SHARK BAIT

Summer is now officially over. And what a summer it has been for extreme weather events. Record heat, drought, wildfires, rainfall, tornadoes and hurricanes. Damn, I don't remember a summer quite as devastating as this one either nationally or globally, well except perhaps the summer before this, and the summer before that, and the summer before that. Even Highlands Ranch, a normally quiet suburb of Denver which has never seen anything worse than fiddy-cent sized hail, got slammed this summer by an EF1 tornado. And while I rarely if ever find humor in the plight of others, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw what went down at the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada (hint: I'll always call it the Muddy Man Festival from now on).

Shark attacks seem to be on the rise too, which one recent scientific study attributed to the rise in ocean temperatures due to climate change, pushing sharks species from the "warmer, more sparsely populated southern hemisphere to the cooler, more crowded north, increasing the odds of shark-human encounters."

But are shark attacks really on the rise?

In 2022 there were 57 reported shark bites, but that's actually down from 73 in 2021, with 74 being the annual average over the last ten years. The highest number of attacks ever recorded was 111 in 2015.

This year there have been 60 shark bites reported so far, with three months still to go. Though the data does show that since 1950 shark attacks have actually risen, but that's mainly because the human population has risen too, from 2.5 billion people then to 8 billion people now. So more people means more opportunities for sharks to bite. The rate of those attacks have stayed relatively consistent though in regards to the population increase, except for a significant drop in 1976 and 1977 due to what one professor dubbed the "Jaws Effect." That's the detrimental effect the 1975 movie Jaws had on people's opinion of sharks, forcing thousands of summer vacationers to stay the hell out of the water.

Fine artist and professional illustrator Roger Kastel certainly played a part in that now historic drop. His cover art for the paperback novel that the movie Jaws was based on was as powerful a deterrent as anything found in the book or film. The novel is still in print too, and not surprisingly it still sports Kastel's iconic cover painting.

But what other English language shark covers are out there? Not as many as you might think, but probably a lot more than I could find, and I'd like to believe I'm a pretty good scourer of the net and of used bookstores. So here's what I came up with, not counting comic, pulp and magazine covers which could make up a whole 'nuther post by itself. Also included are a few non-fiction books.

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne was published in hardback by the John C. Winston Company in 1932. It features an introduction by Felix Riesenberg, and contains a glossary of deep-sea life. The paste-down cover art and four interior illustrations were produced by Anton Otto Fischer. The paperback reprint was published Young Reader's Classics in 1990. Its cover artist is unknown.  Jules Verne's most famous novel follows the adventures of a French professor and his two companions as they sail above and below the world's oceans as captives on board the fabulous electric submarine of the eccentric (or is he actually deranged?) scientist and seaman, Captain Nemo.

 

Peter & Co. by Mary Grant Bruce is the sequel to her novel, Told By Peter. It was published by Ward Lock and Company in hardback in 1940, and is indirectly linked to Bruce's popular Billabong series of Australian "Western" style family-oriented adventures. Billabong is the name of an Australian cattle station, the centerpiece of the series.  Peter & Co. is about Peter, his sister Binkie, and their friends Clem and Tarry, who are on holiday at an island just off the coast of North Queensland. Apparently, at least according to jacket art by artist J. F. Campbell, a shark tries to horn in on their fishing success.

Sponger's Jinx by Bert Sackett was published in paperback by Pocket Books Jr. in 1950. The cover art and interior illustrations were produced by Clayton Knight.

"From the moment Soc Tillis made his first dive for sponges from his father's ship, the St. Nicholas, crack diver Stalios was his enemy. A tropical hurricane wrecked the ship while Soc was ashore. The embittered Stalios, lone survivor, blamed Capt. Tillis for the disaster. Branded a jinx, Soc cleared his father's name---and his own---by risking his life in a thrilling undersea rescue in shark-infested waters."

Shark-O by Patrick Fitzgerald O'Connor was published in hardback by Secker & Waraburg of Australia in 1953. The jacket artist is unknown. The paperback edition was published by Corgi of London in 1955. Its cover art was produced by British artist John Richards.

