Hitchcock Speaks Once More

 Sorry this post is a bit late, but things haven't quite settled down on the family front yet.

Today we will look at my last two Hitchcock youth story collections. The first one is from 1973. 

These are the big hardback editions, with the wraparound covers! Yay!

This one is illustrated by Robert Shaw. He seems capable and I kind of like his style

Here is the introduction from "Alfred Hitchcock." Sadly, Robert Arther passed away in 1969, so I don't know who wrote this.

And here are the stories! Once again, there are some heavy hitters here...

And here is another example of Robert Shaw's artwork. 

The next (and final) book I have is from 1977. This is another hardback, wraparound cover edition! I'll admit that I thought this was kind of a weird path to go down for the series, but I guess they were running out of subjects...

This one is illustrated by Stephen Marchesi.

Here is a good example of his style...

Once again, "Alfred" introduces it...

Here are the stories...

And more illustrations...

Alfred Hitchcock passed away in 1980. This was the last of the nine books in the series. The amazing thing is that they still hold up after all of these years, even with adult readers. 

I have something different for the "Official Halloween" post!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

Paperback Writer....

Greetings from the attic! This week we feature more Alfred Hitchcock youth collections. Unfortunately, these are not the beautifully illustrated, large, hardbound books. These are the paperback versions that were released in the 80s and 90s. 

I won't be showing you any illustrations out of these for a very simple reason...There aren't any. The cover is all you get, and it doesn't even wrap around to the back of the book. 

Still, these are interesting in their own way, so let's jump in, shall we?

First we have Alfred Hitchcock's Sinister Spies! This book was originally published in 1967. 

 

Instead of a wrap-around cover illustration, you get a back cover teaser. 

Here is the title page...

The ten stories are listed here...

And here we hear from "Alfred...."

Alfred Hitchcock movies are not unually referred to as horror. They are usually simply called "suspense" films. This book attempts to cut to the heart of that genre. This is from 1966.

Here is the back cover teaser...

The title page...

...and the contents. I know a couple of these stories. If you're a Star Trek fan, you might know that "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" was rewritten for Trek as "Wolf in the Fold."

And here's "Alfred" again!

Finally, we have Daring Detectives from 1969. This book features some very popular writers and their creations...

 

Here is the back cover teaser.

And here is the title page...

You'll see those heavy hitting authors here.

And once again "Alfred" chimes in...

So there you have it! I haven't ever seen the large hardback cover editions of these books, but they are probably pretty nice. I think these short stories hold up well enough on their own, though. More large, hard covers next time!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

A Hitch in the Plan

Hello Attic visitors! This week's post is actually late due to a family emergency. Don't worry, it will all work out, but it's taken a whole lot of my focus. Let's just say taking care of aging parents can be a challenge.

Anyway, today we have two more "Hitchcock" youth books based on the strange and scarrrrrry. Ok, maybe not that scary, but they are almost all good stories. They were both actually edited by Robert Arthur, although only the first was illustrated by the great Fred Banbery. Let's look at that one first, shall we?

The beautifully creepy wrap around cover art is classic Banberry. Hitch is EVERYWHERE in this picture! 

The end pages look like a Escher fever dream. Weirdness abounds!

More Hitch! And chairs... What's up with the chairs? Did Banbery have chairophobia?

This book came out in 1962. Sharp eyed readers will note that this should have been the second book I shared. In my defense....Oops!

Here we have our ghostly tales. No, I didn't read them all again, but I can remember that they were pretty fun as a kid. 

And here's "Hitch's" intro. These mirror the introductions to the "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigator" books. As well they should, considering Robert Arthur "ghost-wrote" all of them...

Speaking of Robert Arthur and ghosts, here is his contribution to the tome. This story is more funny than scary and answers the question, "What would happen if you accidently parked your travel trailer on the spot were an obnoxious old hobo died and he decided to ride along with you when you moved on?" The story teller is beside himself by the end...not from fear, but from frustration! What happens then? Well, you gotta read it!

The next book is one that I don't care for nearly as much. I didn't read it as a kid, I don't think monsters are as fun as mysteries and ghosts, and our old pal Fred Banbery had nothing to do with the illustrations. Three strikes right there! But, in a spirit of completeness, I present...

Ok, let me address my biggest gripe right up front. These illustrations by Earl E. Mayan are downright ugly. He seemed to be going for "weird" and "really, mod man" all at once and it just falls completely flat in my opinion. 

Here is the table of contents. I skimmed through some of these and they seem...ok.

At least we get to hear from Hitch again, and these intros are always entertaining!

Oh, by the way, this was released in 1965. Maybe that's why they decided to go all "modern art" with it? Who knows?

Ugly, ugly, ugly....blech!

Ok, that's enough effort on this turkey. They can't all be winners, I suppose. It sits on the shelf next to the others just fine. I guess I just feel like there's no charm to this book. It's amazing how the artwork will change the whole feel of a book!

So that's it for this week! Hopefully next (this?) week's post will be closer to on time!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!