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Post by dem bones on Jun 12, 2009 9:53:32 GMT
William Beckford - Vathek (Four Square/ NEL, 1966)  Josh Kirby Originally published in 1786. The Capith Vathek, whose evil eye is so lethal he can mutilate or even kill a man just by glaring at him, leads his men on a subterranean Black Pilgrimage to the Hall of Eblis at the earth's core, where he hopes to meet his hero and the one entity who can satisfy his every cruel and terrible lust (essentially, Satan). Beckford's Oriental slant and taste for the exotic marks him out as a Clark Ashton Smith (or, at least, Frank Owen) of the early Gothic novel, while the sheer horror of the climax - which sees Vathek as completely damned as any character in the history horror fiction; Prayers On Fire for real! - makes this short novel as memorable in it's way as M. G. Lewis's more traditionally shocking The Monk.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 12, 2009 11:42:15 GMT
And a great cover too
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Post by andydecker on Jun 12, 2009 12:45:18 GMT
Wonderful cover!
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 12, 2009 12:58:36 GMT
I used to collect the Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian books in four square and was always attracted like a magnet to the covers. Being ten, I was lost in that little world of numbers, series, bubble gum cards, repetitive content so eventually after seeing that leering face I had to buy the book. Wasn't disappointed with the contents either although I only understood the thing a few years ago
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Post by dem bones on Jun 12, 2009 12:58:54 GMT
We made an abortive attempt at a thread devoted to Josh Kirby & his gorgeous artwork on Vault Mk I, and it's time we revived it on here. Later on today, perhaps, unless somebody else wants to do the honours? In the meantime, he has a flash site (impossible to navigate on my computer), Josh Kirby Art and the internet is cluttered with Discworld sites, but arguably the most useful of all for our purposes is the checklist of paperback covers as provided by Dave Langford's Ansible. A quick scrutiny and it's clear he was pretty much Four Square's house artist as far as their Gothic Horror, Sci-Fi and Tarzan reprints were concerned. You think you have enough copies of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Lodger, Vathek & Co. to last several lifetimes, then you see the Four Square's and it's "one more won't hurt"! |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 13, 2009 8:58:19 GMT
I'm just wondering if he did some of the Edgar Rice Burroughs martian covers?
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Post by dem bones on Jun 13, 2009 9:34:19 GMT
Fraid i can't provide any examples but according to the Ansible listing mentioned above, JK was responsible for A Fighting Man of Mars, Escape on Venus, Swords of Mars, Llana of Gathol, Carson of Venus and John Carter of Mars (all Four Square, 1966) |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 13, 2009 17:22:49 GMT
Thanks dem. That's extremely interesting This isn't just an excuse to put up some sf as you'll see from these marvellous and somewhat horrific covers  |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 13, 2009 19:26:49 GMT
Brilliant artist.. Clearly read the books and just expressed everything about them accurately and sincerely. Every illo truly captured the atmosphere just right |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 14, 2009 11:29:46 GMT
Another classic  |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 14, 2009 11:41:46 GMT
It's just occurred to me that Josh Kirby's art had a major impact on my life as the first book I ever bought, some forty years ago, was illustrated by him. His illustration for Tarzan and the Forbidden City was magnetic. I bought it from a little Bobby's Bookshop second hand and spent the rest of my life searching for more. Most of the books then purchased were illustrated by the great man. Thanks to the Vault for again tipping me back to the good old days
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Post by dem bones on Jun 14, 2009 18:20:40 GMT
I'm not particularly keen on his Discworld stuff (purely on the grounds that it's not my thing; certainly the artwork is as accomplished as we've come to expect and i'm sure many would argue it's his best) but there's something about the look of a Four Square, once they'd settled on the uniform, block green packaging, that just seems to showcase his work to the best advantage be it horror, gothic, Sci-Fi or jungle adventure. Typically, none of this has anything to do with Vathek, and neither of these are even Four Squares but here's a pair of personal early favourites. Anon - Black Tales (Corgi, 1965) Brian J. Frost - Book Of The Werewolf (Sphere, 1973) |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 14, 2009 20:56:49 GMT
Absolutely agree Dem. The discworld stuff was accomplished and brilliant in it own generic way but....just look at the four squares. It's striking me more and more its the conviction of his art work that just grips you.
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Post by jamesdoig on Jun 15, 2009 8:49:32 GMT
That Black Tales is great - I'll have to get it! I've still got the Copy of Book of the Werewolf I had as a kid. He's a couple of others I've kept after all these years.  More Tales to Tremble By, Whitmans (US not British), great illustrations by Gordon Laite. This was my intro to horror many moons ago. Contents The Red Lodge, H. Russell Wakefield Sredni Vashtar, Saki Thurnley Abbey, Perceval Landon "God Grante That She Lye Stille", Cynthia Asquith The Extra Passenger, August Derleth Casting the Runes, M.R. James The Book, Margaret Irwin, The Book  |
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Post by dem bones on Jun 15, 2009 9:12:54 GMT
Thanks for posting these, James. When it comes to The Vampire In Legend, Fact & Art I always thought of the Robert Hale edition as definitive in terms of priceless cover photo, but having seen the Corgi chap, i'm no longer so sure. |
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