All (27) Avon SF Rediscovery Trade Paperbacks [Collector's Corner]

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Fantastic set! That expensive one that is a long poem looks really interesting!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

SF poetry, who would have thought.

[@vintagesf]

What an attractive publisher series with interesting authors. And most of them look to be in amazing condition. Great to see the entire collection. Way to go Ira!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Glad you liked it, inspired by VintageSF.

[@Tetsujin-28]

Star of the Unborn, Black Easter, Shadow of the Torturer and now Aniara. You have great luck in finding these very rare paperbacks.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Haha, patience usually pays off. I have got a bit antsy and paid ebay asking price for some things though.

[@salty-walt]

The Laser SF Series has a similar 70s livery. I'm not interested in most of their books, but I want two of them. I'm afraid if I get those two the pull of a matching set will start to grow on me, and pull me toward completion of their glorious matching framed front covers. I can see you know what I'm talking about. . . Amazing condition! Great-looking set! Everyone should label a part of their channel "collectors' corner" for when they do this sort of thing!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

The dangers and pit falls of collection, lol.

[@normdykstra9116]

I've considered trying to collect this series, but wimped out. Well done!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

A few of the books can be a challenge, that is for sure.

[@TauZeroSF]

What a fantastic overview! I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for some of these now. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

They are nice books and many can be found fairly cheap.

[@yotamshavit3779]

Funny enough, I just got my copy of Black Easter from this series. I ordered a copy I hoped to be just a regular edition, but got this beautiful end of the series copy. For just 7$ as well! Problem is, even if I wanted to complete this series now - it's VERY hard and quite an investment.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

$7 is a score, good job.

[@paulcampbell6003]

Great list and a very distinctive design! 👍 I've read a number of those (though in different editions, mostly UK). Some good titles on that list. Now, I would have thought the Malzberg would have been the most expensive. I have twenty of his books, but here in the UK _Revelations_ is impossible to find

[@sfwordsofwonder]

I think I got the Malzberg in this series for fairly cheap, but I might have lucked out.

[@Atop77]

I was always in love with the design and art of this series. Thanks for highlighting it.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

I really like vintage Avon paperbacks, I think they did a great job with this series as well.

[@MsKitty123]

Collector's Corner, I love it. I collect the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Wow, looks like there are quite a few in that series. It looks like I have a few of them, I didn't know they were a formal series.

[@PulpMortem]

*frantically wipes drool off screen

[@BadTasteBooks]

These don't pose the same issue for you as the Pyramid stripes? The art is less than half the cover.

[@PulpMortem]

@@BadTasteBooks don't ask me to explain my taste! Not even I understand it.

[@PaulSaether]

You are right to prioritise 'No Blade of Grass'. I recommend you to also read 'A Wrinkle in the Skin' - a very enjoyable Post-Disaster novel by the same author.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Noted, thanks.

[@secretfirebooks7894]

The color coding on these books is so cool. The corvid side of my brain is going nuts. Now I've gotta find some of these...

[@sfwordsofwonder]

I've found a few in the wild, but can be a bit hard to find. Hope you find some.

[@sciencefictionreads]

So many uncracked vintage spines! Winds of Time is an Oliver i hope to find eventually, though I've been told its not his best. I've enjoyed the other novels of his I've read though. I also have Syndic, and look forward to checking out Kornbluth sometime soon. No Blade of Grass! I still have to pick up a copy i bought from my local bookseller, but very much looking forward to that one! An awesome look at this series, looking forward to more.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Some good ones in this series for sure. And I have some other collections nearing completion as well.

[@ElicBehexan]

Chad Oliver, he was a local SF writer. I would say he's kind of the "Grand Old Man" of Austin, TX SF writers. I was working an Armadillocon registration table when he came in to pick up his badge. Well, I had, literally, the previous week read a short story in some publication that I really hadn't expected would have such a good story in. Since I lived just a few blocks away, after I got relieved from registration, I ran home and grabbed the magazine. Dr. Oliver was surprised then said he didn't even know where the story had been sold, it was an older one, and happily signed it for me. I still have it, somewhere I'm sure. As for Harry Harrison, I think he's better known for his Stainless Steel Rat stories. I tried to read them, maybe I just wasn't ready to read them, something I've noticed happens. However, I did get far enough into it to recognize why some people really like them. I just didn't care for it.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Great story about Oliver, I've heard similar stories about authors losing track of where and when their stories were published. As for Harrison, I have a few I want to try from him, so we'll see.

