Sunday 17 April 2011

A Ross Thomas and Oliver Bleeck First Edition Cover Gallery: The UK Hamish Hamilton Novels

And so we reach the final post in this seemingly interminable series of, at least according to The Rap Sheet (the swine!), "gushing" missives on crime/espionage/political suspense author Ross Thomas. Shall we have a wee recap before we draw a line under it all? Why not. Here's what the week's comprised thus far:

• On Monday I showed off a very scarce 1968 UK Hodder & Stoughton first edition of Ross Thomas's second novel, The Seersucker Whipsaw;

• On Tuesday I showcased a 1969 UK Hodder first edition of Thomas's fourth novel, The Singapore Wink;

• On Wednesday I posted a review of Thomas's fifth novel (or maybe sixth, if you could the debut Bleeck novel, The Brass Go-Between), The Fools in Town Are on Our Side;

• And on Thursday I posted a gallery of all the Hodder & Stoughton Ross Thomas/Oliver Bleeck first edition covers;

• Friday saw two posts; in the first I showed off a 1974 Hamish Hamilton first edition of If You Can't Be Good;

• And in the second I detoured slightly from Ross Thomas to announce my British Library news, although that post did still have an ace picture of my Ross Thomas collection;

• Finally, yesterday I showcased a 1981 Hamilton first edition of The Mordida Man.

Which brings us back to today's post, which is another cover gallery, this time of the first editions of the eleven Ross Thomas/Oliver Bleeck novels published by Hamish Hamiltion in the UK. Before we crack on with that, though, a quick word about next week's posts, which will be of a more science fiction and fantasy bent, and will largely consist of lots of Bob Haberfield's fab psychedelic covers to the 1960s and '70s Mayflower paperback editions of Michael Moorcock's novels. The week will begin, however, with a return to Donald E. Westlake, specifically a review of his only full-length science fiction novel, 1967's Anarchaos. Should have that up on Monday.

Right then. Time to send Ross Thomas Week, Mark III off in style with those Hamish Hamilton first edition covers (with, as with the Hodder & Stoughton gallery, US pub dates, cover credits and links back to previous posts). Bask in their glory!


If You Can't Be Good, Hamish Hamilton, 1974 (US William Morrow, 1973); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


The Porkchoppers, Hamish Hamiltion, 1974 (US William Morrow, 1972; NB: The Porkchoppers preceded If You Can't Be Good in the US, but not in the UK); dustjacket designed by Bernard Higton.


The Highbinders by Oliver Bleeck (Ross Thomas), Hamish Hamilton, 1974 (US William Morrow, same year as British edition); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


The Money Harvest, Hamish Hamilton, 1975 (US William Morrow, same year as British edition); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


No Questions Asked by Oliver Bleeck (Ross Thomas), Hamish Hamilton, 1976 (US William Morrow, same year as British edition); dustjacket design by Ken Reilly.
 

Yellow-Dog Contract, Hamish Hamilton, 1977 (US William Morrow, 1976); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


Chinaman's Chance, Hamish Hamilton, 1978 (US Simon & Schuster, same year as British edition); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


The Eighth Dwarf, Hamish Hamilton, 1979 (US Simon & Schuster, same year as British edition); dustjacket photograph by Beverly Lebarrow (a.k.a. Beverley le Barrow, pseudonym for Beverley Goodway).


The Mordida Man, Hamish Hamilton, 1981 (US Simon & Schuster, same year as British edition); dustjacket designed by David Butler.


Missionary Stew, Hamish Hamilton, 1984 (US Simon & Schuster, 1983); dustjacket designed by Pat Doyle.


Briarpatch, Hamish Hamilton, 1985 (US Simon & Schuster, 1984); dustjacket designed by Pat Doyle.

2 comments:

  1. Anyone who doesn't "gush" about Ross Thomas's novels can't read.

    ReplyDelete