Science Fiction Cover Art

[Michel Van]

Refueling in space 1954 style.

art work by Ed Valigursky

A Syd Mead cityscape for an unknown publication.

I think this from Kronoteko / Sentinel

 

[Graham1973]

The cover by Vincent Segrelles to the 1987 alternate-history novel 'Napoleon Disentimed' by Hayford Pierce. The full version of the cover image appeared on the German edition of the novel.

 

[Graham1973]

Three covers for 'The Gold Coast' (1988), the second in author Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Orange County' trilogy. The covers are by Keith Scaife (Orbit, 1989), Peter Elson (Harper Collins, 1995) and Tony Roberts (Orb, 1995). The Keith Scaife & Tony Roberts covers were sourced from the ISFDB, the Peter Elson cover art which shows the full image came from the online Peter Elson art gallery.

 

[Graham1973]

Three covers for 'Pacific Edge' (1990) the third in author Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Orange County' trilogy. The covers are by Chris Moore (Grafton, 1992), Peter Elson (Harper Collins, 1995) & Tony Roberts (Orb, 1995). As with the last posting the Peter Elson cover art is sourced from the online Peter Elson art gallery, the other images are sourced from the ISFDB.

 

[Graham1973]

Four covers for 'The Wild Shore' (1984), not only the first novel in the 'Orange County' series by Kim Stanley Robinson, but the authors first novel. The covers are by Andrea Baruffi (Ace Books, 1984), Anonymous Artist (Orbit, 1985), Peter Elson (Harper Collins, 1995) & Tony Roberts (Orb, 1995). As with the other posts covering this series of novels, the Peter Elson cover was sourced from the online Peter Elson art gallery. The rest were sourced from the ISFDB. Of note about the Peter Elson artwork for Harper Collins, in the first and third novels the reader is looking from the land onto the water, for the second novel the reader is looking from the water onto the land.

 

[The K2]

A Syd Mead cityscape for an unknown publication.

It was used in the intro of one of the episodes for the anime Yamato 2520.

 

[publiusr]

Nice ship here
https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/10/amazing-science-fiction-spacecraft.html?m=1
On CGI
https://brightlightsfilm.com/vicious-circle-john-whitney-and-the-military-origins-of-early-cgi/https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/jayru-jsnaiths-3d-trek.311502/page-99#post-15292760

 

[Graham1973]

The American covers to the last two volumes of Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Orange County' trilogy. Both of these graced the Tor Books editons of the novels, the cover to 'The Gold Coast' (1988) is attributed to Bruce Jensen, the one used for 'Pacific Edge' (1990) is uncredited. As with the cover for the Ace edition of 'The Wild Shore' (1984) they make for a striking contrast with the artwork used on the UK editions, particularly Tony Roberts artwork which if the ISFDB (From whence the art was obtained) is to be believed was his last major artwork commission and evidence that his style was still evolving even at that late stage in his career.

 

[martinbayer]

Nice ship here
https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/10/amazing-science-fiction-spacecraft.html?m=1

Ok, as a German aerospace diploma engineer, I'll play - What *EXACTLY* do you find "nice" about that pulp fiction hack job???

 

[publiusr]

For the purpose of space opera— the wings might suggest bats. There is no reason Klingon ships suggest a manta ray, except intimidation.

Far away from any atmosphere, a spacecraft can look like anything the builders desire.

Satellites (apart from GOCE) look like dumpsters.

 

[Graham1973]

From my collection, the cover by an unidentified artist for the 1981 UK edtion of Poul Anderson's 1978 novel, 'The Avatar'.

 

[Graham1973]

From the ISFDB, the cover by Mark Salwowski to the 1985 edition of Brian Aldiss's 1973 novel 'Frankenstein Unbound'

 

[Graham1973]

A Jim Burns artwork entitled 'Frankenstein Unbound', presumably inspired by the Brian Aldiss novel but focussing on something other than the iconic creature. As to what it was intended for I am uncertain, the ISFDB does not list Burns amongst the artists supplying covers for this novel.

 

[Brett Davidson]

A Jim Burns artwork entitled 'Frankenstein Unbound', presumably inspired by the Brian Aldiss novel but focussing on something other than the iconic creature. As to what it was intended for I am uncertain, the ISFDB does not list Burns amongst the artists supplying covers for this novel.

