I, Libertine by Theodore Sturgeon and Jean Shepherd is on sale for $1.99 at Amazon US.
Likely more important for the back story than the actual novel, I, Libertine started as a practical joke by radio host (and
A Christmas Story scribe) Jean Shepherd. It was an attempt to get a book that did not exist onto the bestseller lists of the day. Wikipedia has a decent article about it here:
I, Libertine
There's also a fun article about it here:
The Story of "I, Libertine" by Bob Kaye
Here's a quote from Shep as the book was being cooked up:
Quote:
At about 2 am one night, Shep said to his listeners, "let's all go to the local book stores tomorrow and ask for a book, that we, the Night People, know doesn't exist." Since it was a communal thing, he asked the listeners for suggestions for a title. Finally, at about 4:30 am someone came up with "I, Libertine". Shep then created an author, Frederick R. Ewing, formerly a British Commander in World War II, now a civil servant in Rhodesia, married to Marjorie, a horsewoman from the North Country. He was best known for his BBC broadcasts, on 18th century erotica. He was published by Excelsior Press, an imprint of Cambridge University. Now who's gonna argue with that? British--Cambridge--a wife named Marjorie?
So what's next? The first guy walks into the store and asks for "I, Libertine". The owner says he never heard of it. Man number two walks in asking for it. Now he says "it's on order." The next guy comes in. Now he's on the phone to the distributor. " Well, after 350 more guys ask for it, Publisher's Weekly is in shambles!"
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