EXTRO

Mandarin paperback, 1989. Cover artist uncredited.

"Scattered throughout the solar system are a group of immortals, dubbed the Molemen. Their latest recruit is Dr Sequoya Guess, an eminent scientist and a valuable addition. 

But Guess has been taken over by the all-seeing, all-hearing supercomputer, the Extro, which controls all mechanical functions on Earth. And when a member of the group turns traitor, the Molemen start to do the impossible: they start to die. 

It is up to Guig, Hillel and their colleagues to destroy the Extro and the renegade or to be destroyed themselves."

I'm sorting out my doubles and copies lately, which is why there's going to be a few "doublers" (with alternate cover artwork, of course) being posted. Of all of them though, Extro and Aldiss' Interpreter seem to haunt me.

EXTRO

Methuen paperback, 1976. Cover artist uncredited.

"Scattered over the densely populated solar system there is a small group of immortals. One of them, Dr Sequoya guess, attempts to take over Extro, the supercomputer complex that controls all mechanical activity on earth. But instead Extro takes over Guess, and the combination turns suddenly evil. Dr Guess must be destroyed - but how do you kill an immortal?"

EXTRO

Eyre-Methuen hardback, 1975. Cover artwork by Peter Tybus.

"Alfred Bester's first science fiction novel in nineteen years is a major event. Like both his earlier novels, Extro is a breathtakingly fast-moving adventure peopled with brilliant, talented, witty eccentrics. Scattered about the overcrowded, frenzied solar system there is a small group of immortals. They range in age from Hic-Haec-Hoc, a neanderthal who hasn't become any smarter in many thousands of years of life, to Daniel Curzon, the baby of the group at two hundred and fifty. Curzon's nickname, Guig, short for Grand Guignol, was given him for his charming habit of killing horribly people he admires. For that's how people become immortal - by dying particularly horribly. Now Guig has a new target: Dr. Sequoya Guess, a brilliant young Cherokee physicist. Dr. Guess is killed when his space programme ends in catastrophe before Guig can get to him - and is transformed into a new immortal anyway, to Guig's delight. Dr. Guess begins to take over Extro, the supercomputer complex that controls all mechanical activity on earth. The immortals join him, adding their own considerable resources to the effort. Their  aim is to free earth of political repression, to rebuild guess's  space-probe programme, and also to have a good time. But Extro takes over Guess instead, and turns evil for no discernible reason. The task of one merry band suddenly becomes a fight in deadly earnest for their own lives and Earth's existence. Sequoya Guess, whom they love, must be killed - but how do you kill an immortal?"

THE STARS MY DESTINATION

Gollancz SF Masterworks paperback, 1999. Illustration by Chris Moore.

"EDUCATION: none. 

SKILLS: none. MERITS: none. 

RECOMMENDATIONS: none. 

That is the official verdict on Gully Foyle, unskilled space crewman. But Gully has managed to survive for 170 days in the airless purgatory of deep space after the wreck of his ship, and has escaped to earth carrying a murderous grudge and a secret that could change the course of history."

Ten points go to Bill Miller, who spotted that the painting is actually mirrored. According to Wikipedia this was done for aesthetic reasons. So when Gully meets the Scientific People, they tattoo 'DAMON' on his forehead.

THE DEMOLISHED MAN

Penguin SF paperback, 1974 reprint. Cover illustration by
David Pelham.

"'It's lucky for the world i'm willing to stop at one murder. Together we could rape the universe.' 

Ben Reich, head of Monarch utilities and resources, risks everything in a last-ditch take-over bid for the massive D'Courtney Cartel. When it fails only murder, blackmail and bribery are left. 

So Reich sets himself against the whole sophisticated paraphernalia of twenty-fourth century crime fighting, conducted by the peepers - trained telepathists with a strict code of ethics. And even if he can find a bent peeper, there's still the ultimate penalty if he fails - Demolition."