[@Jmustang1968]

Oh man I am collecting these as well. Still need about half of them. That Aniara...

[@sfwordsofwonder]

Yeah, Aniara, had no idea that one was so hard to find. I think I'm going to read and review that one soon.

[@waltera13]

Sorry to be that guy, but I think they're all mass-market paperbacks, not Trade. Did I misunderstand the title? More importantly, that doesn't take away from the awesomeness of your collection. I used to see those editions in different places and just never thought they would be rare - they were so 70's, and some of them were so ubiquitous you figured they would always turn up at Book sales. . . Until they all disappeared. So it's really cool that you have them all, and it looks really cool on the shelf! It's really satisfying when you can track a bunch down. Also, I know what it's like when you score a whole bunch of a series and they look so awesome as a set you say "maybe I will collect them. . ." I'm looking forward to your reviews of these now mysterious books!

[@sfwordsofwonder]

They are trade paperbacks. 5.25" wide by 8" tall.

[@waltera13]

@@sfwordsofwonder WOW! That's super unusual for their time! So Cool! Thank you. Once again, I'm looking forward to you giving reviews of these guys.

[@waltera13]

​@@sfwordsofwonder I know you're right, but I'm still wondering. . . what books am *I* remembering !???! Were they always leaning sideways in another part of the shelf? Did I only ever see them at bigger book rummage situations? Is there another short handful that has that very dynamic SF logo and bold colors? I mean I remember the deep orange the magenta. . . I guess the 70s was a helluva time. . . I'm looking forward to your individual reviews; I really want to know more about them! Thanks again!

[@CptSamel]

Ten years ago I had a long commute & I listened to free audiobooks to pass the time. I remember downloading Death World by Harry Harrison thinking it would be so bad, it would be good. It turned out to be just good. I found it interesting & enjoyable. Also what do you think of Philip Jose Farmer? I noted you set both his books aside for now. I just read Venus on the Half Shell and Night of Light. I have conflicted feelings about them.

[@sfwordsofwonder]

I've only read To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Farmer so far. I've always wanted to read Venus on the Half Shell, just because of the Kilgore Trout thing, being a Vonnegut fan.

[@CptSamel]

I would like to try some Vonnegut one day. Venus is like Hitch hiker’s guide to the galaxy if it was a xxx bestiality alien porno. Nevertheless, with some reservations, I recommend it. If you’re ok with horror (I’m not, didn’t realize what I had) then I recommend part 1 of Night of Light but not part 2. Part 1 is psychological horror mysticism and part 2 is spy slasher whodonutit.

[@sethball2475]

Black Easter is the only one I can remember spotting, many many years ago, when prowling through Toronto’s Used-Book stores. I don’t really recall seeing much else from the line…but I’m gonna bet I saw maybe one more over the years, but was not something I wanted at the time and now escapes my memory; Black Easter and its sequel were on a Fantasy reading list. I didn’t buy it…I must have already found The Devil’s Day, which collects both, or - I must be honest - I passed on what I considered an ugly cover design (still don’t really like the way the series looks). Most likely I had The Devil’s Day, because I was not in the habit of passing on list-requirement books that finally popped up but looked unappealing to me. Anyway, your video has enlightened me, because I didn’t know much about this line of books. Just a few thoughts: I can tell you’re Davy-focused, but please please keep A Mirror for Observers in mind. I like it more than Davy, and I would say it’s one of my favourite SF novels from the 1950s. It’s not connected to Davy. I liked Davy; I found it a little slow for my tastes; I did not find A Mirror for Observers slow at all. To each their own, of course. Thumbs up, when it comes to City by the Sea by Bulmer. It’s the only thing by Bulmer I’ve read. I read it because of an SF reading guide called Yesterday’s Tomorrows, focusing on British SF - and it exceeded my expectations. I mean, the minute you’re in the mood for marine SF, aquatic adventure with pace and surprises and minimal “hasn’t aged well” warts (to the best of my ability to recall and make the assurance), I’d say you’ve got a winner there. Just keep in mind that it’s not gonna compete with the undersea SF of Charles Stross or Peter Watts, in certain ways, but you get a good story. Also recommended: Rogue Moon, by Algis Budrys The Humanoids, by Jack Williamson

[@sfwordsofwonder]

I love your recommendations. I might start with Mirror for Observers. Now you also have me very intrigued with the Bulmer. Thanks again. 👍