"Here is a splendid tale of adventure, of four men in a small boat sailing some of the most treacherous seas in the world in pursuit of one of the largest of all marine creatures, the five-ton basking shark. The author tells first---and most entertainingly---of the genesis of this expedition; of the search for a crew and equipment for his boat "The Cornaig Venture," and above all for the necessary capital; and of how finally in April, 1951, he sailed, with high hopes, from Loch Fyne for the Hebridean waters where, in spring and summer, the sharks could be found. In the succeeding three months practically every happened to the four adventurers of the Cornaig Venture. For days not a shark's fin to be seen, then suddenly 30 or 40 within range. The harpoon gun that in recoil flung itself and O'Connor backwards into the sea; the whitest of all fogs, the fierce sudden storms... the hidden reefs and the tidal races of the Minch; the unbelievable beauty of a Hebridean summer day; the escapes and escapades; the "Bosun" who decamped with O'Connor's cheque book; the single-handed battle with the poaching Norwegian Fleet. And in the end? Financially the venture at least broke even, and in addition O'Connor had gained a wealth of valuable information about one of the least known marine creatures. SHARK-O! from the first page to last makes enthralling reading, for Mr. O'Connor possesses to a rare degree the gift of transmitting his own enthusiasm. It is also a book of high quality, the work of a born literary craftsman. Mr. O'Connor's prose is both firm and supple, beautifully attuned to the moods he is describing, and he shows himself a master of descriptive writing. When his first novel NOT IN MY HOUSE was published two years ago, critics recognised a new writer of unusual talent. SHARK-O! proves abundantly how right they were."

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Raft of Despair by Ensio Tiira was first published in hardback by Hutchinson & Co., of London in 1954. The jacket art was produced by Harold Ing. Lion Library published the first U.S. paperback edition in 1956. Its cover art was produced by Stan Borack.

"Two men---on a bottomless, four-foot square raft of hollow tubing, alone in the terrifying void of the Indian Ocean. With them, a one-day supply of food, a small bottle of wine---and no water. Under the merciless sun, amid unspeakable dangers, they drifted for thirty-two days. One of them survived to write this book..."

Underwater Adventure by Willard Price was first published in hardback in the U.S. by J. Day Company of New York in 1954. The jacket art was produced by Peter Burchard. The Knight Books softcover reprint edition was published in 1984. Its cover art and interior illustrations were produced by Pat Marriott.

"A Willard Price Adventure story, about Hal and Roger and their amazing adventures in search of wild animals for the world's zoos.  Hal and Roger sail to the Pacific to help a marine scientist explore the sea bed, and find themselves in danger from the most vicious sea creatures in existence. But it is not only the terrors of the deep that threaten the two boys. They have stumbled upon a deadly intrigue which is to involve them in some of their most perilous adventures yet---and lead them through typhoon, earthquake and shipwreck."

The Manila Menfish by Frank Crisp was published in hardback by Brockhampton Press Ltd., of London in 1956. The jacket artist is unknown.

"Dirk Rogers is used by the American security forces in Manila to track down smugglers of uranium to Communist China. He uses cool resource and pilots a two-man 'chariot', or submarine, to plant the evidence that traps the gang."  --- Manchester Evening News.

Hell and High Water was edited by Michael Dewell and published as a paperback original by Pyramid in 1956. The cover art was produced by Frank Cozzarelli. It contains sixteen purportedly true stories.

High Tension by James W. Briggs.
Human Torpedoes by Sandy Sanderson.
I Was 'Cuda Bait by Frederic Sinclair.
Bloody Mary by John Keynes as told to Michael Duball.
End of a Lone Voyage by John Caldwell.
Drop Dead! by Master Sergeant Nicholas Klimis as told to Michael Duball.
Sweeney at the Bottom of the Sea by Barney Sweeney as told to A.I. Schutzen.
Over the Arctic in an Eggbeater by Lieutenant William R. Matthews, USN as told to Michael Duball.
The Great Locomotive Raid by Bradford Jones.
They Can't Hurt A Dead Man by David Jacobson.
The Man Who Wouldn't Drown by Gerald Payne.
An Officer Must Die! by Charles Richard.s
Eight Against the Antarctic by Tom Crean.
Death Came Downriver! by Shep Shepherd.
They Broke the Ocean's Back by Paul Fitzsimmons.
Great Cowboy Race by Walter Schmidt.

