(David Hardy’s cover for the November 1975 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction)
I couldn’t stop laughing while putting together this post from my collection of gleaned covers: gumby in space with two fuzzy tufts and three unsymmetrical eye ridges (or, his fingers) ogling at a space probe, mushroom people transfixed by a mysterious white tentacled orb hoisted aloft by man in a pink cape and a skimpy pink unitard, evil nosed caterpillars, scary monstrous mole monster, etc. Did the editors KNOW precisely what the art looked like before it appeared on the covers evoking such throat hurting unintended (or perhaps intended) consequences? But, I have to admit there’s nothing like a cool (and funny alien) to make me pick up a book or magazine.
As always, what are your favorite funny alien covers which I haven’t posted?
I’ve read a few of Vance’s novels so I’ll probably pick up The Eyes of the Overworld eventually and The World Between and Other Stories eventually — are they worth reading? I suspect that the 1939 Amazing stories edition (below) is little more than mindless pulp — but, I’m intrigued by The Best SF Stories from New Worlds ed. by Michael Moorcock. The contents of the the New Worlds magazines are generally my cup of tea.
Enjoy!
(Jack Gaughan’s cover for the 1966 edition of The Eyes of the Overworld (1966), Jack Vance)
(Robert Fuqua’s cover for the Febuary 1939 issue of Amazing Stories)
(Jack Gaughan’s cover for The World Between and Other Stories (1965), Jack Vance)
(Uncredited cover for Warlord of Kor (1963), Terry Carr)
(Paul Lehr’s cover for The Best SF Stories From New Worlds (1968), ed. Michael Moorcock)
For more similar posts see my Science Fiction Cover Art INDEX.