Fantastic Science-Fiction Art 1926-1954

by Lester del Rey (Editor/Introduction), Hugo Gernsback (Editor)

No form of art gave freer reign to the imagination than that found on the covers of the early science-fiction magazines. But it was imagination based firmly on possible realities. Long before there were spaceships, flying saucers, robots and lasers, science-fiction art was depicting them magnificently.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

92 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1975

About the author

Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for his juvenile novels such as those which are part of the Winston Science Fiction series, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books edited by Lester del Rey and his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.

Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I may not read much science fiction, I certainly do love the art that has come from sci-fi ideas. Whether it's book covers or old magazine covers, the famous pulp artists have made it happen. This collection of outstanding illustrations from the early science-fiction magazines covers the height of the era, from the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s. The book could have been twice as large but the selection is quite good.

There is Leo Morey



and Howard V. Brown



plus, of course, the famous Frank Kelly Freas artwork to be later used by Queen



There is an excellent introduction by Lester Del Rey which provides a backstory to the artwork. The plates are great and given full page focus, so I walked away a very happy reader.

Book Season = Year Round (Martians and keyholes)

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slim volume containing reproductions of pulp science fiction magazine covers on nice thick, slick paper. There are more works of Frank R. Paul than any of the other artists, and his bright and vibrant depictions of Wells' menacing Martian war machines and toppling skyscrapers and speculations of what life on other planets look like are delightful. Most of these are from 1930s issues Amazing Stories or from magazines with the words "Thrilling" or "Wonder" in them. There are also nice bug-eyed monsters from Howard V. Brown (illustrating Lovecraft), curiously under clad young women painted by Earle K. Bergey, excellent Lunar landscapes by the under-appreciated Alex Schomburg, etc. The most familiar are the Frank Kelly Freas covers from Astounding SF, the robot one of which was later used at the cover of A Queen album, and the little-green-man-looking-through-the-keyhole from Fredric Brown's Martians, Go Home. Del Rey also contributes a nice introduction. It's a fun book to flip through every few years.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of classic pulp SF covers from the 20s through the 50s.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing I would've liked to have seen was a lot more! If this book had had 100 (or 200) magazine covers, then I would've given it the full 5 stars. The intro by scifi veteran Del Rey was also quite interesting.