 

Big Game Fishes and Sharks of New Zealand by Arthur W. Parrott was published in hardback by Hodder and Stoughton of London in 1958. The jacket artist is unknown.

"This book, "a companion volume to Sea Angler's Fishes of New Zealand, gives a concise account of the larger game fishes and sharks that been recorded from New Zealand waters. Its main purposes are to supply information that will enable the average person who has no specialized knowledge of fishes to identify correctly our larger game fishes and sharks, and to give briefly some general information on their habits, life histories and distribution." Includes some material on contemporary New Zealand big game fishing as well as records of notable catches."

Shark Attack, A Study of Swimmers, Surfers, Skin Divers, Shipwreck Survivors and Sharks by Victor Marcus Coppleson was published in hardback by Angus and Robertson of Sydney in 1958. The jacket artist is unknown.  According to the book's hype, this is the first ever book on shark attacks.

These three editions of The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne were all published in hardback. They are as follows:  Juvenile Productions in 1930, with jacket art by Savile Lumley;  Daker Press in 1957, with jacket art by an unknown artist;  Peal Press in 1960, with jacket art by an unknown artist.  The Coral Island is the story of three boys, Jack, Peter, and Ralph, and their adventures after they are shipwrecked on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean. They do their darnedest to create an idyllic society despite being plagued by typhoons, wild hogs, hostile visitors, and yup, you guessed it, sharks!

 

 

A Wren Called Smith by Alexander Fullerton was published in paperback by Pan of London in 1958. The cover art was produced by Pat Owen.

"A tough and racy adventure of war at sea... Captain Christiannsen had a prejudice against having women on his ship---but in the case of WREN MARY LOU his prejudice was misplaced. MARY LOU, as well as being young, beautiful, and with a natural gift for what she called 'having fun', was a girl of resource who could face reality. RESOURCEFUL---when the Gangerwolf was torpedoed and its survivors mercilessly machine-gunned. REALISTIC---when she and her companions face a brutal ultimatum!"

Dark Bahama by Peter Cheyney was published in paperback by Fontana of London in 1960. The cover art was produced by British artist John L. Baker.

"Fourteen miles off the tail-end of Andros Island in the West Indies lies Dark Bahama. Many people have discovered they can find their heart's desires there; many have found, too, that even in paradise it pays to watch your step. Viola Steyning is young, wayward, rich and good looking, and the sort of girl to cause her mother back home in England a certain anxiety. That is why Julian Isles has been sent out by Johnny Vallon of Chennault Investigations to bring her back alive - for beneath the tranquil surface of Dark Bahama's tropical beauty lurk sinister and dangerous undercurrents."

Treasure of Acapulco by Dorothy Witton was published in hardback by Julian Messner in 1960. The jacket art was produced by Lee Ames.

"Unless he could save enough money in three months to prove he could make a living from the sea, Tony would have to leave his beloved Acapulco and live in Mexico City with Uncle Juan. There was no longer time to fish or dive for fun. Night and day the pursuit of money drove him to dangerous encounters and grim adventure. His first job was on a glass-bottomed boat diving for tourists. But his partner, Lencho, had a well-deserved bad reputation and the hatred between the two boys erupted into violence. As a result Tony lost his job and was ordered to stay off the beach! Driven by the need for money, Tony risked his life diving twenty fathoms deep into the ocean to recover a tourist's watch. Rising slowly to the surface he was attacked by a shark, lost the watch and developed the bends. This time he was warned by the doctor---no skin-diving for at least two months! Tony worried as time for proving himself was growing short. Then he heard about buried treasure. If he could find it, his troubles would be over---but the hunt ended in disaster. When he got a job on a fishing boat, he was happy at last. Proud of the vessel, he took his friend Peter out one day---and a tidal wave struck, sweeping Peter into the relentless sea. There was no time to think of money or of the doctor's warning not to dive. He knew what he had to do. In a gripping story of drama and adventure, Tony learns the real treasure of Acapulco---not buried gold but the place itself and its special way of life; not money but the riches of true friends. And in the end it is Tony who teaches Uncle Juan that the best security anyone can ask for is a firm belief in the strength of one's own character."

