Puck Annual

Puck Annual was another Amalgamated Press children's annual and ran from 1921 until 1941. Colourful front covers and a delightful frontispiece would greet the eager child receiving this volume for Christmas during those long-gone years between two world wars.

The weekly comic paper of the same name lasted for 1867 issues, from 1904 until 1940.

Radio Fun, 1945

This Radio Fun annual 1945 (published late 1944) has seen better days. On the other hand, it has lot of character! During the war years, radio kept up the spirits of those able to tune in. For those without their own sets, there was the pub or work place. The war had dragged on for 5 years and the radio had made stars out of many of those whose voices came via the air waves. You'll find many of them within this magnificent volume, and I've added some shots of content for your perusal.

Radio Fun Annual was published by Amalgamated Press for about 20 years and if memory serves, Tony Hancock appeared on the very last, 1960.

The weekly comic version of Radio Fun ran through from 1938 to 1961; a total of 1167 issues.

Vintage Children's Annuals

Why not extract a shelf of children's annuals, photograph each and post some information along with each photo? Are there any collectors out there still interested in annuals? I'm beginning to wonder. Maybe they're all busy reading those annuals to bother about looking online. I must admit I'm spending less and less time on Facebook. So that's what I did this morning. Here's a photo showing a sample of what will appear.

The Collection

It's taken more than a decade to open every box of books and magazines I moved from the family home, and storage. In that time life has changed somewhat. Yes, I'm still living in the mountains. No, I no longer sell books on online via that auction site. FACEBOOK has become the medium of contact for most of my friends. The blog seemed too much trouble. However, it occurred to me that the blog could be linked to my Facebook feed. Who gave me that idea? Lily, of course. It will be a different type of blog. Different perhaps, as I'm an old bloke, on the pension, and each time I think about that, I pinch myself, expecting to wake up! Expect the unexpected, no. A picture is worth numerous words, so here's a picture, provided I remember how to post it ...

ASTOUNDING DAYS by Arthur C Clarke - Review

This journey through the contributors and stories of ASTOUNDING STORIES is a revelation in the development of modern technology! Anecdotes and stories flow from the Number One SF author of the 20th Century as he fondly recalls the days before word processors; the development of the rocket, radar and a dozen other wonders of the 1930-70 period, thrown into the mix of dozens of memorable personalities. Published in 1989 by Gollancz in the UK, isbn 0-575-04446-02. Highly recommended.

CINEMACABRE issue 7 - Review

Cinemacabre "an appreciation of the fantastic" was edited and published by George Stover (who you can find details of on the IMDb). Issue 7 dated Fall 1988 contained a fine collection of articles, reviews and columns on the SF and horror genres, including interviews with actor Leslie Nielsen and director Reginald Le Borg. Roughly a5 size and 60 pages plus covers, this publication was one of the best small press publications to come out of the 1980s so if you come across a copy, pick it up and have a read. Highly recommended!

SEIZE THE TRIDENT by Douglas R Burgess, Jnr - Review

Subtitled "The race for superliner supremacy and how it altered the Great War", this lengthy book details both the ships and the personalities behind their construction and operation. The period covered extends from the late 19th Century through to the end of WW2.

The author covers an amazing amount of ground as he follows the battle between Britain and Germany in the boardroom and in Germany's case, in the palace. Ship operation is extensively covered and this includes disasters like the sinkings of the Titanic and Lucitania.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the subject will be unable to put this book down. I found it engrossing; so highly recommended.