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Post by dem bones on Nov 7, 2007 23:59:08 GMT
Told you it was impossible! To refresh your memories, head over to Trash Fiction where Alwyn has reproduced virtually all of them at: www.trashfiction.co.uk/horror_pan.htmlMe, I'd go for 11 ... although, now I come to think of it, I was always fond of both versions of 7 ... and that number 14 is a bit good ... and that beautiful painting of the spooks on the early 4 ..... And while we're on the subject, can anyone identify the artists? I'm almost certain the early ones were the work of Sam 'Peff' Peffer . There's an interview with Peff and Pat Owen ("Between them, Sam Peffer (Peff) and Pat Owen must have painted more than 400 covers for Pan Books between 1956 and 1967.") conducted by Steve Chibnall at: tikit.net/Chibnall%20PPC8.htm
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Post by franklinmarsh on Nov 8, 2007 13:00:34 GMT
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Post by Dr Terror on Nov 8, 2007 13:48:32 GMT
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Post by dem bones on Nov 8, 2007 15:21:27 GMT
Thanks gents: so we've got a confirmation on werewolf face, anyway.
I'm fairly certain that Peffer was responsible for the early painted covers. Unfortunately, all I can find about him concentrates on his work for James Bond Pan editions.
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Post by Steve on Nov 8, 2007 15:58:37 GMT
Cover artist on the 3rd Pan Book ("Critter from the crypt") was W. Francis Phillipps. Also #4 ("Spectres") & #6 ("Rat on the skull").
#24 ("Worms!") is Peter Geissler.
#27 ("Cleaver!") is Stuart Bodek.
Photo covers for #28 & #29 ("Decomposition!" & "Flower Arrangement") were done by John Knights.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 8, 2007 18:50:30 GMT
Thanks Steve. Thought I'd resurrect ade's graphic from the old place which depicts three of the W. Francis Phillipps classics. I love #4, my favourite of the painted ones. The bat from 7 and the "gremlin reject" (FM) from 3 would tie in second place.
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Post by Calenture on Nov 8, 2007 21:06:11 GMT
You're quite right, Dem', this is impossible. I had thought that I'd go for one of W F Phillipps' or Josh Kirby's covers. But choosing between those two is difficult enough! Then add the early Peffs and the later photo-realist stuff and the styles and techniques are just too different to compare.
But while I was typing this, I asked myself "Which one of these would I prefer as a painting hung on a wall in my own home?" Still not easy but I narrowed it down to Rat on Skull (Phillipps) and Spectres - or Spooks - on the early Pan 4, which you say is also his. Of those two, I decided on the last, because it shows very little - almost no detail at all - but evokes a mood and makes the reader's own imagination work for it.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 8, 2007 22:40:28 GMT
Well, that's if Peffer was responsible for any of them, though I'm guessing he did the first two?
I find it far easier to choose the ones I'm not especially fond of: 15, 18, 23, 25 and 30 (that stupid little lawnmower guy gets on my nerves for some reason) but they're none of them bad (whatever that is). That said, 25 would struggle to be less imaginative.
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Post by Calenture on Nov 8, 2007 23:02:02 GMT
I find it far easier to choose the ones I'm not especially fond of: 15, 18, 23, 25 and 30 (that stupid little lawnmower guy gets on my nerves for some reason) but they're none of them bad (whatever that is). That said, 25 would struggle to be less imaginative. Agree about 25, of course. I think The Lawnmower Man illustration strikes the wrong note because - as someone said before - the Pans seemed to be a showcase for Brit horror. King's story is good but not really at home in Pan Horror. The film was disowned by King, I think. And the illustration seemed to have nothing to do with the story - not how I remember it, anyway!
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Post by sean on Nov 9, 2007 0:48:17 GMT
I've got fond feelings for the bucket head cover (8), but that just may be because I thought it was funny when I was younger. For some reason or other, the skull with shaving foam (12) always makes me feel quite ill. No idea why.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Nov 9, 2007 8:03:13 GMT
4 then 7 for me. The anonymity of the walking dead.
6 was one that always hit me as a personal favourite probably because I read it a lot although looking at it now its a simple enough drawing.
I try to imagine what is in any way horrific about 1, The cat, except Poe's story. I imagine the illustrator taking something gruesome like the Iron maiden and then thinking 'oh yes, a cat, that will really put the shivers up them'. The little wombat coming out of the crypt never failed to amuse me.
Does anyone have the raison d'etere for a head in various forms of disintegration being the chief horrific vehicle?
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Nov 9, 2007 8:05:48 GMT
And yes Dem, 25 takes the biscuit for 'can anyone think of a good idea for the next volume?' Its so useless you don't even really count it in your estimations of worth.
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Post by nightreader on Nov 9, 2007 19:19:02 GMT
Personally I prefer the illustrated covers to the photographed ones - for me it's No.4 "Spectres", but I also quite like No.16...
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Post by Steve on Nov 10, 2007 8:39:14 GMT
Cover seems to be signed S R Bolden First published 1955; this Pan, 1964 Rog's post on The Third Ghost Book, above, got me thinking about the mysterious artist of those first two painted covers. I believe this is our man. S R Boldero was the name, and he did a lot of work for Pan in the fifties and sixties. Could be wrong but I'm reasonably confident that "Fangy Cat" and "Eyeballs!" are his work.
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Post by David A. Riley on Nov 10, 2007 8:45:34 GMT
I just had to vote for Critter from the Crypt - it was one of the first I ever came across and epitomises for me so much about the series, though Rat on Skull comes a close second in my opinion.
I hated the Bride and Groom on the Wedding Cake for volume 11 - and still do - even though I've a story in that one. But I have never much cared for photographic covers. Give me a painting or a drawing - even a bad one - any time over them.
David
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