Sobriety, sobriety, sobriety…

They thought forcing him to write would teach him sobriety, and yet so many writers are alcoholics.

Indianapolis Star - Oct 23, 1933

Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 08, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Crime, Writers, 1930s

Follies of the Madmen #281

Those puny digits of females--how can they even grasp a writing instrument?

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 24, 2016 - Comments (12)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Writers, 1960s, Men, Women

Who Are You?

Edward Packard invented the "Choose Your Own Adventure" genre, which made him a good living -- and still does. According to wikipedia, he recently started a company to bring Choose Your Own Adventure apps to the iPhone and iPad. Packard may also have caused an entire generation of kids to be confused about their identity:

Posted By: Alex - Thu Mar 01, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Literature, Books, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Writers

The Adventures of Mark Twain

We had some weird Zappa claymation not too long ago. Now we get some based on the work of Mark Twain.

Disregard the label on the clip above. It's really an excerpt from this full-length film.

Part 1 of the whole film follows:

Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 16, 2011 - Comments (3)
Category: Literature, Fantasy, Writers, Religion, 1980s

Hot Stuff and Old Forky

As we observed in this prior post on Harvey Comics, the stories told about Richie Rich, Casper and the gang were frequently weirder than any Grant Morrison or Warren Ellis tale. Here's one from Devil Kids Starring Hot Stuff, Volume 1, Number 6, May 1963, that illustrates my point. You can read the entire five-page story at the end, but I've included some single panels to make my points.

First, we learn that Cupid inhabits the same universe as Hot Stuff and friends. Nothing like mixing your mythologies up. In any case, Cupid hexes Hot Stuff's trident--or phallic symbol--known as "Old Forky," to become gay.



Gay anthropomorphic trident on display.



Unwanted Public Display of Affection.



Hot Stuff's gay trident attracts unwanted queer suitors.



Including a giant grape wearing an extremely fetching hair ribbon and spats.



But Cupid realizes his error and undoes his spell, whereupon all is "he-man" regular again. Even though Old Forky's first action upon reverting was to impale Hot Stuff's butt.

They just don't write 'em like this any more.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 02, 2010 - Comments (2)
Category: Sexuality, Comics, Fantasy, Writers, 1960s, LGBT, Curses

Towel Day: May 25

For those of you who are not already aware, May 25 is Towel Day, a celebration of the life and literature of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
If you want to see some pictures of froods in the know, they have their own group on Flickr

Posted By: fyshstyxx - Sun May 24, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category: Aliens, Armageddon and Apocalypses, Holidays, Literature, Science Fiction, Writers

Jonathan Bayliss, RIP

The Boston Globe reports the death of one Jonathan Bayliss, an eccentric self-published writer of enormous tomes.
















Here's a sample from one of his novels. (Click on text to enlarge.) There's plenty more here, if you want it!

Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 25, 2009 - Comments (7)
Category: Eccentrics, Literature, Books, Writers, Obituaries

The Caterer

One of the weirdest books you'll ever read is by my pal, Steve Aylett, and it's titled Lint. (You can order it through the Amazon link below.)

Lint is the "biography" of Jeff Lint, poverty-stricken, mad genius, hack writer, who is basically a cross between Kilgore Trout and Salvador Dali.

One of Lint's fictional creations was a comic-book character dubbed "The Caterer." And now you can read an actual issue of this gonzo masterpiece, thanks to Floating World Comics. A sample is to the right.

You must investigate this saga of one man and his senseless quest for perfect absurdity in a violent world, or risk being rendered null and void!

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 28, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category: Literature, Books, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Writers, Comics, Surrealism

Smoki Bacon

And yet more bacon!

Smoki Bacon, that is, glamorous NYC and Boston socialite and literary bon vivant.

How could Smoki's Zelig-like presence at all the great intersections of literary history have escaped me till this very moment?

Sample the tasty Bacon yourself in this highlights reel from her cable-TV show with Dick Concannon.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 28, 2008 - Comments (3)
Category: Celebrities, Literature, Writers, Odd Names, Television

World D

Here's another strange book I purchased but have not yet read. The real author is Joseph K. Heydon, using the pen-name of Hal Trevarthen. Time has swallowed up all details related to Heydon and his book, leaving us only with the text itself.


Here's the description from the amazingly ugly dustjacket.


Here's the title page, followed by a sample of the actual bafflegab inside.


Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 11, 2008 - Comments (11)
Category: Aliens, Eccentrics, Government, Inventions, Literature, Books, Science Fiction, Writers, Nature, New Age, Paranormal, Pop Culture, Science, Psychology, Self-help Schemes, Foreign Customs, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows