John Harris
Michael Whelan
Fred Gambino
Michael Whelan
Bob Eggleton
I run a specialty tumblr for science fiction art from the 1970s. I do it for a simple reason: ’70s sci-fi art is the best. The hand-painted, experimental, lively, vibrant, optimistic examinations of alien worlds, retro-futuristic cities, and impractical space stations are just dripping with a playfulness that I personally can’t see in most modern, minimalist, digitally created covers, as cool (and less embarrassing to read on the train) as they may be.
But! Some modern covers still have that epic feel, and there are still plenty of cover artists (both veteran and new to the game) doing yeoman’s work to support the cause of outlandish, splashy cover art. Here are a few science fiction covers from recent years that spark the sense of ’70s-style wonder I love.