Friday Face Off : Spaceships and Explosions #VintageSciFi
15 January 2021
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Firday Face Off, Robert A Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Vintage Sci Fi
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout. I’m currently linking up with Vintage Sci-Fi and if you also want to link up then please do so but this isn’t a requirement simply my way of highlighting events. This week’s theme:
An Aerial encounter – spaceships and explosions
This week I’ve gone for another vintage sci-fi book and one that I read previously (I think for a previous Vintage sci fi event). The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein and here is a small selection of the covers:
My favourite. I may have mentioned that I’m quite often a sucker for the SF Masterworks covers and this week is no exception. I love the colours and this fits the bill so perfectly:
Do you have a favourite? And have you read this book?
I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year. If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next week – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.
2021
January
Vintage Sci-Fi month – if you’re taking part you could try and find some vintage style covers
22nd – An Alien Encounter – ‘we come in peace’ or maybe not.
29th – A favourite classic or vintage sci-fi
February
5th – A Book with a romance that you enjoyed
12th – Furry – a beast, something cuddly, or a fur covering
19th – Serpentine – could be a snake, could be a snake-like font, could be a snakeskin style cover
26th – A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title
March
5th – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war
12th – Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you
19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place
26th – A picture within a picture
April
2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.
9th – Cartoonish or graphic
16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’
23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read
30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series
May
Month of Wyrd and Wonder
7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most
14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy
21st – The Top Hat
28th – The Hood
June
4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.
11th – A cover that annoyed you and why
18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy
25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy
July
2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit
9th – A Wicked Grin
16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title
23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground
30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one
August
6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel
13th – A favourite holiday read
20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out
27th – Sunbathing or on the beach
September (RIP event)
3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective
10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers
17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title
24th – A favourite thriller
October
1st – A Halloween read
8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)
15th – Your favourite book of magic
22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title
29th – Must be gothic
November – Sci Fi Month
5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed
12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title
19th – Futuristic vista
26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground
December
3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way
10th – A fairytale retold
17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal
24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?
31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up
One of the fondest memories of my long-ago classic reads… 🙂
I like both your choice and the one right next to it in the list.
Yes, I picked this one up as part of Vintage SciFi and I confess I felt a bit daunted and expected it to be a tough read but it really won me over.
Lynn 😀
[…] was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This meme is being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring covers with SPACE BATTLES. I’ve selected Earthlight by Arthur C. […]
There are soooo many covers for this one – you haven’t got my favourite here, but I do very much like Harsh6 – the lovely blue and yellow vintage offering on the top row, second in on the left… I like that it has a good view of the Moon! This has been such a fun week:))
Yes, I only showed a very small snipped, mainly because I was going for covers with spaceships or explosions very much in mind. Can’t wait to see which book you went with Sarah.
Lynn 😀
Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke:)). It’s got some really enjoyable covers…
Hi Lynn! May I just say I like the Title?? LOL!!! I know nothing about sci-fi and even less about vintage sci-fi, so I’ll just sit quietly in my little corner until February when I will join you guys again for Friday Face-off.
Have a good weekend and happy reading!
Elza Reads
I like the last two the best. I love those Masterworks covers too!
Good one! I lied the one you picked because of the colors. 🙂
Thanks 😀
Yes. that’s the one that jumped out at me too!
Great minds?
Completely agreed with your chosen cover, which makes this old old book more accessible for the modern reader. Interestingly, dome FFO bloggers chose this book for the previous week’s prompt (“moon” in the title).
Yes, I could have chosen this for the previous week -if only I was more organised.
Lynn 😀
[…] Book Blog has a cover art gallery of one of my favorite vintage titles, The Moon is A Harsh Mistress by […]
Wow, it’s had so many different covers over the years! I did read it years ago.
That’s the beauty of older books for this particular theme – there are usually plenty of covers available.
Lynn 😀
I must admit I am a big fan of the SF Masterworks’ super cool covers and this one is no exception: look at that gorgeous purple colour, contrasting with the burning yellow and stark black! Gorgeous 😍
Yes, I do love me some Masterworks covers.
Lynn 😀