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Post by geoffrey on Mar 3, 2015 12:02:50 GMT -6
These:  |
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Post by Falconer on Mar 4, 2015 22:23:19 GMT -6
No. Those are really gorgeous covers, though. Much more appropriate than the weird Barbara Remington covers on the “Authorized” Ballantines that followed: However, I must say that I love the Remingtons and do own a set. It’s what my parents owned, and I spent many hours of my childhood contemplating its dizzying panorama (especially before I was able to understand the story). An eBay search of “Ace Tolkien” reveals it would not be too expensive to assemble a set of the Ace paperbacks, especially piecemeal. |
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Post by geoffrey on Mar 5, 2015 13:38:12 GMT -6
Those are really gorgeous covers, though. I love their strong background colors. |
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Post by cadriel on Mar 5, 2015 15:48:39 GMT -6
I don't have them, although I must admit the covers are kind of tempting. My dad has the old Ballantine editions, whose covers I remember well.
Now, it makes me curious, though. Ace books - at least all the ones I have from the 50s and 60s - were 6.5 inches tall and 4 inches wide, compared to a "normal" mass market paperback which is 7.5 inches tall and 4.5 inches wide, giving them a trademark squatness by comparison. The LotR books look like they have normal proportions, I wonder if that's when Ace made the shift?
It's also important to remember that those paperbacks caused a huge groundswell of fantasy literature. Ballantine had so much demand for more of the same, they had Lin Carter digging up every old book he could find, which of course became the great Adult Fantasy line.
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Post by Finarvyn on Mar 6, 2015 5:31:06 GMT -6
Never seen them, so thanks for sharing the pictures. I agree that the covers are awesome!  |
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oldkat
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 431
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Post by oldkat on May 30, 2015 15:05:13 GMT -6
These: Yes. I have a set. Not in M or NM, but I'd say pretty good condition. Why did you ask? |
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Post by geoffrey on May 30, 2015 19:55:20 GMT -6
Yes. I have a set. Not in M or NM, but I'd say pretty good condition. Why did you ask? I was wondering if they include the appendices, prologues, and maps. |
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on May 31, 2015 11:47:26 GMT -6
I like both sets of covers, although the ones geoffrey posted are new to me and very impressive. The ones Falconer posted appear to be the inspiration for the cover of the "Bored of the Rings" edition I have.
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Post by archersix on May 31, 2015 14:58:27 GMT -6
Neat stuff, I had never heard of these either. Makes me wonder what the story is behind these being unauthorized? ACE was a major publisher. Did they just print these and try to distribute them on the sly? Was authorization given and then pulled?
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Post by geoffrey on May 31, 2015 15:12:03 GMT -6
Neat stuff, I had never heard of these either. Makes me wonder what the story is behind these being unauthorized? ACE was a major publisher. Did they just print these and try to distribute them on the sly? Was authorization given and then pulled? It's complicated: www.kirkusreviews.com/features/unauthorized-lord-rings/ |
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Post by archersix on May 31, 2015 20:09:01 GMT -6
Thanks Geoffrey!
Very interesting reading there.
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