Towards the end of the novel, the protagonist is pursuing the creature across an ice-bound landscape in an armed vehicle. I've seen this art linked with the novel too and it's almost certainly illustrating that scene. Burns is a very affable fellow, so I'm sure wouldn't take badly the suggestion that he chose not to illustrate the creature because he doesn't have, you know...

 

[Graham1973]

From my collection the cover by Oliviero Berni to the fix-up book 'Cosmic Crusaders' (1980) by French science fiction author Claude Avice (Pen name: Pierre Barbet). Clearly inspired by Poul Anderson's 'The High Crusade' (1960), the work combined two stories set in the same universe, 'Stellar Crusade' (Translated by C. J. Cherryh.) and 'Baphomet's Meteor' (Translated by Bernard Kay.).

 

[Graham1973]

The consequences of messing around with time....

 

[Graham1973]

The cover by Karel Thole and interior artwork by Michael Gilbert to the US release of Claude Avice (Pen name: Pierre Barbet)'s 1970 science fiction novel 'Les Grognards d'Eridan' (Eng: 'The Grumblers of Eridan') which is perhaps a more appropriate title for a tale involving a group of French soldiers shanghaied from the wastes of Russia circa 1812 to provide those who've forgotten about war with the knowledge they need to fight one than 'The Napoleon's of Eridanus' that graced the front cover of the US edition. Like the two stories that went into 'Cosmic Crusaders' (1980) it would appear that the author was inspired by Poul Anderson's 'The High Crusade' (1960)

 

[Graham1973]

The front cover of 'Fantastic Adventures, October 1943' by Robert Gibson Jones, possibly the first depiction of a female mad scientist....

 

[Graham1973]

The covers to the first release of Edmond Hamilton's 'Starwolf' series. The covers artist was Jack Gaughan

 

[Graham1973]

The cover art possibly by Jack Gaughan for Edmond Hamilton's 1966 novel 'Doomstar', the buildings in the background make me think of the original series of 'Star Trek' for some reason.

 

[Michel Van]

French 1973 issue of War of Worlds by H.g. Wells
artwork by Philippe Druillet

 

[Graham1973]

Probably to exploit the Gil Gerard, 'Buck Rogers' TV series starring Lee Majors, Ace Books comissioned authors Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven to write story outlines that were turned by authors John Eric Holmes, Richard S. McEnroe & John Silbersack into 'authorised sequels' to the original Buck Rogers story. The artist(s) for the covers of the first three books released have not been identified, the artist for the cover of the final volume is believed to be Jordi Penalva. All images were sourced from the ISFDB.

Later: Thanks to Arjen for the correction.

 

[Graham1973]

The cover by Dexter A. Dickinson to 'Space Gamer Magazine, Nº. 57'.

 

[Graham1973]

The cover by John Berkey to 'Cannon's Orb' (1994) by L. Warren Douglas.

 

[Arjen]

the Lee Majors, 'Buck Rogers' TV series

Gil Gerard, not Lee Majors.

 

[Hood]

The front cover of 'Fantastic Adventures, October 1943' by Robert Gibson Jones, possibly the first depiction of a female mad scientist....

At least she had the good sense to follow good H&S practice with proper overalls and face protection.

 

[Michel Van]

Artwork by Jean-Claude Mézières
Translation: They lived happily ever after and got allot of Mutants...

 

[Graham1973]

Gil Gerard, not Lee Majors.

Thanks, I've edited the posting with the correct information.

 

[takacosta]

The image above shows the cover of the first edition of Yukikaze: The Battle Fairy.
The image below is the revised edition of the same novel.

 

[martinbayer]

Artwork by Jean-Claude Mézières
Translation: They lived happily ever after and got allot of Mutants...

Wow - all I can say is, please, resume taking your prescribed(?) meds...

 

[martinbayer]

View attachment 789975
The image above shows the cover of the first edition of Yukikaze: The Battle Fairy.
The image below is the revised edition of the same novel.
View attachment 789977

And the actual significance of this utterly random amount of fanboi/fangirl information IRL is precisely, exactly what???

 

[Graham1973]

A 1st Period (School of Foss) cover by Tony Roberts that appeared on the 1978 Panther/Granada reissue of Thomas M. Disch's 1968 anthology 'Under Compulsion'. I suspect the artwork is older as he definitely moved into his 2nd Period as seen in this cover for Barrington J. Bayley's 'The Garments of Caen' published by Fontana in the same year. For an example of what I term his 3rd Period, see post Post #638.

