We all know what kind of books Bill Crider reads these days (nudge nudge, wink wink), but what was he reading twenty-five years ago? For the straight skinny, we take a squint at this official author photo from the back of tomorrow's Forgotten Book. Oddly, while Mr. C is known primarily for his mystery and western fiction, there are apparently no westerns represented here, and only one mystery (and that's in a foreign language).
First, what are these two volumes he's putting the squeeze on? Obviously, they have some special significance to him. Here they are:
Next, there are at least four volumes of John Norman's Gor series visible here. Bondage, anyone?
Many masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy reside on these shelves. Robert Bloch, Leigh Brackett, Piers Anthony, Robert Silverberg, Ben Bova, Larry Niven, and Frederic Brown to name but a few. And tucked right in with them are a couple of Doc Savage books (including this one) and the saga of Robby the Robot. What's that weird critter in front of the Conan the Liberator? I don't have a clue.
Remember the Weird Heroes series? I'm pretty sure Bill does:
Remember I mentioned there's one mystery visible here? This is it. Translation: Too Late to Die (first in the Dan Rhodes series). Barbwire bondage? And who knew Bill could write in Italian?
Here's where things get eclectic. This is apparently the Motion Picture shelf. Along with Picture by Lillian Ross (the story of the filming of The Red Badge of Courage), we find:
And way down in the corner, where we weren't supposed to see it, is the Parenting section. Can you see Bill administering baby care? Naaaaaaahhhhhh.
Tune in tomorrow to see the front side of this week's Forgotten Book.
16 comments:
Evan, I enjoyed this post — thanks. Such variety on Bill's bookshelf.
I'm not surprised. Bill has every paperback ever printed. Most of them signed.
Yikes. Those shelves look different now, but I do still have all those books.
But is the Dr. Spock signed?
Jeff
I sure do remember sneaking a read of Ecstasy and Me. Is that one signed? How many more books are there 25 years later?
Hilarious...Great post ...
LOL. Very funny. Course, I got a lot of those same books.
Notice Bill is smiling in this photo. When you look at the books, you know why.
I always knew Bill was a man of taste. Now I know what kind. :)
Bill could certainly write a giallo as they are usually understood, but the Rhodes novels?
I heard he has a copy of Cleopatra's a bio - signed.
BTW, Bill, what the heck IS that thing in front of Conan the Liberator?
But does he hide money in the pages?
Nice collection. Nice Post, funny, too.
The thing in front of the Conan book was sort of a gator. It was wax, and it's gone now. The gator had apparently had a big meal and not digested it.
This is the best kind of dorkishness!
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