Beyond the Silver Sky by Kenneth Bulmer was published in paperback as an Ace Double (D-507) in 1961, sharing flip-side space with Meeting at Infinity by John Brunner. The cover art for 'Beyond' was produced by Ed Emshwiller (it should be noted that blonde man is sitting on a saddle, otherwise he would be clenching his legs a lot tighter).

"When The Heavens Fall, Men Must Fight!   Keston Ochiltree's visit home had been short and disastrous. His newborn nephew had proved to be one of the Hopeless Ones and had only served to remind him of the present plight of mankind. Keston knew that the decision he was being called on to make might mean a new start for humanity or the end of their underwater civilization. Each day found more Hopeless Ones being born: pitiful creatures with webbed hands and feet. More important, the inhuman Zammu were pressing their attack in a fierce sturggle between species. Most important, the silver sky was lowering. The shimmering sky-level would soon shrink until they all burned in the gaseous beyond. So Keston's decision might mean everything. Should he stay in the Emperor's shark-cavalry to fight the Zammu? Or should he join Professor Lansing in an illegal attempt to find what lay BEYOND THE SILVER SKY?"

City Under the Sea by Kenneth Bulmer was published in the United Kingdom in paperback by Digit in 1961. The cover art was produced by Brian Lewis. (Hmm... joy sticks and a riding saddle---I guess it's the evolution of a species).  In 1980 Bulmer's novel was reprinted by Avon with new cover art by Clyde Caldwell. (No joy sticks this time around but the head-lamps are definitely here to stay. Plus we get a glimpse of the actual city. Yay).  

"Jeremy Dodge knew the Earth would face starvation if it were not for the new science of "aquaculture". With the world's population numbering many billions, only the extra food being cultivated on the bottom of the sea could feed everyone. But, like the rest of the surface-dwellers, Jeremy did not know what a vicious monopoly underwater cultivation had become. That is, until the dreadful moment when he himself was kidnapped and dragged beneath the depths. And there he was to learn that just making his own escape would not be enough--he would have to save mankind from the tyranny of a new race of water-breathing human monsters!"  --- Digit edition, 1961.

"Space Commander Jeremy Dodge is on furlough on his way to the moon when he is summoned back to earth for a mysterious conference at the Blue Deep Hotel. Suddenly he finds himself in a treacherous underwater trap with beautiful, blonde Elise Tarrant as bait---caught in a snare of a vast sea exploitation scheme run by ruthless entrepreneurs in the aquaculture racket. Longing for his home out among the stars, yet unable to forget the woman who has lured him to a life of underwater serfdom, Jeremy determines to find her and escape. Then one day he wakes from a drugged sleep to find fish swimming in and out of his prison cell and his own breathing apparatus removed. He has been given the operation that will banish him forever from the world he knows. He can no longer breathe air. He is a manfish."  --- Avon edition, 1980.

Killer Shark by Paul Crane was published in paperback by Horwitz of Sydney first in 1962, and then reprinted in 1975. The cover artists are unknown.  I believe this is a non-fiction account of shark encounters and attacks and how best to avoid them (Duh, how about just staying out of the water!).

"A proven Maneater! Restless, hungry, cunning..."

