Both JSBlog and DrC have mentioned the strange covers which adorn some fiction paperbacks; both draw their examples from science fiction. Neither mentioned film posters, which were very similar – consider, for example, the semiotically similar images used to publicise The day the earth stood still and King Kong.
On the covers of SF paperbacks, a frequent feature was a young woman in stylised pose wearing a costume which served no discernible purpose beyond attracting the viewer's eye to her erogenous zones. An example which I particularly remember was Heinlein's Podkayne of Mars which, in the version I read (illustration on the left), appeared to show the protagonist clutching a crystal ball whilst standing on one leg, examining the horizon, and being molested by a green octopus (this may or may not relate in some way to Unreal nature's post on Isabella Rossellini; I wouldn't know).
A quick Google image search reveals numerous other covers including, to be fair, a range of approaches ... from a skinny rib disco Podkayne whose handbag can also be used as a large padlock to the one also shown here (right) which sees our heroine as a latter day Alice in Wonderland.
As an aside, I seem to remember that the Podkayne storyline includes nuclear device which goes well beyond the rumoured “suitcase nuke”. It comes a s small package which can be hidden amongst the sundry travel items within an eleven year old boy's carry on luggage.
Unreal nature has a related post, considering book cover depiction of male stereotypes.
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Robert A Heinlein, Podkayne of Mars, her life and times. 1963, New York,: Putnam.
2 comments:
It's interesting that many of the Podkayne covers fixate on the fairy baby, which only has a bit part in the book, and they virtually all forget that a) she's just a rather naive 18, and b) the story is as much about her brother as her. This cover is probably the most accurate as to the focus of the story.
Pothecary, I agree, that's a MUCH better cover painting. One of the few really relevant covers I've ever seen, actually.
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