The author of this Sunday’s Ace Double book is originally from my own home county of Yorkshire in England which is hardly known as being a hotbed for science-fiction. I’ve previously read a couple of novels by Brian M. Stableford which I enjoyed immensely and so I was pleased to find one of his earlier stories amongst a later batch of Doubles I recently acquired which were all published in the seventies. The tagline is most perplexing;
Complete the quadrilateral – and the universe is yours
The inside blurb talks of a king who is “black of body and of blood” who has claimed the earth but struggles with a controlling “powerful aggregate mind” in the form of the blind worm. The novel describes a vicious battle through time and the universe between this “pseudo-man and animal-machine”.
The rather psychedelic cover art by Jack Gaughan is fantastic and is a great example of the reaction against more conservative, genre-specific artwork beginning to take hold during this period.
I suspect that this will be a more thought-provoking read than is usual for my weekend choice but am ready to dive right in. Let me know what you think of this cover illustration in the comments and join me again next Sunday as I turn over the book for more Ace Double mayhem.
The Blind Worm by Brian Stableford
(Serial Number 06707)
This version was published in 1970 by Ace Books
The cover artist is Jack Gaughan
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Yes, but did you really read this today I wonder…?
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Sounds like a fascinating plotline, quite up my street. Gorgeous expressionist inspired cover too, brings to mind Paul Klee.
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It was indeed a gloriously odd read Mr Nash, very strange and highly enjoyable. Good call on the cover art too, it’s definitely got an air of Klee about it. All the best to you and Ms Webster.
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Your description of the content intrigues me, and this cover instantly became one of my favorites!
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Glad to hear you enjoyed the artwork on this one Lin, the book was wonderfully strange too and proved to be a great read. All the best x
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