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Fredric Brown’s novel – note that his name is presented as “Frederick” – originally appeared as a single installment within the September, 1954 issue of Astounding Science Fiction.
The cover of this particular issue of Astounding is representative of the magazine’s cover design for the latter part of the 1950s: The majority of issues published from February, 1954 through November, 1959 featured – always in the upper left corner – a diagram, abstract representation, or symbol of an aspect of the physical sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering / technology) with a brief explanatory “blurb” within the magazine’s table of contents.
So, for September of 1954, we have: “Optical confusion: The eye cannot simultaneously focus on pure red and pure blue.”
Well, I don’t know if it’s really that confusing. At least, it wouldn’t be for a Martian peering through the oversized keyhole!
My personal favorite is from December of 1957, and needs little explanation…
