On this day, 17 May 1965, in reaction to a general strike the right wing Bolivian military dictatorship declared a state of siege and launched an all-out war on the organised working class. They also passed a series of laws dismantling labour unions and calling up all Bolivians aged 19 to 50 into the service of the military. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1718791658305977/?type=3
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction
chronicles the rise and fall of horror paperback novels. Much like the
glory days of VHS tapes lining video store shelves, horror fiction often
featured artwork more interesting than the
contents within. Author Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism) saves bibliophiles countless hours of tracking down and reading hundreds
of obscure books to suss out the hidden gems by highlighting
the best, worst, and weirdest selections from this oft-overlooked literary subset.
The book is more than a mere reference guide with a gallery
of covers and accompanying synopses; it offers an analytical and
comprehensive look at the works. An author himself, Hendrix is not
afraid to voice his opinion. (He is decidedly not a fan of Jay Anson’s The Amityville Horror,
for example.) He also profiles a handful of the artists responsible
for some of the most eye-catching covers. It’s logical that Paperbacks
from Hell is a paperback release (albeit a glossy, coffee table-sized one), but I’d
love a hardcover companion filled with full-page artwork.
