Beyond Fantasy Fiction – January, 1954 [Rupert Conrad]

The January, 1954 issue of Beyond Fantasy Fiction features a cover art akin to that of the magazine’s prior (and subsequent!) issues: An illustration that sets a “mood”, but has no relation to the magazine’s actual content of a novella by Evelyn E. Smith, two novelets, and five short stories.     

Set within the sea (a “sea”; a mythical “sea”; any old “sea” – see?!) a man and a woman, or more correctly, a scaled aquatic satyr with glowing red eyes, contemplatively pause amidst undersea greenery, while decoratively colored fish swim by, some of the fish – like the satyr – staring at the viewer.  The scene, painted by Rupert Conrad, creates moods of familiarity, and strangeness; clarity, and puzzlement; comfort, and a hint of menace. 

It’s a fantasy without a name.  

Some References

Artist Rupert Conrad (1904-1979)…

…at Artland

…at FindAGrave

…at Internet Speculative Fiction Database

…at ICollector

…at AskArt

Author / Composer Jerome Bixby (Drexel Jerome Lewis Bixby) (1923-1998)…

…at Wikipedia

…at GoodReads

…at Internet Movie Database

…at Memory-Alpha

Star Short Novels, Edited by Frederik Pohl – 1954 [Richard M. Powers]

Like most, if not all (hmmm…) of Ballantine Books’ Star Science Fiction series, each volume of which featured previously unpublished stories, the cover art of the 1954 Star Short Novels was created by Richard Powers.  Unlike other books in the series, Powers’ art for this volume was neither wraparound, not a single composition on the front cover.  Rather, Powers combined distinct visual elements of science fiction art – a spacecraft and an ill-defined building or space-station; a jagged monochromatic alien landscape; a humanoid form – into one composition, all separated by “blank” white cover space.  While nowhere near as compelling as his stunning cover art for the earliest volumes in the Star series, it’s still serviceable.      

Well, as for the hulking “humanoid” on the front cover, something about its appearance suggests that it’s the progeny of a Golem and an organic chemistry molecular model kit.   

Ah, yes…  As for the stories in this volume?  I admit to not having actually read them.  (Yet.)  Albeit, they’re some-vague-where in my reading queue. 

Some day, some day…

Imagination is the Key…

to this remarkable collection
of short novels by two acknowledged
masters of fantasy – and the distinguished
and best-selling author, Jessamyn West.

Startlingly different vividly
real – these three novels open onto the
world beyond appearances … the
fascinating world of what might be.

THIS IS AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION – NOT
A REPRINT, EACH OF THESE NOVELS APPEARS
HERE IN PRINT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

________________________________________

Contents

“Little Men”, by Jessamyn West

“For I am a Jealous People”, by Lester del Rey

“To Here and The Easel”, by Theodore Sturgeon