Unlike the illustrations typical appearing on the covers of works of science fiction, the cover art for Fawcett Crest’s 1975 three-volume series Before the Golden Age (originally published in a single hard-bound volume by Doubleday in 1974) is strikingly different: The cover art of all three paperback volumes are collages of simple objects arranged to represent the theme of a specific story within a volume, or, arrayed to form a general scene emblematic of the popular conception of science-fiction “in general”.
If you look closely at the covers, you’ll see that the objects appearing on the covers appear are unelaborate in nature and origin: Paper, cloth, and plastic items that can be found in art supply stores. Or, natural materials, like feathers and plants.
While the results have nowhere near the impact of classic science fiction art of any era, it can be granted that they do make Fawcett Crest’s paperback series, well, er, uh … distinctive, at least in comparison with other books of the genre. (I’ll grant that!) In any event, the artist’s (artists’ – plural?) names are not given anywhere on, or in, the three volumes.
For Book 1 of Before the Golden Age, a series of overlapping translucent blue (plastic? – it seems) triangles, within a plastic sphere, represents P. Schuyler Miller’s The Tetrahedra of Space. Pretty straightforward, eh?
That would not have been my choice for an emblematic story. The best tale appearing in volume I is – by far; easily; without question; hands-down; et-cetera! – Jack Williamson’s “The Moon Era”. Williamson’s story is utterly unlike “hard” or heroic science fiction (stereo)typical of the 1930s (and 40s…and later), for technology and space travel only provide a near-incidental backdrop to a notably deeper tale, strikingly reminiscent – in style, plot, and theme – of the works of Catherine L. Moore. The story has an unexpected, subtle – and thereby all the more effective – quietly erotic tone, and powerfully reminds me of Moore’s “The Bright Illusion” from Astounding Stories of 1934. In a larger sense, the depth of Williamson’s story presages the substantive nature of his later works, such as the powerful “With Folded Hands”, and, “…And Searching Mind” from Astounding in 1947.
Contents
Part One: 1920 to 1930
Introductory Essay by Isaac Asimov
Part Two: 1931
The Man Who Evolved, by Edmond Hamilton, from Wonder Stories, April, 1931
The Jameson Satellite, by Neil R. Jones, from Amazing Stories, July, 1931
Submicroscopic, by Captain S.P. Meek (Capt. Sterner St. Paul Meek), from Amazing Stories, August, 1931
Awlo of Ulm, by Captain S.P. Meek (Capt. Sterner St. Paul Meek), from Amazing Stories, September, 1931
Tetrahedra of Space, by P. Schuyler Miller, from Wonder Stories, November, 1931
The World of the Red Sun, by Clifford D. Simak, from Wonder Stories, December, 1931
Part Three: 1932
Tumithak of the Corridors, by Charles R. Tanner, from Amazing Stories, January, 1932
The Moon Era, by Jack Williamson, from Wonder Stories, February, 1932