The Shark Arm Case by Vince Kelly was first published in paperback by Horwitz of Sydney in 1963. The cover artist is unknown.  This is a true account of a series of incidents that began in Sydney, Australia in 1935, when a human arm was regurgitated by a captive tiger shark, resulting in a murder investigation and trial. The arm, as determined by forensics, was not bitten off by the shark, it was instead severed by a knife, and in a messy, non-surgical manner. The tiger shark had apparently eaten a smaller shark who had originally eaten the arm, and possibly other parts of the victim that were dumped in the sea. It all got very complicated after that, starting with the slaying of one of the main suspects, who was a reputed criminal and cocaine smuggler. Another suspect in all of this was actually tried for the "arm" murder and acquitted in court for lack of evidence. The story has become the stuff of legends in Australia's legal history, inspiring the writing of this book, the TV play The Grey Nurse Said Nothing, the 1991 book A Time To Remember by Peter Luck, the 1995 book The Shark Arm Murders by Alex Castles, a 2003 episode of CSI: Miami, an episode of the comedy crime series Psych, and the 2020 book Shark Arm by Phillip Roope & Kevin Meagher.

Lone Dhow, Hunting the Tiger Shark by Adrian Conan Doyle was published in hardback by John Murray of London in 1963. The jacket artist is unknown.

"There are not many people who have the gift ot make the account of their adventures as hair-rasing as the adventures themselves but Mr Conan Doyle is one of the few. His new book is an account of a mission undertaken on behalf of the Natural History Museum of Geneva to capture an adult tiger shark. While found in all tropical seas tigers are harder to capture than the majority of sharks owing to their great strength and ferocity. The coast of Somaliland was chosen as the locality nearest to Europe to offer any chance of getting a tiger---a location notorious for its grim barrenness and lack of fresh water. Using a sailing dhow and native crew he based himself on the island of Aibat but was eventually forced to admit that luck was against him and that both crew and boat were inadequate for his task. Back on the mainland he refitted with a new crew and an engine-driven dhow. This time he used a volcanic island in a bay in the Gulf of Tadjoura as a base, but although there were thrilling encounters with hammerheads, grey nurses and sawfish the tigers again did not show up. After a second visit to Tadjoura for water he decided to fish in the open seas and there he captured his tiger---a grim fight and a great triumph. The book ends with a voyage down the Gulf of Aden and a climb to the ruins of the ancient city of Cana."

Fangs of the Sea by Norman Caldwell and Norman Ellison was published in paperback by Pacific Books of Australia in 1966. The cover artist is unknown. This is a non-fiction account of the perils of shark fishing. It was first published by Angus and Robertson of Sydney in 1936, and is profusely illustrated with black & white photographs.

Down Deep in the Sea by Horace Tuttle was published in hardback by Herald Publishing Association in 1967. The glossy boarded cover art and interior illustrations were produced by Thomas Dunbebin. I remember checking this book out from my local library when I was a kid. I'm sure it was classed as a juvenile non-fiction and not an adventure novel which is what the cover art sort of implies. I'm not quite sure what the boy is holding in his right hand--a knife perhaps?

The Shark Run by Victor Canning is a adventure novel that was published in paperback by Four Square (New English Library, U.K.) in 1968. The cover artist is unknown.  It was originally published in the U.K. in hardback in 1955 as His Bones Are Coral, and then in the U.S. as Twist of the Knife. In 1970 Canning's book was made into a film starring Burt Reynolds. The director, Samuel Fuller, was going to title it Caine after Reynold's character, but after a stuntman was attacked and subsequently killed by a shark during filming the producer's changed the title to Shark to cash in on the publicity. The should've called it Shit because the film stunk like a huge pile of it when compared to the novel.

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The above is a plethora of English language editions of Peter Benchley's famous thriller Jaws and its two rather good sequels by Hank Searls. I've thrown in a couple of Swedish Language editions as a bonus because they are pretty darn awesome looking.

To the best of my knowledge the publisher and publication dates are as follows:

Jaws -- Doubleday & Company Inc., hardback, 1974. Jacket art by Paul Bacon.
Jaws -- Bantam paperback, 1975. Cover art by Roger Kastel.
Jaws -- Pan paperback (U.K.), 1975. Cover art by John Holmes.
Hajen (Jaws) -- Bonniers hardback (Sweden), 1974. Artist unknown
Hajen (Jaws) -- Bonniers hardback reissue (Sweden), date unknown and artist unknown.
Jaws -- Pan paperback reissue (U.K.), date unknown and artist unknown.
Jaws -- Pan paperback reissue (U.K.), date unknown and artist unknown.

