Last year I purchased a rather good copy of John Sladek’s The Reproductive System with a fabulous cover by Josh Kirby. I was a happy man. Last week I found a copy of another Sladek title I didn’t have on eBay with a superb cover and so without any further thought I clicked on the good old blue ‘Buy It Now’ button. It was only after checking on the ISFDB who the cover artist was that I realised I had bought The Reproductive System again but under an alternative title.
When the book arrived, it was even printed in small type on the cover, something I had missed in the small picture on eBay. Schoolboy error – I hadn’t done my homework properly. Still, the price was cheap and the Leo and Diane Dillon cover is great so balance has partially been restored to my lopsided book buying life.
The Moral of this story – do your homework thoroughly before buying your book of choice. I’d like to think I’m a little more careful now in light of this incident!
The Reproductive System
1970 – Mayflower
Cover art by Josh Kirby
Mechasm
1969 – Ace Books
Cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon
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I much prefer the second cover though, and think you got lucky!
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I love them both for different reasons but I’m glad I got the second book in the end. I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d known they were the same book, leave it or buy it. At least it didn’t cost much.
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I had a wry smile to myself reading this, after our e-mail chats yesterday 🙂 I prefer the first cover, Josh is one of my heroes, at least until his Pratchett stuff started. Still good work, and so very detailed, but not really my taste.
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I had a feeling you might see the funny side of this post Bernie. I have a soft spot for Josh kirby’s work too, the cover for The Reproductive System is just so beautifully measured and stark. I really love the Mechasm cover too which is a good job now I have them both!
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So prefer the Kirby cover! (’tis why it’s my site gravatar!)
I unfortunately own the second version… alas.
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I noticed that you’d started using it as your gravatar a while back. Shame you’re not closer Joachim, I’d be more than happy to trade it with you.
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