Note: This book is also referred to as Sometime Never in the UK.
First editions:
Charles Scribner & Son, 1948, USA.
To identify: Used the standard single statement with the usual ‘A’ below and published with a dust jacket priced at $2.75.
Collins, 1949, UK.
To identify: Used a standard single statement (copyright statement with date below, no later dates or printing statements indicated) and published with a dust jacket priced at 8s 6d.
Some Time Never was published in the United States in 1948 by Scribner’s, and in England a year later by Collins. There’s no easy way to put this: the book was a total flop. It was almost an adult version of the Gremlins story, beginning with the Battle of Britain and continuing on to the end of the world. Despite its utter failure, the book is remarkable for being the first book about nuclear war to be published in the United States after Hiroshima.
Reviews
“Survivors of World War IV” by Bergen Evans published in April 3, 1948 issue of The Saturday Review (read online)
To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published with a dust jacket priced at £5.50.
Knopf, 1980, USA.
To identify: Used a standard ‘First Edition’ statement and published with a dust jacket priced at $8.95.
Trivia:
Occasionally referred to as Dahl’s “first” novel (even by the author), despite Some Time Never‘s publication 30 years earlier.
Connections:
Features same protagonist as “B***h” and “The Visitor,” noted lover Oswald Cornelius
The nameless narrator has revealed snippets of the lovable, lascivious Uncle Oswald’s life in other collections, but this is the only novel – brief though it is – dedicated solely to the diaries of “the greatest fornicator of all time.” Inspired by stories of the aphrodisiac powers of the Sudanese blister beetle, the palpable seductiveness of the lovely Yasmin Howcomely, and the scientific know-how of Professor A. R. Woresley, Uncle Oswald anticipates the concept of the Nobel sperm bank by some 40 years, flimflamming crowned heads, great artists, and eccentric geniuses into making “donations.” The life of a commercial sperm broker has a few surprises even for a sophisticated bon vivant, and Dahl manages his signature sting-in-the-tail ending even in one of his lightest comic works.
Reviews
“Satire and Sensitivity” by Marion Halligan from the May 24, 1980 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)
“Offbeat biographies” by Lyn Frost from the March 1, 1981 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)
“Crime and Passion” review column by Darcy O’Brien from the April 21, 1980 issue of New York Magazine (read online)
Fun Stuff
Tearsheet (Poster) by American illustrator Mel Odom
Covers
Michael Joseph, 1979 [amazon template=rdf link&asin=0718118642]
To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with no later printings listed underneath) and published with a dust jacket priced at £6.50, the rear flap of which does not have a copyright attribution to Quentin Blake.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1983, USA.
Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
To identify: Used a limitation page outlining limitation of 300 copies and signed by Dahl and Blake. Published with a slipcase and not priced.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1983, USA.
Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
To identify: Used a standard First American Edition statement and published with a dust jacket priced at $10.95.
Other editions:
Scholastic, 2020, USA.
“The Witches: The Graphic Novel”
Illustrated by: Pénélope Bagieu
Censorship:
Challenged in Spencer, Wisconsin because “it desensitizes children to crime related to witchcraft.”
From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Connections:
The protagonist’s two white mice are named William and Mary, the same as the (human) couple in “William and Mary”
Roald Dahl Audio Books read by David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Kate Winslet, Chris O'Dowd, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Richardson, Richard Ayoade, Douglas Hodge
Roald Dahl Audio Books (10 CD Collection) read by Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Geoffrey Palmer, James Bolam, Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield, Timothy West, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Martin Jarvis
Sacrées Sorcières read by Jean-Claude Donda, Jeanne Cellard and Jackie Berger
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches.
Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There’s nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma’s stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!
Reviews
“The Boy Who Became a Mouse” by Erica Jong from November 13, 1983 edition of The New York Times – New York City, USA
“No black hats or broomsticks here” by Julian T. Martin from the July 15, 1984 issue of The Canberra Times – Canberra, Australia (read online)
Awards
New York Times Outstanding Books Award (USA 1983)
Whitbread Award (UK 1983)
Federation of Children’s Book Groups Award (UK 1983)
Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.
“My name is Eel, Robert Eel. I am the new pastor of Nibbleswicke. Dog help me!”
“The Reverend Lee is worried about being in charge of his own parish for the first time. Will he be able to cope with all the responsibility of weddings, funerals, the choir, the bell-ringers and, above all, the sermons at Nibbleswicke? So worried is he that the dyslexia from which he suffered as a child comes back, in the form of a strange speech defect. He doesn’t realize he’s doing it, but key words come out of his mouth backwards, and thus, for example, he is apt to give his congregation ‘the blessing of Dog Almighty.’
The parishioners are amused and later shocked at the garbled messages coming from the pulpit until finally a cure is found: the Vicar of Nibbleswicke must walk backwards for the rest of his life.”
To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with no later printings listed underneath) and published with a dust jacket priced at £3.50.
