I’ve been a fan of Justin Marriott’s PAPERBACK FANATIC series for years. This new issue focuses on the paperbacks of Belmont Books and Tower Books (Tower would merge with Belmont in the 1970s). Justin’s method is simple: show the covers and write a paragraph about the book, the author, and the cover artist.
PATERBACK FANTATIC #45 includes about 330 paperback covers. The most famous–or infamous–of these Belmont Books is Harlan Ellison’s Doomsman. Ellison would rip the book apart in front of the shocked owner who wanted Ellison to sign Doomsman at a convention. There are many stories about when Ellison destroyed every copy of Doomsman he came across. I suspect it had something to do with Belmont’s payments (or lack thereof).
If you’d like to google at hundreds of paperback covers and learn obscure facts about them, PAPERBACK FANATIC #45 is just waiting to turn you on! GRADE: A
Ellison apparently didn’t much like DOOOMSMAN as a piece of writing, but did recommend everyone read (Ms.) Lee Hoffman’s TELEPOWER instead. I wasn’t previously aware of the Lin Carer double…I imagine that was probably less than a treat.
I really should pick up some issues of PF.
Todd, I’ve been impressed with the seven or eight issues of THE PAPERBACK FANATIC that I’ve purchased over the years.
Belmont Tower did release the paperback of COLD CHILLS, the Robert Bloch collection, and slapped a typically ugly cover on it. The only BT release I bought as a new book.
Todd, Justin Marriott has a lot to say about the hideous covers on many of the Belmont Tower paperbacks!
Ah, Belmont…So much dreck, so little time. But every once in a while a gem would come shining through.
Jerry, dreck is being kind. A lot of trash writing…but you’re right about the few gems showing up from time to time!
George, in German Dreck is really bad – dirt and sh*t, trash, garbage, Müll is relatively harmless.
If you want to really hurt someone you don’t like you’d call him a Dreckskerl …
Those pictures remind me of the Carter Brown books – of course I would have tried to get 69 pleasures!
Wolf, sometimes the covers sold the books!
Jerry is right – a lot of dreck. And the quality of the books themselves? Just pathetic. I’d find the paperbacks in England often – things like Frank Gruber mysteries turned up over there pretty often.
Jeff, I wish I’d picked up more of these Belmont Tower books in the 1970s when they were plentiful…and cheap. Now, they’re a Hot Commodity for some collectors (not me).
I was unfamiliar with books my library didn’t buy from this era. I don’t think there was a bookstore within miles of us other than the book department at a store like GImbels. And this was not in their inventory. Not until I was an adult and went into used book stores did I come across series like this.
Patti, many of these Belmont Tower paperbacks are long gone. They were printed on cheap paper and not built to last.
I’ve heard of this but have never seen a copy and am not even clear about whether it’s a magazine or a book. Where do you get it? I do remember having some Belmont/Tower paperbacks long ago.
Michael, I’ve been buying THE PAPERBACK FANATIC on AMAZON. It’s worth every penny. Justin Marriott loves old paperbacks and knows quite a bit about them that I didn’t know. Highly recommended!
Paperback Fanatic #46 arrived from Amazon last week and I was disappointed in my first issue. Am thinking about trying Gary Lovisi’s Paperback Parade as it might have more appeal. Can anyone recommend it?
Kent, I can recommend PAPERBACK PARADE. Check this out: http://georgekelley.org/fridays-forgotten-books-545/