It’s true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. In the case of Harpo’s Horrible Secret, you might jump to the conclusion that something untoward was happening, but Harpo’s horrible secret is really that his pap-pap has Alzheimer’s disease, not a pocket full of Viagra.

 
Going through old correspondence, I came across a collection of cards and letters from a personal hero - J G Ballard.

It’s always amazed me that Ballard took the time to respond to my daft letters full questions and queries he must have answered innumerable times. It said much about Ballard’s great humility and character.

The first, dated April 27 1993, was written on a postcard of Carel Willink De Zeppelin, the blue ink (probably a Pentel pen) has faded somewhat, but still visible are his kind words and enthusiasm for a short story I’d sent him, which he over-praised as “a powerful + original piece of work”, and his explanation of the biographical elements of The Kindness of Women:

‘...which is about my writing as much as my life - my life seen through the spectrum of everything I’ve written.’

During the 10 years of our intermittent correspondence, Ballard was always kind, gracious, encouraging and helpful - an example we all can learn from.
 

 

21/11/94

Dear Mr Gallagher,

Many thanks for your letter from LA - I think probably you should make the documentary about the city - I on the whole rather enjoyed the week i spent there some years ago - but then no one mugged me or shot at me on the freeway - part of the problem there have been too many films about LA on TV over the recent years.

Thanks for reading my stuff -

All the best,

J G Ballard

 
One more from Ballard, after the jump…
 

 
Tess Adamski’s Jack Kerouac tattoo by Thor at Yonge Street Tattoos.

(via Everlasting Blort)

 
Since 1970 French illustrator Jean-Michel Nicollet’s exquisite nightmares have been gracing the covers of science fiction and horror books, the pages of Metal Hurlant magazine and various comic art anthologies.

Nicollet’s early work anticipates the gothic, cyber and steam punk movements that followed years later.
 

 

 
More dark visions after the jump…

 
Crafting With Cat Hair doesn’t hit the shelves until November, but you can pre-order here.

Got fur balls?

Are your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, then it’s time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! Crafting with Cat Hair shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour—with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!”

I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Hoping for instructions on how to build a cat hair hammock.

 
I started off with the Famous Five, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Gerry Anderson, Edith Piaf, Spiderman, Geoff Love and Big Chief I-Spy.

Big Chief I-Spy was Charles Warrell, a retired headmaster who started a series of spotter’s guides in the mid-1950’s called I-Spy. There were some forty volumes, which were intended to encourage young British children to take an interest in the outside world.

Each book focussed on one subject - I-Spy Creepy Crawlies, I-Spy Birds, I-Spy Working Vehicles, I-Spy Trees, I-Spy Wild Flowers, you get the picture, pocket books with various things to “spy”, with pictures, information and a few dotted lines to be filled with where you saw them. 

Once all the contents had been marked up, the book was returned to the Big Chief (c/o his address at “Wigwam by the River”), who then sent you a feather and an order of merit. The I-Spy books lasted from the 1950s-1980s, and hundreds of thousands were sold to enquiring youngsters. In 1991 they were relaunched by Michelin, and again in 2009.

I’ve always thought it probable that the I-Spy books led to a generation of youngster taking greater interest in their environment, who then went on to become involved in various ecological or political groups. Charles Warrell died in 1995, at the age of 106, which suggests an active mind keeps you young.

The publisher and writer, Callum James uploaded these original I-Spy covers onto his website Front Free Endpaper, which is worth dipping into for its interesting book collections.
 

 

 
Via Front Free Endpaper
 

 
I guess in an effort to get people to read more, New Zealand online bookseller Whitcoulls came up with this interesting ad campaign which incorporates every word from Anthony Burgess’ 1962 novel “A Clockwork Orange” on posters. I wouldn’t mind owning one of these. 

Ad agency: DraftFCB, Auckland
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Alex from ‘A Clockwork Orange’ stuffed doll

(via Copyranter)

 
Never judge a book by its cover, but on this occasion I’ll make an exception. A beautiful trippy design for Canongate Books’ edition of Incognito by David Eagleman. It reminds me of those fabulous paintings Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely.
 
Via The Casual Optimist, with thanks to William Clark

 
The intersection of Tolkien and “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers”???

Over on BB Submitterator Ethan Freak writes: “Legolas looks more like a crime-fighting Robin than elf, Aragorn wields an ax, Tom Bombadil is sporting some groovy bellbottoms, & Frodo resembles a pig on crack. The best might be Gandalf “Keep on Truckin’” the Gray. These groovy Lord of the Rings stickers were recently spotted at a Tolkien convention. As you’ll see, the anonymous artist has taken liberties with Tolkien’s vision. Where they originally came from, no one seems to know. Shall the stickers be destroyed in the fiery chasm whence they came?”

See more Tolkien hippie stickers over at Ethan Gilsdorf’s website. He has a fun back-story to go along with these unearthed stickers. 

 
Now this something I’d like to own. Eva Alessandrini and Roberto Saporiti designed this clever “Read Your Bookcase” bookcase for Italian furniture design firm Saporiti. I wonder what it looks like with books on it?

There’s no price listed on the website, but you can contact them here, if you’re curious. I have a feeling it’s going to be quite pricey, though.  

 
(via KMFW)