Like Volume 1 of Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories, which covered science-fiction short stories published during 1939, Volume 2 of this series was re-issued by Dorset Press; in this case, in 2002. It seems that Dorset did not proceed beyond Volume 2 in the Series’ re-publication.
Both covers are shown below.
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Here’s the cover of the original volume, with art by Jack Gaughan…
Contents
The Dwindling Sphere, by Willard Hawkins, from Astounding Science Fiction
The Automatic Pistol, by Fritz Leiber, from Weird Tales
Hindsight, by Jack Williamson, from Astounding Science Fiction
Postpaid to Paradise, by Robert Arthur, from Argosy
Into the Darkness, by Ross Rocklynne, from Astounding Science Fiction
Dark Mission, by Lester Del Rey, from Astounding Science Fiction
It, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Unknown
Vault of the Beast, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction
The Impossible Highway, by Oscar J. Friend, from Thrilling Wonder Stories
Quietus, by Ross Rocklynne, from Astounding Science Fiction
Strange Playfellow, by Isaac Asimov, from Super Science Stories
The Warrior Race, by L. Sprague de Camp, from Astounding Science Fiction
Farewell to The Master, by Harry Bates, from Astounding Science Fiction
Butyl and the Breather, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction
The Exalted, by L. Sprague de Camp, from Astounding Science Fiction
Old Man Mulligan, by P. Schuyler Miller, from Astounding Science Fiction
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…and this is Tom McKeveny’s cover for the Dorset Press Volume. The styles are obviously, utterly, completely different, but each “works” in its own way.
My preference? McKeveny’s. The representational and symbolic nature of his art is strikingly emblematic and evocative of the theme and “feeling” of pulp magazines of the 40s. (And early 1950s.) Particularly effective is the contrast between the pale golden-yellow of the spacecraft against the star-speckled dark blue “space” background, wand the “wrap-around” look of the orange-red-violet rocket trails across the cover.
You can view Mr. McKeveny’s digital portfolio here, and his book cover designs can be viewed here.
