Today's feature is Doc Savage paperbacks of the 1960s and '70s from Bantam Books. They're reprints from Doc Savage magazine, a pulp from the '30s and '40s published by Street and Smith. Nearly 90 percent of the initial Doc Savage stories were written by author Lester Dent. Kenneth Robeson was a house-name owned by Street and Smith.
Adventure awaits!
@DanJ@bookstodon
I'll be honest. My impression of Doc Savage is hearsay... I've yet to read his adventures.
Doc was a specimen of human perfection... seemingly physically and mentally superhuman to the average person, via training and education, but wholly human; akin to Batman.
Doc doesn't have a sidekick, but has trusted individuals he can count on for help. I'm unclear if these people commonly act as a team. I believe there's an old-school version of diversity among them.
I'm sure the motivation of Doc and his "team" aligned with the interests & nationalities of Allied forces from WWII. Doc's adversaries range from mystical & alien to earthly & megalomaniacal.
Superman & Captain America were likely partially inspired & created as Doc Plus, each with distinctly superhuman abilities.
For collectors of salacious sixties smut, a pair of vintage volumes – titilating tomes for a wanton weekend. Just 2 relatively tame titles from our sexy selection of naughty novels for your bawdy bedside library.
Edward Gorey artwork adorns this volume of witchy stories. It's full Gorey on the outside but, how gory on the inside? You'll have to buy it to know for sure! I don't expect this collector's item to be here long.
Now that Monday has been cast out, here are 2 books to help exorcise other evils. One supposes that "demons" are really aliens and we should seek to communicate, rather than expel them. The other seems to presume that only women can be demon-possessed. Maybe that's why Stephen King's famous fictional Fury was "Christine", instead of Carson.
I don't know what car make/model King wrote into the book, but the film car is a 1958 Plymouth Fury.
Side note: When the film was released, a local multiplex had a crushed car out front. It was rigged with a motion sensor. When activated, the lights would blink and a recording of a sexy female voice would play something like, "Hi. I'm Christine. Do you want to go for a drive?"
This was quite memorable—we didn't often get such promos in Dayton, Ohio.
Tonight's Vampire Ball at Next Door Lounge has inspired today's post. But, who can think of vampires without also conjuring werewolves? The King book is illustrated throughout by horror art icon, Berni Wrightson!
That's why I follow you even if I can't buy your books. You always manage to get the most enticing books around and I love to see what you have in store !! 🤗
10/5/23 Open 6-9p. No open containers, please. Dayton Ghosts & Legends signing tomorrow night!
The twisted imagination of H.P. Lovecraft gave literature many terrors beyond human reckoning. We would be less than insects to the horrors residing here in darkness or from the farthest reaches of space. His works have inspired many writers since. These 2 and many other frightening fictions are here now!
@BonnettsBooks@bookstodon
I love that the illustration of Cthulhu looks like he's just kicking back on a rocky beach, enjoying his best life. Get that man a fancy drink with a tiny paper parasol in it.
A few days ago I shared a 6 vol serial novel from Fawcett in '97. This is the set that inspired it, from Signet in '96. Note, the first vol of this 1st ed, 1st print set is embossed in silver. Later printings were embossed, but plain white. The other volumes are not embossed. This set is available here, now!
It's Banned Books Week. Are any of these on a ban list? Possibly. However, books aren't banned at Bonnett's. Many of the best books ever have been the target of bans, and I try to keep the classics in stock. Stop in and see!
From Harvard Lampoon in 1969, eventual founders of National Lampoon magazine gave us BORED OF THE RINGS, an epic parody of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." This '90s reprint edition will still delight anyone with a love of fantasy and a good sense of humor. Journey in for this and much, much more!
@jimbush@bookstodon I've yet to read this but I've always heard good things. Tbh, I'm guessing some of the character names, like this you mentioned, will drop cold on younger readers. Do Bromo Seltzer & Farah Slacks exist anymore? 😕
You're right, it's very much a thing of its time, in that "60s Mad Magazine poking at commercialism" way. But I think people in tune with that mindset will still enjoy it.
9/20/23 Open 6-9p. No open food/drink containers, please.
This book is a beater but still a treasure. That's the way it goes, sometimes. I may keep it. Sci-fi by authors you might not expect, plus known entities of the genre and then some!
This is truly one of my favorite sf books, I hope you kept it. A paperback-sized cute-af hardcover edited by the king of sf anthologies, Groff Conklin. Seriously, when are you likely to come across another story by A. Rowley Hilliard?
I've heard the Barbie movie can now be streamed, but Oppenheimer is still on deck. While waiting, if you're in the mood to supplement your knowledge of America's early atomic endeavor, "Now It Can Be Told–The Story of The Manhattan Project" might be just what you need. This vintage book is available here now.
Few people epitomize haunting season as does Vincent Price. His career spanned 6 decades and included much more than creepshows. Mysteries, classics, comedy, art, cooking, and more are among his books, audio recordings, radio shows, plays, dozens of TV appearances, voice work for animation and music videos, and more movies than I can list, here. Enjoy the discovery!
Gourmand gorehounds don't think twice... they know the reign of Vincent Price.
The public face we know so well, with style and wit he wove his spell.
His voice, that brow, and well-trimmed 'stache, inspire us all to Monster Mash.
His madman roles or chilling killers, concealed his zest for life... a thriller!
OtD 1966, Star Trek premiered on U.S. TV. I saw some in 1st run on a small b&w. I've been a fan since. In March '23: my 1st phaser! I used a shot of the bridge for this FPS-type pic. 2 wks ago I got a Lucille Ball Barbie™ to honor her contribution in Trek's existence. 2 days ago I reunited with my '80s library, >50% Trek!
Happy 57th, Star Trek! 🥂
I have difficulty keeping any editions of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. books in stock, but have recently acquired two collections, including these '70s Dells. If you're looking, now's the time to stop in!
@bookstodon
As I mentioned, it's tough keeping Vonnegut around. Someone came in and bought every one of the Dell books pictured. Luckily, I still have some KVJ on hand, but, the Dells – I think – are all gone.
12/19/23 — Open 6-9p. Mask recommended. No open containers, please.
Table-top role-playing games, and entertaining books of knowledge, secrets, & pop-ups can entertain kids of many ages for the holidays, but... be cautious with the fancier books, to keep them in good order.