Knopf, 1981, USA.
To identify: Used a number line and published with a dust jacket priced at $6.95.
Roald Dahl Audio Books read by David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Kate Winslet, Chris O'Dowd, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Richardson, Richard Ayoade, Douglas Hodge
Roald Dahl Audio Books (10 CD Collection) read by Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Geoffrey Palmer, James Bolam, Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield, Timothy West, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Martin Jarvis
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
How do you outwit a Twit?
Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything—except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don’t just want out, they want revenge.
Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.
To identify: Used a ‘Special Presentation Proof’ sticker on the first interior page stating a limited edition of 500 unsigned copies and published with a jacket priced at £8.99. (See note on Richard’s site.)
Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1991, UK.
Illustrated by: Patrick Benson
To identify: Used a standard statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published with a dust jacket priced at £8.99.
Viking, 1991, USA.
Illustrated by: Patrick Benson
To identify: Used a number line and published with a dust jacket priced at $16.95.
Also known as:Billy and the Minpins (new 2017 edition featuring illustrations by Quentin Blake)
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
Little Billy strays into the forest, where he meets the Minpins–tiny people who live within the trees. The Minpins tell Billy about The Gruncher, who preys on them. So Billy embarks on a mission to rid the Minpins of their foe once and for all, and sets off–on the back of a swan–to confront The Gruncher.
Get your class to think of ways to help Billy escape the Gruncher with the YPO lesson plans which include Art and Literacy Objectives on spoken language, imagining worlds and celebrating achievements.
To identify: Used standard single statement (‘First published’ followed by the date with later printings stated underneath) and published with a jacket priced at £8.50.
Viking, 1988, USA.
Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
To identify: Used a number line and published with a jacket priced at $13.95.
Roald Dahl Audio Books read by David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Kate Winslet, Chris O'Dowd, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Richardson, Richard Ayoade, Douglas Hodge
Roald Dahl Audio Books (10 CD Collection) read by Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Geoffrey Palmer, James Bolam, Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield, Timothy West, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Martin Jarvis
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It’ll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!
Lesson plan where students learn how to identify homophones in a reading passage and how to best use the Visual Thesaurus to help them decide on the appropriate homophones to complete quotations from the book
Designed to get students thinking critically about the text they read and provide a guided study format to facilitate in improved learning and retention
Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.
To identify: The first state book has pictorial boards matching the rear picture of the dust jacket and a copyright page that was identical for a number of printings (later printings finally used green boards with darker quarter spine). The only way to identify a first print is if it has its original jacket with the original pricing of $2.50 (if a trade edition – and clipped at the bottom front flap) or $2.57 (if a HarperCrest Library edition – and clipped at the top front flap).
Allen & Unwin, 1968, UK.
Illustrated by: William Pene du Bois
To identify: Normal practice single statement (‘First published in Great Britain in’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements) and published without a price or a dust jacket. The pictorial boards are the same as the U.S. edition (i.e. matching the picture on the rear panel of the U.S. edition’s dust jacket.
Later editions:
Puffin, 1974, USA and UK.
Illustrated by: Pat Marriott
To identify: Used standard practice (‘First published’ followed by the date and a number line underneath) with 3 statements with the last being: ‘published by Puffin Books 1974’. Priced at 20p and $0.65.
Puffin, 1989.
Illustrated by: Tony Ross
To identify: Standard statement form with previous editions listed prior to the last being with new illustrations and copyright Tony Ross, 1989 under Dahl copyright of 1966. (See Richard’s site for more info.)
Unwin/Hyman, 1989, UK.
Illustrated by: Tony Ross
To identify: Used a number line and was published with a jacket
Viking, 1995.
Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
To identify: Used a number line and came with either of two jackets and with or without the Viking logo on the spine.
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?
To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it’s just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she’s very, very angry, the little girl’s Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it’s turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that’s just the beginning of their problems…
Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.
To identify: Five-line colophon found on the last printed page that includes the statements: Bound by H. Wolff Co. (later printings were bound by the Book Press) and underneath this: Paper supplied by P.H. Glatfelter, Spring Grove Pennsylvania. The boards are a deep red/maroon and the head is stained a peach/yellow color. The dust jacket is priced at $3.95 and does not have any SBN numbers on the right bottom of the rear panel. Note: there are more intricacies here which can be found on Richard’s site…
Allen & Unwin, 1967, UK.
Illustrated by: Michel Simeon
To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First published in Great Britain in’ followed by the date, no later dates or printing statements) and was published without pricing and no dust jacket.
To identify: Used a number line and was published with a jacket that was either not priced and without a Viking logo on the spine or a jacket with the logo on the spine and priced at £9.99.
Knopf, 1996, USA.
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
To identify: Used number line and published with a jacket priced at $16.00
Knopf, 2002, USA.
Illustrated by: Quentin Blake
To identify: Used a number line and published with a jacket but without a price.