 

[robunos]

Two for the price of one . . .

"Technical Readout: 3025 was one of the first BattleTech sourcebooks. A core game supplement as much as a universe sourcebook, it provided game attributes and' fluff' (in-game descriptions and history) for the units included and general background details for the BattleTech universe, and would serve as a template for a whole series of similar books that was said to be one of the setting's best-selling product lines.
Framed as a publication by ComStar Publishing from the year 3025, the book provides detailed in-universe write-ups on 55 BattleMechs, 15 aerospace fighters, 3 Land Air Mechs, 4 DropShips and 12 combat vehicles including all 'Mechs, LAMs, and DropShips (but none of the aerospace fighters or vehicles) featured in the various boxed sets published until then, namely Battledroids/BattleTech, Second Edition, CityTech, and AeroTech.
In 2025, Technical Readout: 3025 Centennial Edition was published which is essentially a republication of this book with updated artwork and extensive appendices adressing canon conflicts, errors and oversights in the original product as well as its derivative products. Framed as an in-universe centennial edition published by ComStar in 3125 as the "definitive fifth edition of the original Technical Readout: 3025", it provides context where required, explains detais that may seem odd in hindsight, and corrects outright errors. As it was significantly expanded and upgraded, it is considered a distinct product though it does effectively override and replace the original Technical Readout: 3025. "

Text and images from Sarna.net

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Graham1973]

A pair of Star Wars posters that I found online which are allegedly dated 1977, but clearly predate the final poster.

Later:It's also interesting to note that the iconic 'a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away' tag that opens the film may have been an afterthought, the first poster implies that it could almost have been the exact opposite.

 

[publiusr]

One last video from me, someone commenting on the legendary 'Star Fleet Technical Manual'

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoHL6ArXpR0

Along the same lines

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WSGKOZ94vvI

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/new...interior-3d-model.311118/page-8#post-15291874

 

[Graham1973]

Zero-G romance on the cover of the Summer 1945 issue of 'Thrilling Wonder Stories', compare this Earle Bergey illustration with Janet Aulisio's work that dates from around 30 years later in Post #974

 

[Graham1973]

A pair of UFO images deriving from Italian magazines, the artist in each case was Walter Molino.

 

[robunos]

Two for the price of one . . .

"Technical Readout: 3025 was one of the first BattleTech sourcebooks. A core game supplement as much as a universe sourcebook, it provided game attributes and' fluff' (in-game descriptions and history) for the units included and general background details for the BattleTech universe, and would serve as a template for a whole series of similar books that was said to be one of the setting's best-selling product lines.
Framed as a publication by ComStar Publishing from the year 3025, the book provides detailed in-universe write-ups on 55 BattleMechs, 15 aerospace fighters, 3 Land Air Mechs, 4 DropShips and 12 combat vehicles including all 'Mechs, LAMs, and DropShips (but none of the aerospace fighters or vehicles) featured in the various boxed sets published until then, namely Battledroids/BattleTech, Second Edition, CityTech, and AeroTech.
In 2025, Technical Readout: 3025 Centennial Edition was published which is essentially a republication of this book with updated artwork and extensive appendices adressing canon conflicts, errors and oversights in the original product as well as its derivative products. Framed as an in-universe centennial edition published by ComStar in 3125 as the "definitive fifth edition of the original Technical Readout: 3025", it provides context where required, explains detais that may seem odd in hindsight, and corrects outright errors. As it was significantly expanded and upgraded, it is considered a distinct product though it does effectively override and replace the original Technical Readout: 3025. "

Text and images from Sarna.net

cheers,
Robin.

I hadn't realised that I'd forgotten to credit the artists . The artist for the original version was Dana Knutson , and for the Centennial version , Florian Mellies .

cheers ,
Robin .

​

 

[jeffb]

Cover art by Boris Vallejo (who else?) Full cover for those who don't wish to deal with Elon's X.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1986653577754890742

View: https://x.com/KevinLamb74/status/1986653577754890742?t=ISPj2w0fFe1FtFFo1tIE1g&s=19

 

[Michel Van]

artwork by Ken Barr