Piranha Party: COLLECTOR'S WEB

Posted by 1001web

The Bob Eggleton cover for the reprint
TPB edition from Dreamhaven Books.

It is not uncommon to see novelizations of movies based on original stories appear around the time of their release. Nevertheless, it's hard to believe that back around 1954, there was even one published for THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Oddly enough, only printed in Great Britain by Dragon Publications, London, the book today is so rare (extremely scarce according to other bibliophiles) that you will find it difficult to see one of the few offered for sale for under $2,000. The price goes up from there, to the current highest-paid price of $6,600!

Written by "Vargo Statten", this was the pen name of one John Russell Fearn (1908 - 1960), a British author who, writing under a number of pseudonyms, is commonly attributed the distinction of fueling the fire of science-fiction and pulp story popularity throughout England. He was also one of the first British writers to have his stories printed in the American pulps of the day.

According to WIKI, "Fearn was a prolific writer who wrote Westerns and crime fiction as well as science fiction. His writing appeared under numerous pseudonyms. He wrote series like Adam Quirke, Clayton Drew, Golden Amazon, and Herbert. At times these drew on the pulp traditions of Edgar Rice Burroughs. His work received praise for its vividness, but criticism, being deemed "unpolished"."

A view of the hardbound edition's spine.

As an attestation of the book's "pulp worthiness", the following is copy written on the hardback edition book jacket flap:

“This amazing story is based on the film of the same title by permission of Universal International Pictures.

This startling book is a masterpiece of tension and excitement. Innocence is at peril and a beast is at large . . .

Simply fascinating from the beginning to the end.”

An example of the paperbound edition.

The 176-page book was released in both hardbound and paperbound editions. The hardbound copies obviously demand higher prices, and conditions run mostly in the "Good" range. After all, these were the popular novels of the day, and it's amazing that even a few are left in any condition.

It seems at least one became available for Dreamhaven Books in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because they are reprinting it in a new, trade paperback edition! Lucky for us, the much more affordable $20 book is due to go on sale next month.

From Amazon UK

Christi's Auction Copy

James Cahill Rare Books copy.

L.W. Currey, Inc. copy.

News item from Dreamhaven Books.

Dreamhaven Books title description.

Read More → RARE "CREATURE" NOVEL TO BE REPRINTED

WHAT PRICE HEIDI SAHA?

Posted by 1001web

The young, teenage "model" that caught the eye of talent agent, promoter and FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND's first Editor Forrest J. Ackerman, was named Heidi Saha. Legend has it that she came to fame in the early 70's when she arrived at the Sixth Annual New York Comic Convention dressed in a skimpy Vampirella costume. Despite some prevailing negativity surrounding her attempts at grabbing the Vampi spotlight from another model, FJA was introduced to her, and whether smitten by her young beauty or in a deal that was stricly business, the result was her own magazine and 24" x 36" poster for sale in the back pages of Warren Publications.

Now, almost 40 years later, her magazine, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF HEIDI SAHA, commands high prices on a market that's hot for these types of collectibles. HERITAGE AUCTIONS is currently accepting bids on a "slabbed" copy that is graded 7.0 out of 10. A collector's market watchdog, NOSTOMANIA, has listed on its website the most recent graded pricing as a "blended" value averaged from several markets. One thing is for sure, it is quite certain that this rare (only about 500 copies were ever printed) collector's commodity will close at a price that is well out of the reach of many a-Monsterologist.