Jaws 2 -- Bantam paperback, 1978; original cover and variant without skier. Art by Lou Feck.
Jaws the Revenge -- Berkley paperback, 1987. Cover art by Roger Kastel.

JAWS (Doubleday Edition):  "A young woman makes love on the beach, then takes a midnight swim. As she swims, she is violently struck, chopped in two. The next morning pieces of her body are found at the water's edge. So begins JAWS, the story of a Long Island resort town called amity that is set upon by a rare and fearsome creature, the great white shark. A superbly exciting novel, JAWS is also a tale of moral dilemma. For the town fathers of Amity decide to cover up the woman's death: news of a killer shark could ruin the summer business. They forbid police chief Martin Brody to close the beaches. The shark has gone, they say. But the shark remains and kills again, and the life of the town becomes governed by the remorseless, almost supernatural presence offshore."

The Killer Sharks: The Real Story by Brad Matthews (Manor, 1976) is one of the Holy Grail's of paperback collecting. There are four reasons why that is so:
 
1. The book was actually written by bestselling author Nelson Demille.
 
2. The story is actually fiction, even though it tries to convince us that it's not.

3. The print run was very low making the book even more scarce than it should be.
 
4. The absolutely horrifying cover art (allegedly produced by Ken Barr).

"During World War II, Brad Matthews watched in horror as hundreds of his comrades on the torpedoed Indianapolis were torn to shreds by ravenous killer sharks. From then on, the young oceanographer vowed to devote his life to the study of nature's most perfect killing machine. His adventures span three decades of bloody encounters with the gaping jaws of death. He has witnessed sharks gorging themselves on human flesh, heard the cries of terrified victims he could not help, and barely escaped the savage attack of a great white. This is the real story---a saga written in the blood of countless men and women."

"More Gruesome Than Jaws! More Terrifying Than Any Novel!  The True Story Of One Man's Lifetime Among the Killers Of The Deep!   

"Read This Book -- It May Save Your Life!"

Album of Sharks by Tom McGowen was published in hardback by Rand McNally in 1977. The jacket art and interior illustrations were produced by Rod McCord Ruth.  This book is a general introduction to sharks with specific descriptions of twelve different kinds. McGowen also wrote Album of Dinosaurs, Album of Whales, Album of Prehistoric Man, Album of Radioactivity, and so forth, most of which are illustrated by Ruth.

Witch Queen of Lochlann by George H. Smith was published in hardcover in the U.K. by Robert Hale in 1981. The jacket art was produced by British artist Helen Hale. The U.S. paperback edition was published by Signet in 1969. Its cover art was produced by Sanford Kossin.

"Evil reigns as two princesses battle for the throne of a midnight empire. The Fomorians needed their queen. Lochlann was in peril. If the true royal leader did not appear before the festival, the watery abyss would swallow Lochlann, and the Children of Llyr, with their sharkskin armour and savage ways, would overrun Caer Rigor and the wheel of light would never look upon the faces of the people again. But two princesses claimed the throne---one fair of hair, one raven-tressed; one cursed with a desire for human men, who died at her touch, the other blessed by a  love-urge inspired by a goddess---and Duffus January, their silently avowed protector, knew he would ultimately have to choose between them. Yet in the strange netherworld where those who would have the Power also had an evil duplicate, Duffus realised he would never know if he had made the wrong choice---for the final darkness would leave no time for reason."

 

Megalodon by Robin Brown was published in hardback by Coward, McCann & Geoghegan in 1981. The jacket art was produced by Don Brautigam. The paperback edition was published by Playboy Press in 1982. Its cover art was produced by Les Katz.

A Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived 23 to 3.6 million years ago, from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs. The name means "big tooth." Thought to be the largest and most powerful predator to have ever lived, its actual appearance and maximum size are uncertain, although most scientists would agree that it probably resembled a stockier version of the Great White. A recent estimate suggests it may have topped out at 67 feet and 53 tons. Its prey was generally whales, seals, and sea turtles.

Rip Tide by Donald D. Cheatham was published in paperback by Zebra in 1984. The cover artist is unknown (it should be noted that Zebra Books rarely if ever gave credit to their cover artists).

"HIGH TIDE. The water was warm, the waves were cresting and the twenty-six-foot shadow went unnoticed as it searched for prey. It had consumed several dozen horseshoe crabs, an assortment of beer cans and beach litter, a Labrador Retriever that had strayed too far from shore---and it was still hungry... LOW TIDE. The bathers, the sun worshipers, the vacationers---they were all too busy to notice the sinister gray fin that surfaced for a brief second and then disappeared. The young high school student who was practicing his backstroke caught a glimpse of the voracious monster but it was too late to scream. And all that was left of the pretty blonde was her bikini floating out to sea. They weren't the first victims and they wouldn't be the last to be swallowed in the deadly depths of the RIP TIDE."

The Three Investigators Mystery #30, The Secret of Shark Reef was written by William Arden and published in softcover by Scholastic in 1979. Its cover art was produced by Charles Liese. In 1985 it was reprinted by Keyhole, a division of Random House that specialized in juvenile fiction. Its cover art was produced by Robert Adragna, who beginning in the early 1980's and lasting a decade, was the primary cover artist of the popular series.

"Danger lurks on Shark Reef! Deadly sharks infest its waters. Jagged rocks threaten to destroy any passing ship. And buried on the reef is a secret that will spell disaster for one man if it ever becomes known. The secret might have strayed hidden forever---if it hadn't been for the arrival of The Three Investigators!"

Hungry, Hungry Sharks by Joanna Cole. Random House 1986. Cover art and interior illustrations by Patricia Wynne.  This book is a basic introduction to sharks and aimed at very young children.

"Step into Reading with HUNGRY, HUNGRY SHARKS. Did you know there were sharks on earth even before dinosaurs? Did you known the dwarf shark is no bigger than your hand? Did you know sharks never stop swimming and never go to sleep? You can find out all about sharks in this book!"

White Shark by Peter Benchley was published in paperback by St. Martin's Press in 1995. The cover and stepback art was produced by Rob Wood.  I've read all of Benchley's novels and while some are certainly better than others, White Shark is in my humble opinion the best of the them all. It's a paperback that might be worth collecting too because of its toothsome die-cast keyhole packaging. 

"It's down there. At the bottom of the ocean. Waiting to hunt its prey. To start the killing it cannot stop..."

"At a small marine institute off the coast of Connecticut, only marine biologist Simon Chase realizes that a sixteen-foot pregnant Great White is feeding in the area. But even Simon doesn't know that a far deadlier creature is about to come out of the deep and threaten everything he cares for. A creature whose malevolence is unthinkable. Whose need to feed is insatiable. And whose relentless hunt for prey is unstoppable."

Goosebumps #19, Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine was first published in softcover by Scholastic in May, 1994. The cover art was produced by Tim Jacobus.  The Goosebump series, like the Three Investigators, was something I never read for reasons pertaining to age (me being too old when they first came out). But now, thanks in part to my growing awareness of their great covers, I've a hankering to sample both series, but finding actual copies in used bookstores is apparently a rarity these days. I suppose I can always try obtaining them online or thru my local library, assuming of course libraries still have copies on their shelves after all this elapsed time.

"DON'T GO IN THE WATER!  Billy and his sister, Sheena, are visiting their uncle Dr. Deep on a tiny Caribbean island. It's the perfect place to go exploring underwater... and Billy's ready for an adventure. There's only one rule to remember: Stay away from the coral reefs. Still, the reefs are so beautiful. So peaceful. Billy can't resist. But he's not alone in the water. Something's lurking deep below the surface. Something dark and scaly. Something that's half-human, half-fish..."

