Shock paperback series by Richard Matheson (Dell)
![Shock! Thirteen terror-charged tales served from the imagination of a master storyteller, Dell 7828. First published in 1961, this is a later edition from November 1966. Cover art by Tom Ryan. [More info on ISFDB] The title is in contoured caps from , with the italic used for the blurb.](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/124/124632/124632.png?filename=Shock!-Matheson.png)
Shock! Thirteen terror-charged tales served from the imagination of a master storyteller, Dell 7828. First published in 1961, this is a later edition from November 1966. Cover art by Tom Ryan. [More info on ISFDB] The title is in contoured caps from Cooper Black, with the italic used for the blurb.
Between 1961 and 1970, Dell published four collections with short stories by Richard Matheson (1926–2013). Each volume contains thirteen horror and thriller tales. For more info including a list of the contents and images of the back covers, see Uncle Doug’s Bunker of Vintage Horror Paperbacks.
![Shock II. Thirteen tales to haunt the imagination, Dell 7829, October 1964. Cover artist is uncredited. [More info on ISFDB] The title uses , a shaking variation of , carried by Photo-Lettering. The Roman numerals appear to be custom additions, made from repurposed I’s. The secondary typeface is Bold.](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/124/124630/124630.jpeg?filename=5608848902_44b92b447d_k.jpg)
Shock II. Thirteen tales to haunt the imagination, Dell 7829, October 1964. Cover artist is uncredited. [More info on ISFDB] The title uses Tension, a shaking variation of Futura Bold Condensed, carried by Photo-Lettering. The Roman numerals appear to be custom additions, made from repurposed I’s. The secondary typeface is Britannic Bold.
![Shock III. Thirteen electrifying tales by a master of the far-out and the bizarre, Dell 7830, March 1966. Cover art by Norman Adams. [More info on ISFDB] “Shock III” features , another vibrating face from Photo-Lettering, designed by . It’s paired with .](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/122/122786/122786.jpeg?filename=30895432243_fbf30d8472_o_d.jpg)
Shock III. Thirteen electrifying tales by a master of the far-out and the bizarre, Dell 7830, March 1966. Cover art by Norman Adams. [More info on ISFDB] “Shock III” features Allen Riptide, another vibrating face from Photo-Lettering, designed by John S. Allen. It’s paired with Optima.
![Shock Waves. The weird, the wild, the horrifying-thirteen terror trips by a master, Dell 7831, October 1970.
[More info on ISFDB] For this last volume, the uncredited cover designer cut up and shifted some of the slices to the left or right. A few years later, in 1973, Vic Carless created the typeface by applying a similar concept to the letterforms of . With the diagonal cuts and the slight offset including repeating bits, his execution is more dynamic and convincing. The blurb at the top uses , a follower of [correction: it’s , see comments].](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/124/124635/124635.jpeg?filename=7077256605_f264edbae9_k.jpg)
Shock Waves. The weird, the wild, the horrifying-thirteen terror trips by a master, Dell 7831, October 1970.
[More info on ISFDB] For this last volume, the uncredited cover designer cut up Impact and shifted some of the slices to the left or right. A few years later, in 1973, Vic Carless created the Shatter typeface by applying a similar concept to the letterforms of Helvetica. With the diagonal cuts and the slight offset including repeating bits, his execution is more dynamic and convincing. The blurb at the top uses Ludlow Black, a follower of Cooper Black [correction: it’s Pabst Extra Bold, see comments].
3 Comments on “Shock paperback series by Richard Matheson (Dell)”
Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker comes to mind
That last image appears to be using Pabst Extra Bold instead of Ludlow Black (the “a” is a particular indicator).
Eagle eye strikes again! Thanks, Bryson, good call. The e with its larger aperture is another distinguishing detail.