by Paula Bosse
Above, the author photo that appeared on the science fiction novel What Mad Universe (E. P. Dutton, 1949), the first book by influential sci-fi author Fredric Brown. Brown’s books were notable for their humor, and I can only imagine the amusement Brown experienced having this photo adorning the book that marked his leap from the world of pulps to big-time publishing. One wonders what his editors at Dutton thought.
THIS IS NOT AN ARC SPY
THIS IS NOT EVEN A LUNAN
THIS IS ONLY FREDRIC BROWN
Author of WHAT MAD UNIVERSE
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Sources & Notes
Top photo taken by me years ago when I was a rare books cataloger (larger image here). Second photo (with caption) from the blog Hairy Green Eyeball.
This … unique author photo was taken by “James Davey, Milwaukee.”
Photo of the book showing the jacket art from bookseller and sci-fi specialist and bibliographer Lloyd W. Currey (this first edition can be purchased on his site, here).
More on the amusing Mr. Brown can be found at Wikipedia, and a look at What Mad Universe can be found on the Amazing Stories website.
“Gutsiest author photo ever taken” is part of the online description of the book from ABAA bookseller The Fine Books Company (Rochester, MI).
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Copyright © 2017 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
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