Dope-smuggler's Bible from 1928
This dope-smuggling Bible from the November 1928 issue of Modern Mechanix illustrates the perpetual ingenuity of dope fiends:
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Mechanical ingenuity of narcotic smugglers is constantly being tested in devising new methods of bringing their contraband goods safely into the country. The picture shows a Bible which has been hollowed out in the center to provide a hiding place for thousands of dollars worth of morphine and other opiates. The book was confiscated by Internal Revenue inspectors.
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Holy smoke, Batman! This must be the work of dope fiends!
It reminds me of TRAINSPOTTING film. Just with a book instead of a shoe. And with old timey gear.
OR, if an otherworldly being from the fifties had to hide a RAYGUN from unsuspecting EARTHling hosts; "Yes, thank you Ms. James, some coffee would be wonderful. Perhaps you would enjoy hearing a passage from.."
Also the movie Five-Card-Stud with Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum. Robert Mitchum pretends to be a preacher, and in his hollowed-out bible, he carries a gun to kill people.
Hollowing out a book was "ingenuity" in 1928?
I betcha that Ted Haggard's Bible was really his secret crystal meth holder.
Nope, but calling a small handful of morphine "Thousands of (1928 yet) dollars worth" is - for cops anyway. Plus ca change
It interesting that a magazine from 1928 used the relatively accurate and non-loaded term "narcotic smugglers", while a knowing, hip electronic blog in 2008 uses the war-on-drugs-speak term "dope fiends".
I think I'll be revising "Warondrugs Industry" to "Waronsomedrugs Industry", to cover the CIA's cut
Hollowing out a book was "ingenuity" in 1928?
I was going to ask the same thing...that's the oldest trick in the, hm, book.
I used to be a dope fiend, but I'll be 70 in May. Reading much Chandler, or is that an obscure nod to Afroman?
As a writer, Lavie culls from the rich histories of the Jewish religion, African voodoo magic, and the dark secrets of London to build complex, fascinating stories that he describes as "HebrewPunk." A mixture of British Steampunk and religious mythology, HebrewPunk is quite unlike anything you'll find in the short fiction world.
Ellen Datlow introduces the concept of HebrewPunk to the masses with the story "The Dope Fiend." The work is dense with plot, arcane references to mysterious religious entities, and drugs . . . lots and lots of drugs. We're introduced to a fallen Guardian called Tzaddik, a fascinating figure who maintains a taste for the darker aspects of London. Through the machinations of a desperate man and the power of an African hougan, a dark angel is unleashed that looks to make a sinister trade
for Tzaddik's immortal life.
Though I could go into an extended review of Tidhar's tour-de-force, such reviews have already been written in multitudes. Instead, let me extoll an appreciation of Ellen Datlow's knack for recognizing the unique talents and voices of writers such as Lavie Tidhar. How many times has Ms. Datlow done this over her career? Or simply in the five and one-half years at SCI FICTION? No doubt, many others would have passed on "The Dope Fiend." Too dark, they'd say. Audiences won't connect to this.
Sadly, "The Dope Fiend" was the last story published by SCI FICTION under Ms. Datlow's editorial direction. A fine parting shot to the world.
Takuan, same here: my immediate thought when I saw the claim that that held "thousands of dollars in morphine and other opiates" was that law enforcement has been inflating the value of their drug busts for a long time.