Scott Saunders Patrick Moore (1977 onwards)

Three more covers from the Scott Saunders Space Adventures series by Patrick Moore.  The first was published in 1977  and, for my money, features a fresh faced young chap not totally dissimilar to a certain Luke Skywalker that was making it big around that year.

I don't think either of these first two are artworks by Peter Elson who did the cover for the previously blogged 3rd book in the set. However this one below, book 6, most definitely is.

Now that just has to be pure Elson and rather lovely for it.  What I find interesting about these books is that I was the right age at the right time, and hanging about the right bit of the bookshop back then, and yet I have no memory of these books or their covers despite slapping down a lot of pocket money for similar subject matter......Oh well, Patrick Moore's loss was Terrance Dicks gain.

 

 

Steve

The Moon Raiders by Patrick Moore (1978) Peter Elson

I had this piece in my files under the heading of Slaves to the Moon but I didn't want to post it until I had a date.  Unless any one knows different I'm going to go with this publication as the first to use it and label it 1978.  It's an absolute gem, is it not.

Below is the back cover and features quite a different looking space chap which may not be by Elson.  Again if anyone knows a bit more I would love to be able to confirm the artist in an update

 

Steve

 

Harry Harrison RIP

Harry Harrison died a few days ago on the 15th of August 2013.  This is the Peter Elson's 1990 Orbit cover for The Best of Harry Harrison which I was due to blog anyway but which has now become quite timely.  Sad news but there remains a fantastic legacy of work which will continue to be read and enjoyed for decades to come.

Steve

Of Time and Stars - A C Clarke (1981) Peter Elson

Peter Elson artwork this time.  The Roc edition from 1981.  Its nice but if I'm honest I prefer Peter Jones' cover design.  Not to worry though, there are some fantastic Elson images coming up.

Steve

Untitled - Peter Elson (19??)

Another lovely Peter Elson painting.  If anybody out there wants to offer a date, a title or where the image was used, I will gladly update the post.

Steve

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves The World - Harry Harrison (1984) Peter Elson

There are a whole set of these Stainless Steel Rat books all with wonderful covers by the late and great Peter Elson. This is my favourite and the one that is almost definitely a spacesuits.

Steve

When the Dream Dies - A B Chandler (1981) Peter Elson

The painting is titled; Rendezvous on a Lost World  but the book is When the Dream Dies, Volume II in the Rim World series.  Just how good is Peter Elson.

Steve

Bring Back Yesterday - A B Chandler (1981) Peter Elson

What I like about Peter Elson's work, or rather one of the things I like about it, is that although there is a house style there he's not painting the same spacesuit over and over again.

Steve

The Martians - Kim Stanley Robinson (1999) Peter Elson

Art from the cover of Kim Stanley Robinson's The Martians.  This is by Peter Elson and it's rather nice.  We'll be looking at more of Elson's stuff in the future as I'm something of a fan.  It's just a shame this is a blog about spacemen as that excludes a lot of his other stuff.  Go look him up.

Steve

Prime Number - Harry Harrison (1975) Peter Elson

Here's another picture that's done the rounds over the years but which appears to have started life as the  cover for a Harry Harrison short story collection entitled; Prime Number.  The art is by Peter Elson and we will be back in the future to look at more examples of his painted spacemen.

I'll dedicate this to Mr Primate, a blog follower who helped out with a previous post but also for reminding me of this image and how good it is.

Enjoy

Steve