of 10)

Tagged with: Alfred Bester • beast-riding • Bob Fowke • dude • Eric Frank Russell • FaceBoob.com • Frederik Pohl • Fredric Brown • Good Show Sir • horns • Isaac Asimov • J.G. Ballard • J.T. McIntosh • Jack Finney • Kurt Vonnegut • mountains • Penguin Science Fiction • polymastia • strange creature • Theodore Sturgeon • Tom Boardman • waistcoat • wilderness • WTF

Mar 07

Tiger Tiger

32 Comments »

MAN KAT SEZ, BOW TIEZ R KEWL! Click for full image

Mr Cliftopher Comments: I can only guess that the only available artist was a 5 year old with some brand new crayons.
Published 1967
aka The Stars My Destination

Many thanks to the Cliftopher!

(Average: 9.22 out of 10)

Tagged with: Alan Aldridge • Alfred Bester • anthropomorphism • bow-tie • cat people • dude • font problems • Penguin Science Fiction • strange creature • Ting! • WTF

Dec 09

Moonsinger’s Friends

40 Comments »

In someones head, this probably made sense. Click for full image

I’m speechless. I asked you for a mermaid, riding a merhorse on an ocean wave with a rainbow coming out of her back. But this… this is so much more. A picture like this should be kept in the Louvre.

(Average: 8.14 out of 10)

Tagged with: Andre Norton • Anne McCaffrey • Bluejay books • C.J. Cherryh • Chronicles of the Deryni series • damsel • Diana L. Paxson • Diane Duane • horses • horses with hairstyles • Jane Yolen • Jayge Carr • Jo Clayton • Joan D. Vinge • Judith Tarr • Katherine Kurtz • Lythande series • Marion Zimmer Bradley • Meredith Ann Pierce • merhorse • mermaid • modesty-preserving hair • Nancy Springer • omnibus • once you see it • Poul Anderson • rainbow • Sandra Miesel • Susan M. Shwartz • Tanith Lee • Thieves' World series • Victoria Poyser • WTF

Nov 20

At the Mountains of Madness and Other Weird Tales

23 Comments »

Little did the world know... Rathrogaletech the Violator actually wanted to learn funk bass. Click for full image

Rusty’s Art Direction: Lovecraft, huh? In that case, of course we’ll have to slap a clarinetist on the cover. But that’s not very striking, is it? So give him more fingersyeahhe’s a hardcore monster clarinetist. Yeahand knuckleslots of knuckles. Put in more knuckles, just stuff those hands full of knuckles. Make them have more knuckles than fingers! Yeah, yeah, that’s it. And his body and neck, even his lips! MORE KNUCKLES! MORE KNUCKLES! MORE MORE MORE!!!……oh yeeeaaaaaaah…..that there is beauty!
Published 2009

(Average: 1.87 out of 10)

Tagged with: Barnes & Noble Books • evil • H.P. Lovecraft • Jeffrey Weinstock • knuckles on knuckles • monsters • music • WTF • Zdzislaw Beksinski