Planet Stories, September, 1952, featuring “Evil Out of Onzar”, by Mark Ganes [Herman B. Vestal]

Despite the prominence and popularity of Frank Kelly Freas’ art, and, the presence of several images of his compositions at this blog, it must admit that he’s never been among the science fiction artists I most admire. As in all things artistic, I suppose it’s a matter of style and personal preference, for despite the distinctiveness of his work, especially characterized by his way of capturing human facial expressions, and his use of color, I instead prefer themes of ambiguity, mystery, symbolism, and a sense of myth. Thus, my liking for the works of such artists as Virgil Finlay, Paul Orban, Richard Powers, Hubert Rogers, and Henry Richard Van Dongen.

Yet, I really have to give Freas credit for this truly superb composition for “Thompson’s Cat”, in the September, 1952 issue of Planet Stories. The combination of line drawings of men, illuminated trails of spacecraft, and a floating sun create the perfect visual frame for the head of a feline predator (a Kzinti, anyone?) which is depicted in expressive, near-Finlay-like detail.

As far as the magazine’s content, “Evil Out of Onzar” appears to be the sole literary work of the mysterious Mark Ganes…