Author's employer requests book cover image removed from his locker door
Eric G. Waggoner, author of "Freckles: Angel on Her Shoulder" has removed the image, printed on a postcard taped to his personal equipment locker door, as requested by his employer, a large commercial aircraft firm in Everett, Washington. "This is ridiculous - there is little reason for his cover to be considered suggestive. I would consider his lady trooper attractive, but nothing beyond that." a spokesman for the company (who wished to be anonymous) stated. "However, someone filed a complaint to Human Resources and we have to respect their feelings - we wrote the code of ethics, we have to stand behind it. Still, I think we should focus on aircraft delivery and not dwell on such issues, unless they are truly disruptive." The drawing for the cover, a female Washington State Patrol trooper who is Mara, the main female protaganist, was criticized in the complaint for having "breasts that were too well defined". The author was also the artist for the cover. "I am not a professional artist," Eric admitted, "perhaps my lines in the drawing were a bit sharp and needed softening, but after all, she is an attractive character that swims a lot to keep fit for her job. It was not my intent to offend anybody."
“We’re going to use nine megaton warheads in space and we’re not sure they’re large enough to be effective. Why would you even consider using kiloton-range surface-to-air warheads as back-up?” The answer was succinct. “Because they’re all we have.”