February 8, 2008

R. A. Lafferty

R. A. Lafferty, Nine Hundred Grandmothers, Ace

Compare these covers by Leo & Diane Dillon to this hilarious book cover from 1988. Notice a difference? (Not to say that I didn't just instantly buy East of Laughter.)

Last week on the New York Times Paper Cuts blog, the comedian Bill Hader gave his book picks. He touts Nine Hundred Grandmothers, a story collection by R. A. Lafferty (1914 - 2002). In the comments section, "naomi" mentions the artwork for Lafferty's Fourth Mansions in the Ace Science Fiction Special series. I realized I had these books and also Past Master, and all in that particular series, so I'm providing scans here. So far I've only read Past Master, a novel from 1968 and surely the only sci-fi book with Thomas More as the main character. I think with just that info you know whether or not you want to read it.




Nine Hundred Grandmothers



February 7, 2008

Oulipo Compendium

This post now resides on my other site 50 Watts: