The Friday Face-Off was created by Books by Proxy, where each week bloggers can showcase books with covers centered around a weekly theme. You can visit Lynn’s Books for a list of upcoming themes. Join in the fun each Friday by finding a book whose cover is based on the theme!
This week’s theme: “Live long and prosper.” – A cover that’s vintage sci-fi.
I’ll admit I haven’t read a lot of vintage SF, but this book came to mind immediately, not only because it started life as a book, but because it was made into an iconic movie. I love the movie Logan’s Run, but to be honest I’m not sure I’ve ever read the book by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. This is one of those movies where it’s common to hear people say “Wait, it’s a book?” These covers are super vintage which means some of them are terrible, lol! But I wanted to feature it anyway:
Bantam Books (U.S.) 1976 edition | Spanish edition 2012
Dell (U.S.) 1969 edition | The Dial Press 1967 edition
Centipede Press 2015 edition | German edition 1977
Phoenix Books 1989 edition | German edition 2017 edition
In typical vintage fashion, poor Jessica, the female main character, is shown wearing skimpy clothing in just about every cover she appears on. Even the movie portrays women in near-naked states of dress, which is, unfortunately, a sign of the times. Since just about every cover has a naked or scantily clad person, I’ve decided to pick the Bantam edition, which brings back fond memories of the movie:
I’ll have to pick the Bantam version, too, because we have that very same book sitting on our coffee table! Both my husband and I have read the book and seen the cheesy movie. (Appropriately cheesy for the time.)
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I think part of my reluctance to read 60s/70s/vintage sci-fi is always the covers. I just don’t understand why they have to be so heinous looking. I get it different times, but did they really look good back then? lol
I haven’t seen Logan’s Run but going by the covers it looks like it could be an interesting movie/book. I’m wondering what the hand symbol is about.
I think of this group the Spanish 2012 edition is my favorite.
So everyone in this society has a gemstone thing embedded in their hand, which counts down their life. When you turn 30, they basically kill you, but the government tells everyone they’re going to a special place called Sanctuary. In this story, the two main characters’ hand gem thing malfunctions early and they have to go on the run. It’s totally worth watching the movie!
I read the book – I had the Bantam edition. I’ve also seen the movie. It has been many years, but as I recall, the movie was fairly faithful, just not nearly as detailed.
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I agree – it’s hard to not be attached to those tie-in editions that echo the movie posters. It just reinforces the imagery and creates that deeper level of connection.
I sort of remember this movie some and didn’t they do a TV series at one point? Maybe I’m thinking of something else. I think I like the 2017 German edition but it looks more horror than sci-fi.
Yep, I like your choice. Been a long time since I watched the movie.
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That giant arm on the The Dial Press 1967 edition is killing me!
LOL on the skimpy dresses! And yet it’s so very true of that time period – as we could see with women’s uniform in the original Star Trek…
Your choice is however the best of the group 🙂
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OMG, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved Logan’s Run! I had the paperback edition in white w/the rainbow, skimpy clothes and all!
Wow, this one brings back memories. I remember loving the movie when much, much younger. I even recently (in the past couple years) rewatched it with some friends to see how it holds up. It seemed far cheesier this time around, and I was able to see far more flaws than when I first watched it, but I did still enjoy it. I never read the book, though. And I agree with you on the covers, I have to pick the classic Bantam cover that reminds me of the movie posters.
It has to be your pick – it immediately stood out for me and I didn’t even need to look at the rest to know my mind was made up – I did look though, curiosity.
Lynn 😀
Oh I love Logan’s Run!!! One of my favorite movies. And I think I did read the books ages ago- i should revisit. Unless I’m getting it mixed up with something else, it was WAY different? Anyway- I like that first cover too, it’s just the one I’m most familiar with so that’s probably part of it. I do like how most of the versions seem to be trying to get the life clock on their hand into the illustration. The Centipede Press one is interesting in that sense.
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Surprisingly a lot of great covers! I can’t choose between the Spanish edition 2012 or the Centipede Press edition. They’re both pretty awesome 🙂
I love the movie for this! I’m afraid to read the book because I know it’s different (such as the characters in the book are much younger). Great pick!
Oh wow that cover. Reminds me so much of the late 70s and early 80s. And the movie too.
I love the one you picked too. It definitely has a vintage feel to it.
I’ve never read the book, but I have watched the movie – ages ago, but I loved it at the time. 🙂
I’m embarrassed that I don’t know this movie – I need to check it out! But I love these vintage covers. I think you made a great choice!
Definitely the Bantam Books (U.S.) 1976 edition. I like this idea, I might try out this meme.