Copy/paste, before word processors.

<sup>From back cover of Star Trek, the 1967 novelization of the show, by James Blish.


From the title page of Star Trek 2, the 1968 novelization of some later episodes, also by James Blish.</sup>

Soeaking of stupidly sexed-up book jackets with lazy copy writing, I really enjoy the Flashman series, but I'm almost hate to read the Harper Collins editions. They all seem to feature grinning Harry Flashman with a worshipping Native girl at his feet, and they have backcover summaries with blurbs like this:

FLASHMAN'S RAUNCHIEST ROMP YET
...he meets his match in the voluptuous Princess Lakshmibal, Maharani of Jhansi - a muslin-clad Jezebel with am amorous appetite even more voracious than his own. Never has Flashman been forced to rise to so great a challenge - again and again and again..."

Okay... Flashman not only does NOT have sex with the Princess, she has him thrown in prison. The only sex at all in the book is between Flashman and his wife, and someone SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER. Most of the book deals with Flashman running from horrible situation to horrible situation during the Indian Mutiny, including being present at the Cawnpore Massacre.

The backcover blurbs take pains to present these as sex-filled comic histories, when in fact they more closely resemble Patrick O'Brian novels, except on land with a decided anti-hero as the protagonist. Take a look at this cover:


That girl there, caressing his legs? A dancing girl he rapes. He later kills her bethrothed, takes her as hostage, throws her off a horse in the wilderness, and tries to kill her, only to be stopped by an enlisted man.

The backcover blurb is all about sultry Indian beauties and "Haw-haw, Flashman does it again."

Anyway. I should also note that I always hear the books narrated in the voice of Neddy Seagoon.

Carry on!