Paperback 213: Carny Kill / Robert Edmond Alter (Gold Medal d1611)

Paperback 213: Gold Medal d1611 (PBO, 1966)

Title: Carny Kill
Author: Robert Edmond Alter
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $24


Best things about this cover:

• This must have been published during the short-lived "rain bowling" fad of the mid-'60s.
• What color is this thing, puce? Yuck.
• Even with that giant crease, this book is pretty valuable. It's rare, Alter is a good (cult) writer, and, I mean, come on: carnies.

Best things about this back cover:

• Why is the cover copy (front and back) written out like post-modern poetry. I want someone to enter a poetry slam with this back cover blurb as the "poem." Video evidence that you have done so will earn you this book, free of charge.
• Here, "carny" is used as short for the entire Carnival - I have only ever known the word to refer to a person who works at a carnival. Also, I like that he "joined" the carny. Like it's the army. Or a cult.
• Oh man, that "though..." just kills the flow there at the end. Did he just trail off? Was he killed before he could get out the rest of the sentence "... though I don't really feel like it. I mean, it's totally not fair."

Page 123~

"Sonofabitch tagged me, Chad!" Pansy-face cried. "Ain't no bastard on gawd's earth goan lay hands on me!"

Sic, and sic, and ... yeah, sic again, just in case.

~RP

Paperback 212: Notorious / Day Keene (Gold Medal 372)

Paperback 212: Gold Medal 372 (PBO, 1954) - Canadian Edition

Title: Notorious (no, not that "Notorious")
Author: Day Keene
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $12


Best things about this cover:

• The fact that the Canada-only "35c" price tag overrides the Giant "25c" sign in the middle of the cover painting.
• Innocent country girl tries to make it in the big ... Carny?
• "I want to look like her. Can you do that, leering carnival barker man?"
• "So, whatcha got in the suitcase, lady?" "Murder." "Oh ... I see."
• "Murder in her suitcase" - this makes me hope for something gloriously bloody, like a small chainsaw with which she starts beheading everyone in site: "Is this part of the show, mama?"
• I Really wish the lady in the foreground weren't so damned shadowed

Best things about this back cover:

• Say what you will about Day Keene, he could totally rock the 'stache.
• Ferron! "They call me Ferron: The Iron Man"
• "the main chance"? - is that Canadian for "the big score"?

Page 123~

Kelcey struck Ferron in the face. "Where's the money, carny? Where's the eighteen grand?"

~RP