What Mad Universe it is that requires note taking while reading for fun

For unknown reasons I have been hankering to reread Fred Brown’s WHAT MAD UNIVERSE.

I reread Martians, Go Home a bit ago (I got a 1st edition hardback in near-perfect condition at a library sale for a buck:  sometimes it is a good thing that SF is not that popular…) and while it was as funny and sarcastic as I remembered it to be, it didn’t quite quench my thirst for Fred.

Martians is cynical and humorous.  What Mad Universe is downright hilarious.

This time around I’m paying attention to all the kids who claim that old SF is too dated to enjoy, and I’m keeping notes to see just how dated it is (while still laughing my butt off).

I’ll be posting them here as I find them.

Keith Winton, the protagonist, works for the Borden publishing chain.  Borden, the publisher, is rich enough to have a mansion in upstate NY.  Hah! Print publishers with money – riiiiiiight.

Keith types on a – TYPEWRITER!

Keith takes notes with a pencil and paper.

Men edit science fiction magazines, women edit Love Story magazines.

Love story magazines

Phone calls cost a nickel.  Phone numbers are listed by exchange name and then four digits (Greenville 1111).

When you talk to an operator, you talk to a live person

Paperbacks cost 25 cents

Men wear jackets, ties and hats when they go to work

More tomorrow – gotta feed the cat!