“1987’s Most Cringe-Worthy Reads: What Were They Thinking?!”

by · July 4, 2024

A trip down memory lane! Here’s a glimpse at some of 1987’s most cringe-worthy reads. From garish cover designs to outrageous plotlines, these books make us wonder: what were they thinking?!
A trip down memory lane! Here's a glimpse at some of 1987's most cringe-worthy reads. From garish cover designs to outrageous plotlines, these books make us wonder: what were they thinking?!

1987 was a year like no other for the publishing world. While some literary gems shone brightly, others crashed spectacularly, leaving readers perplexed and critics shaking their heads. Dive into this list to discover the literary missteps and baffling plotlines that marked the year.

1. The Aquanauts by Ken Norris

No, not a thrilling underwater adventure, but a literary shipwreck. The Aquanauts promised high-seas excitement but delivered tedious and cliché-ridden prose. Hoping to ride the wave of popular oceanic adventures, Norris’s novel sank under the weight of its predictable plot and cardboard characters.

Ken Norris’s The Aquanauts – an attempt at high-seas adventure that ultimately flounders, weighed down by a predictable plot and lifeless characters. A literary shipwreck amidst a sea of cliched

2. Transformers Universe Published by Marvel Comics

Transformers commanded legions of fans eager for stories that expanded their favorite universe. Unfortunately, Transformers Universe turned out to be a muddled guide focused more on encyclopedic entries than weaving a compelling narrative. This comic felt more like reading a dictionary of robots than embarking on an exciting new adventure.

The cover of Transformers Universe , published by Marvel Comics, showcases an array of beloved Transformers characters in dynamic poses. Despite the anticipation from fans, this issue delivered a more encyclopedic approach to the Transformers lore rather than a thrilling narrative adventure.

3. The Laundrymen by Jeffrey Robinson

A book dedicated to the mechanics of money laundering sounds thrilling in theory, but Robinson’s The Laundrymen bored readers with its labyrinthine explanations and dry tone. Instead of illuminating the dark underbelly of financial crimes, it left readers feeling like they were drowning in a sea of jargon and dull data.

A vintage-style cover of “The Laundrymen” by Jeffrey Robinson, attempting to lure readers into the intricate and shadowy world of money laundering, but ultimately delivering a dry and jargon-heavy narrative that left many feeling lost in a maze of financial complexity.

4. Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonlance Saga Published by DC Comics

The iconic role-playing game deserved better. This comic adaptation floundered with stilted dialogue and an overly compressed storyline that failed to capture the charm and depth of the original game. Fans who flipped through its pages were left yearning for the imaginative worlds they created around their own gaming tables.

The DC Comics’ adaptation of “Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonlance Saga ” attempted to bring the beloved role-playing game to life but fell short. The stilted dialogue and compressed storyline left fans nostalgic for the

5. Bigfoot by Rene Dahinden and Don Hunter

With a title promising to dive into into the mysterious world of the legendary creature, Bigfoot fell flat. The book offered little new insight for aficionados, recycling old myths and disjointed anecdotes rather than presenting a compelling narrative or groundbreaking research. Readers who sought truth found only tired tales.

The cover of “Bigfoot” by Rene Dahinden and Don Hunter, designed to capture the allure of the legendary creature, ultimately houses a collection of recycled myths and disjointed anecdotes, disappointing readers in search of new revelations.

Reflecting on 1987, it’s clear that even amidst literary missteps, there were lessons to be learned. Oversaturated genres and poorly executed concepts emphasize an era that, while flawed, still resonates in its ambition.

Discover more from Oh My Five

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags:

You may also like...