8 thoughts on “The Art of Science Fiction Book Covers”

  1. This video reminded me of how many actually good writers I skipped back in the day, because I assumed the book was yet another one about experiences with interesting pharmaceuticals. Even for the writers that I bought by name, I had to work hard to ignore the horrible “art” on the front.

    YMMV, of course.

    • Their promo text needs serious work.
      Barsoom has nothing to do with H. Rider Haggard.
      And Leigh Brackett had nothing to do with Joanna Russ’s FEMALE MAN.

  3. There’s also this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Science-Fiction-1926-1954-Hugo-Gernsback/dp/0345247310

    It is mostly focused on the pulps, as expected from the title. There’s full size reproductions of original covers from some of the early illustrators.

    Lots of Frank Paul art and many of the designs and cover themes haves since been recycled, reinterpreted, and “homaged” over andcover, especially in comics.

    It leaves off just as Freas came onto the scene.

    Newer SF and fantasy art books cover specific artists like Frazetta, Vallejo, Whelan, and the brothers Hildebrant.

    All worth checking out if you can find them.
    As I said, libraries might have them.

  4. There’s also this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Science-Fiction-1926-1954-Hugo-Gernsback/dp/0345247310

    It is mostly focused on the pulps, as expected from the title. There’s full size reproductions of original covers from some of the early illustrators.

    Lots of Frank Paul art and many of the designs and cover themes haves since been recycled, reinterpreted, and “homaged” over andcover, especially in comics.

    It leaves off just as Freas came onto the scene.

    Newer SF and fantasy art books cover specific artists like Frazetta, Vallejo, Whelan, and the brothers Hildebrant.

    All worth checking out if you can find them.
    As I said, libraries might have them.

  6. Nice video.

    I’m old enough, I remember when all those covers came out (not the pulp mags, but all the books). Remember the first Ace Doubles?

  7. And like everything else, it’s still hit and miss on what will actually get a reader to pick it up and look inside.

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