Illustrators were often easy to miss in the pre-internet days, when paperbacks published overseas could be hard to find or even see. Such is the case with Davis Meltzer whose work I hadn’t really noticed before until this cover turned up at 70s Sci-Fi Art. Meltzer had a long career as a scientific illustrator for National Geographic but his work as a cover artist for SF novels only lasted a decade, from 1970 to 1981. Not everything is as dramatically eye-catching as his Simak cover but there’s a unique sensibility at work, with only occasional similarities to other artists of his generation like Kelly Freas.
The Temptation of St. Gerome.
The piece above is from an auction site which doesn’t reveal any information apart from the title. If this was a religious illustration it’s one of the strangest I’ve ever seen. Auction listings state that Meltzer’s paintings were mostly done in gouache, a common medium for illustrators and graphic designers owing to its flat bright colours. The following selection favours the more visually arresting examples over generic spaceship art.
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The book covers archive
The Inner Landscape can been spotted in The House That Dripped Blood (1971) – hardback, unfortunately, not this wonderful paperback. That said, it’s up against some pretty stiff competition, if the fleeting glimpses of the bookcase contents in Denholm Elliott’s study are anything to go by!
Ah, I didn’t know that but then it’s years since I’ve seen the film. I remember Ramsey Campbell saying he was surprised to see a copy of one of his own novels on a shelf in Presumed Innocent.
The Inner Landscape was apparently compiled by Michael Moorcock but I’m not sure he receives a credit for it anywhere. He’s not mentioned in my Corgi edition anyway.
You sent me scuttling off to find the Corgi edition upstairs, John, as I was also always certain Moorcock had edited it, but… no mention! Peake, Ballard, Aldiss, though – all the signs are there for MM’s editorial skills…
Thanks for the recent mentions of my blog and book! I love seeing more in-depth looks at artists like this post. Seeing these covers, I’m really struck by the style similarities with Jack Gaughan’s work. And I love that ‘Trace of Dreams’ cover… I think I’ll feature it on my blog.