Friday Face Off : Like a fine wine
21 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Harry Harrison, The Stainless Steel Rat
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’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’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
Like a fine wine – a sci fi book written on or before 1975
Well, there are plenty of sci-fi books published before 1975 so I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. I can’t remember whether I’ve used this book before but it’s a book that I read as part of an early Vintage Sci-fi event. The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. Here are a small selection of the covers:
I cannot deny that the cocktail glass appeals to me (ahem) and is that a tiny little space ship stirrer – I want one! I also like the cover with the chaotic background and bodies flying to and fro. But, I’m going with the red cover with the stainless steel rat because it feels appropriate:
Do you have a favourite?
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 – In space nobody can hear you scream – murder mystery in space
2022
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I’m not very partial to rats (((shudder))) but I have to admit that the one in you cover of choice is an intriguing one 🙂
Yes, and it fits the book title doesn’t it.
Lynn 😀
I like the cocktail glass. I’m amazed at the diversity (just like I was for my scifi book: https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/21/friday-face-off-scifi-written-in-1975-or-before/). Knowing nothing about this book, this collection of covers is quite puzzling.
It will be interesting if other participants get also a huge variety of covers. Would it be something characteristic for scifi books??
Ok now I need to see what this rat is about!
Now you mention it I do think sci-fi books often have a variety of covers – well, I suppose it depends on the age and popularity but if you’re looking at a book that did well the covers can massively vary.
Lynn 😀
Ah yes, of course that makes sense: success leads to more editions, so to more covers
Yeah, which is a conundrum because I also like to feature new reads – but, surprisingly quite a few have more than one cover sometimes – differences in market probably being the main reason, so US/UK versions quite often vary.
LYnn 😀
That cocktail stirrer! Lol. I really love #4, the action cover. There’s a lot going on but it makes the book sound exciting.
Yeah, that action cover is good.
Lynn 😀
I think i like #s 3 and 6 the best. Th stirrer is awesome and #6 looks kind of like a John Berkey cover to me, but not sure. His ships looked like that quite a bit…
Ahh, I never checked who designed the cover – I should go and take a look.
Lynn 😀