"The Anarchistic Colossus" A E Van Vogt (1977)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

I’m sure this book sucks cuz it was written in 1977 but the cover is cool enough to deserve posting. Found at the Half Price Books at 183 and Anderson Mill Rd in Austin.

A Mile Beyond the Moon_C M Kornbluth_1962
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

Kornbluth is amazing, and yet he also died young, so tragic. My favorite book by him is “Wolfbane” with Fred Pohl [sic?], but the cover isn’t cool enough to showcase. It’s prolly a better read though, I’ll post it if I ever find a good lookin copy. Pryamid alien mind invasion.

"No Time Like Tomorrow" by Brian Aldiss (1959)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

I think this may be the oldest book cover that I’ve uploaded yet. Brian Aldiss is amazing, I’m sure that I’ve read half of these short stories in other anthologies before. Read “Trillion Year Spree” and you’ll come close to knowing half as much as I do.

"The Quincunx of Time" by James Blish (1973)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

So what is a quincunx, you ask? I don’t know but it inspired this totally badass sf book cover. I think there are several texts that reference it. Some sort of interstellar communicaxion device, Web 2099.0, duh.

Nebula Maker and Four Encounters_Olaf Stapledon_1983
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

It could be that only my closest friends know why I consider this such an amazing find, but let me just say this: I’m glad that no one goes to the Half Price Books at MOPAC and Parmer in Austin.

"Krazy Kat" by Jay Cantor (1988)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

Okay this may not strictly be SF but this book is an amazing examination of why Krazy Kat ceased publishing post-1945 (beyond the mere trifle of George Herriman’s death). The atomic bomb changed everything. How much more SF could a work of literature be? Thanks to Meg for the amazing Christmas present.

"Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert (1975)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

Mike Miles reprezent

"The Star Dwellers" by James Blish (1961)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

I barely remember what this book is about. It was entertaining but its forgettable sixties sf. The coolest part about it is that when I bought it (in San Antonion or Denton, I can’t remember which) it was in a bag. Or maybe it was in Austin? Jeez. Anywayz, James Blish stole the idea for sentient star beings from Stapledon.

"The Wind Whales of Ishmael" by Philip Jose Farmer (1971)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

This book begins directly after “Moby Dick” (my favorite book) ends with some of the characters falling through the sky of an alien world. Unfortunately, I found the writing so dismal that I didn’t get much further than that. But the cover’s still dope. Reminds me of the Outback in the Maxx, y’all remember that? Reprezent Air Whales forevz. Anywayz, I picked up this dope-lookin tome at a used book store on Haight street when I went to San Fran in 2005.

"The Wizard of Linn" A E Van Vogt (1962)
Originally uploaded by M I I Z Z Z A R D

This book has been staring at me for years and I have never opened it up but I’m going to take it back to Austin with me and finally read it. I love A. E. Van Vogt, prolly one of the craziest sf authors ever. His later work blows cuz he became a Scientologist. But this book was originally serialized in a magazine in 1950 so it should be good. I’d say don’t read anything after 1970 but that may be too late. Here’s the back cover blurb: “12,000 A.D. – The Earth, after the atomic holocaust, had reverted to a strange kind of barbarism where men could build spaceshipts but could not communicate except by the most primitive means. Alien invaders had been sighted at the edge of the galaxy – but no one took action. Only one man, THE WIZARD OF LINN could save the decadent empire and with his mysterious powers, prevent the Earth’s destruction.” Wow. Such bad grammar.