Censorship:
Challenged at the Deep Creek Elementary School in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. (1991) because it is “not appropriate reading material for young children.”
Challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wis. (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School library in Brooksville, Fla. (1992) because the book contains the word “ass” and “promotes” the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey.
Removed from classrooms in Stafford County, Va. Schools (1995) and placed in restricted access in the library because the story contains crude language and encourages children to disobey their parents and other adults.
From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Roald Dahl Audio Books read by David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Kate Winslet, Chris O'Dowd, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Richardson, Richard Ayoade, Douglas Hodge
Roald Dahl Audio Books (10 CD Collection) read by Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Geoffrey Palmer, James Bolam, Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield, Timothy West, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Martin Jarvis
Important note: From 2022 onwards, Puffin has edited selected Dahl books to remove sensitive language and insert new sentences not written by Dahl. If you would prefer to read the original text, ensure you get a copy published before 2022 or one of the “Classic Collection” published by Penguin.
Description
A little magic can take you a long way.
After James Henry Trotter’s parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends—Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins!
Designed to get students thinking critically about the text they read and provide a guided study format to facilitate in improved learning and retention
Covers
First Edition, Alfred A. Knopf, 1961 [amazon template=rdf link&asin=0394812824]
Allen & Unwin, 1967 [amazon template=rdf link&asin=0048230782]
Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. Simplified story texts are combined with beautiful original illustrations for students aged 7 and above.
Full title:Walt Disney: The Gremlins – A Royal Air Force Story by Flight Lieutenant Roald Dahl
Illustrated by: Disney Studios (aka Bill Justice, not credited)
First editions:
Random House, 1943, USA.
To identify: Used a standard single statement (‘First edition’ under the copyright information) and published with a jacket priced at $1.00
Collins, 1944?, UK.
To identify: Used a standard single statement (copyright statement with date below, no later dates or printing statements indicated) and published without a price or jacket.
Ayres & James Sidney, 1994?, Australia.
To identify: Used a standard single statement and published with a price of 4/6
The Gremlins was Dahl’s very first book for children. The story was originally intended for production as an animated film by Walt Disney, but the film was dropped before it was completed. Disney did, however, still publish the book that had been created as a tie-in with the movie’s release. Only around 50,000 copies were printed worldwide, therefore copies of it are extremely rare.
In 2006, Dark Horse Comics were able to secure the rights to The Gremlins from Disney to reprint the book. They also released a line of figurines and a sequel series of comic books. You can read more information about the revival here.
Controversy
During pre-production for the film, Disney was contacted by another RAF pilot, Douglas Bisgood, who claimed that Dahl had taken most of the Gremlin terminology from him without his permission. The two had met during Dahl’s journey to the US and had swapped stories of Gremlins onboard the ship. Bisgood claimed that “The names of Fifinella, Widget and Flippertygibbet are my own private property.” (Bisgood’s mother had gone by the nickname Fifinella within her family.) Rather than monetary compensation, Bisgood was keen to be credited in the film. Dahl and Disney tried to placate him by pointing out that all proceeds were being donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund, and in the end the film was never made anyway so Bisgood let the matter drop.
You can learn more about this issue and read some of the correspondence involved over at Mouseplanet.
Fun Stuff
Merchandise
Gremlin Gus Set [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B000IZE1N4]
Gremlin Gus and Fifinella [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B000HBYM5G]
Gremlin Jamface Set [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B000IZFYYY]
Fifinella and Widgets
Gremlin Rufus Set [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B000IZCCJE]
Gremlin with Pipe [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B000JWVKFS]
Gremlin with Postage Stamp
Gremlin Gus Soft Toy [amazon template=rdf link&asin=B018MY878C]
Fifinella Soft Toy
Elsewhere on the web:
Blog post with lots of research from Wade Sampson at Mouseplanet
Theory that Dahl was working as a British Secret Service spy when he wrote the story
Dark Horse, 2006 [amazon template=rdf link&asin=1593074964]
Advertisements
The Gremlins characters were extremely popular and featured in this 1943 advertisement for Life Savers candy:
GREMLIN CHASERS. You’ve heard of the Gremlins… pesky little troublemakers that hang around air fields… army camps… ports of call… and battle stations. One good antidote for Gremlins is LIFE SAVERS… they cheer a fellow up when the Gremlins get him down. Maybe that’s why our armed forces are ordering so many of them… so … if you have trouble getting some favorite flavor… blame it on the Gremlins.
Comic Books
The Walt Disney Company published several sequels in comic book form. These page are from a 1987 reprint by Gladstone Publishing Ltd. (Thank you to Marvin Winitz for tracking these down for me!)
Gladstone Publishing Ltd, 1987
Gladstone Publishing Ltd, 1987
In 2008, Dark Horse released a three-issue comic book series written by publisher Mike Richardson that took place in the modern world rather than World War II. (Issue 1|Issue 2|Issue 3) These were collected into a hardcover volume in 2015. You can read more these comic books here.
