Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

Today's find brings you a small glimpse into the world of science fiction and fantasy (something I seriously know nothing about). After seeing the cover, I knew there would be fun things inside. Or at least some good ads in the back.

Novemeber/December 1978 $1.25

Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine started in 1977 after some dude named Joel asked Asimov if he would lend his sideburns to the magazine. I mean seriously. Look at that man's facial hair. It's epic. 

Look they even won a spaceship vibrator award!

Excuse my crappy scans. I was just so mesmerized by the hair on this hand.

So many of my dumpster finds end up in my office because of the cover or the illustrations inside. 

This has "PEW! PEW! PEW!" written all over it!
PEW!

What truly fascinates me, however, are the ads in the back.
Publish your book! Make $1200 a month licking envelopes! Win a government Lottery!

Save money on CB accessories! Painted fantasy figures! 

I often think about writing some of these companies to see if they still exist. 

When I first found this, my thoughts went immediately to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (started in 1956) and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (started in 1941). I read both of these growing up and would purchase them every so often from my local Publix. For whatever reason, I could only ever find them at Publix. These were basically short story compilations, that were easily digestible. I had never seen science fiction at Publix, but I was probably the only person shopping the magazine aisle under 65. 

This November 2013's editions of both magazines, also found in the trash.

Their ads suck.

If you are interested in your own copy of Vol. 2 No. 6 of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, you can get your own copy for $2.50 or $11.11. Wonder at the glory of Asimov's sideburns!

Marbles

Yup... Marbles

The Great American Marble Book by Fred Ferretti published in 1973 is today's book.

I mean how could I NOT save this book from the dumpster?
It has EVERYTHING I "forgot" about immies, mibs, glassies, purees and other incomprehensible marble things. Who plays with marbles anymore? Seriously? What kid even goes outside?

This girl is demonstrating the classic MOONEY TED FIRST. You remember THAT right?

"This was tense business. Only the best shooters played KILLER." In Brooklyn kids played a marble game called, killer. Let us think about that for a little bit. KILLER.

I'm kind of surprised, that the kids didn't just throw their marbles at people and run. I mean... this is freakin BROOKLYN.

I am pretty sure, that Poison hole originated in Brooklyn too even though, "it is essentially a form of golf."

Like most slow paced "sports" like golf and baseball, I feel that if it isn't full contact, it's not worth playing.

If YOU have any questions about marbles, post in the comments and I'll try to answer them for you!

Who am I and what IS this?

I am a librarian. My passion is archives, but I'm not working in archives. I'm just happy to working in my field. Some day, I may work in an archive, but until then... I really am happy just where I am.

I have been rescuing books from the book donation pile at work, for months now. I have piles. In fact, my piles have piles and there are THREE boxes of books sitting in my office. Some items I rescue because they are hilarious. Others because the covers are great, or because it's a topic I am interested in, even mildly (Why yes I will take this book on cargo cults). Some are given to me by coworkers who find them first and understand my terrible sense of humor. Since I have so many, I have decided, that a blog might be the best place for some of these. I want to share these great books with the world. I want to save them from Goodwill and the recycling bin. I may even find the time to read them some day.

The other day a coworker, found THE BEST children's book EVER. It is called, "Slovenly Peter, or, Cheerful stories and funny pictures for good little folks." I was going to scan in the book, but while researching the copyright (published in 1919, just in case you were wondering), I found it on Archive.org.
Here is my absolute favorite poem from the book so far. I hope you enjoy and are as terrified as I was when I read it.

Mom says, "This is the English translation of "Der Struwelpeter" of which I have the original German - a wonderful book. Cool that you now have it in English.   It's always fun to go back to  - both the pictures and the text.  (Pfui da sagt ein jeder.  Garstiger Struwelpeter!) Turn it upside down and there is another book - "Max und Moritz"  about two little delinquents who come to horrible end.  You haven't read it???  You must have."

No Mom... I haven't