Amazing Stories, September, 1964, featuring “The Kingdoms of the Stars”, by Edmond Hamilton, and “Clean Slate”, by James H. Schmitz [Robert J. Adragna]

An artist with whose works I have little familiarity with is Robert Adragna, who created the cover and interior illustrations of the September ’64 issue of Amazing Stories, for Edmond Hamilton’s “The Kingdoms of the Stars”.  The story has only been reprinted once: in the Ultimate Publishing Company’s one-off SF Greats, which was released in Fall of 1970.

Illustrations by Robert J. Adragna for “Kingdoms of The Stars” by Edmond Hamilton

(…page 22…)

(…page 32…)

(…page 42…)

What say?

“Kingdoms of the Stars”, at…

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Robert Adragna (Robert Joseph Adragna), at…

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… flickr

Amazing Stories, June, 1962, featuring “Thunder In Space”, by Lester del Rey [Alex Schomburg]

This one-page illustration by Finlay gives us a closer view of an astronaut.  Akin to the previous Amazing Stories post, like the spaceships in the background – more works of art than mere space going vehicles – the explorer is presented in an idealized form.  

Having read “Thunder In Space” some years ago, I recall it as being a taught, well-told, suspenseful tale, redolent of the early 60s: amidst the (first?!) Cold War. 

Illustration by Virgil W. Finlay for “Thunder In Space” by Lester del Rey

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“Thunder in Space”, at…

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… GoodReads