The cultural impact of literature of most any genre – in terms of cultural impact and (maybe / maybe not) the financial and other rewards that may eventually accrue to its creator – is by nature unpredictable, and has ever been so.
Case in point, Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game“, which first appeared in novelette form forty-three years ago, in the August, 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction – Science Fact. It’s notable that the story, given the books and film that have grown from the original tale, actually appears “deep” within the issue, on pages 100 through 134, and was not the subject for magazine’s cover art, which – by Frank Kelly Freas – pertains to Robert Asprin’s “Cold Cash War”, which appears towards the beginning of the issue.
Though the great majority of my posts pertaining to art and illustration in science-fiction pulps hark to pulps from the 40s and 50s, I thought it would be interesting to present one of Mike Hinge’s two illustrations that accompany “Ender’s Game”, which – as you can see – is a depiction of Ender himself. Alas, Hinge’s “lead” illustration – not presented here – is very bland in comparison. (Oh well.)
While I think that book cover and interior illustrations from science fiction of the 60s, let alone the 70s and 80s, is nowhere near as striking, symbolically powerful, or well crafted as that from earlier decades, some of this work is still significant in its own way, and quite worthy of recognition and viewing.
You can view many examples of Mike Hinge’s work at Ivan Richards’ Onyx Cube blog, which show the breadth and scope of his skill, ranging from direct and beautiful technical depictions of the Space Shuttle, circa 1985 (great presentations of the craft’s cockpit…!) to illustrations for advertisements, to record covers (Elleorde), to – even – more. An Americanophile from Auckland, New Zealand, he was born in 1931, and passed away in 2003.
You can also view another example of his art – a stunning illustration for the cover of the November, 1971 issue of Amazing Stories – here.
Reference
Mike Hinge, obituary from The Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand) at OnyxCube