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WELL, that's all I have for this go-around of shark covers.

It wasn't much, really, so I've added a few shark facts below to round out the experience. These were found on an old 1975 film poster from Universal Pictures, a rather eclectic, ephemeric attempt by them to advertise their 1975 film JAWS to even more of the general public than usual (as if Jaws needed more advertising. Ha!).

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SHARK FACTS 1:  All sharks, no matter what their size, should be treated with respect. There are over 300 species of sharks. Most are predators, born with a full set of teeth and the instinct to use them. Even a shark much smaller than a man has the ability to inflict fatal injuries.
                                                                                    
SHARK FACTS 2:  The seas off our shore are aprowl with many killers. The proven maneaters include the Blue Shark, the Tiger Shark, the Bull Shark, The Mako, the Hammerhead, and the most fearsome of all... the Great White.

SHARK FACTS 3:  Fresh water swimmers are not necessarily safe from sharks. A lake in Central America contains some of the most voracious sharks in the world. Experiments have proven that some sharks traverse 100 miles of river to get there. Three of the worst attacks in U.S. history occurred in a brackish New Jersey creek 20 miles from the open sea.

SHARK FACTS 4:  The shark is in many respects one of the most successful creatures on the planet. The first shark appeared over 300 million years ago. They have changed relatively little in the past 60 million years. The sharks prey are many, his enemies few. He is a most efficient killing machine
                                                                                       
SHARK FACTS 5:  Shark attacks may be motivated by more than mere hunger. There is evidence that the shark has a "fighting instinct," that he attacks for reasons of true aggression---probably to protect territory, personal space, or status.

SHARK FACTS 6:  Some sharks can move in tremendous bursts of speed. The Mako, which can leap twenty feet out of the water has been reported to exceed 30 miles an hour.

SHARK FACTS 7:  A shark is a tooth making machine. And the teeth you see in a shark's gaping mouth aren't the half of it. Behind the front row lay a least four to sex more rows. Razor sharp cutting and tearing tools, they are often serrated like a steak knife. When a tooth is lost, a new tooth replaces it. In one chimp, a shark can inflict a wound which is massive and almost surgically precise.

SHARK FACTS 8:  A major portion of a shark's brain is devoted to the sense of smell. An incredibly small concentration of blood in the water can arouse his feeding desire and bring him running to the source from far away. If you are bleeding, no matter how slightly, get out of the water.

SHARK FACTS 9:  A shark's vision is far from poor. Like a panther, his eyes are designed to be efficient in very dim light. In the dark, the shark has a special advantage over you. Never swim at night.

SHARK FACTS 10:  Sharks have been known to attack practically anything. Floating barrels. Life rafts. Whirling propellers. And boats. One hooked shark attacked a 35 foot fishing boat, tore planking from the bottom, and sank it.

SHARK FACTS 11:  Shark attacks occur in water of every depth. They have killed in the open sea and at the surf line. Some of the worst attacks occurred in water only knee deep.

SHARK FACTS 12:  A shark doesn't have to bite you to hurt you. His skin is extremely rough, covered with tiny denticle structures very similar to teeth. Rub him the wrong way, and he can severely abrade your skin.

SHARK FACTS 13:  Sharks are superbly equipped to detect low-frequency vibrations---the erratic noises made by wounded fish... and poor swimmers. He can home in on these peculiar sounds from hundreds of yards. Swim smoothly.

SHARK FACTS 14:  Of all the sharks in the sea, the Great White (Carcharadon carcharias) is unquestionably the most dangerous. The largest yet captured measured 21 feet and weighed over 3 and a half tons. They undoubtedly grow even larger. The known food of the Great White includes mackerel, tuna, porpoise, seal, other sharks, and on terrible occasions... man.


FINAL FACT WARNING:  Sharks will not be outguessed. No rule about sharks, no strategy of defense is completely reliable. All Sharks, no matter how small, are potential man killers. The only guaranteed shark repellent is dry land.

[© September, 2023, Jeffersen]