Next Time on Stars End

Galaxy Science Fiction, Issac Asimov, Next Time on Stars End, Pulp Art, The Galactic Empire Novels, The Stars End Podcast, The Stars Like Dust, The Three Laws of Robotics 1 Minute

Season 5 Episode 19 is on its way!

One of the fundamental properties of Horace Gold’s Galaxy Science Fiction, especially at the outset, was ambition. Gold was determined that Galaxy wouldn’t be just another SF magazine, but an excellent one. We’re only on Galaxy’s sixth issue as we reach the final installment of The Stars Like Dust ―, or Tyrann as it’s called in the magazine. Gold’s editorial for the issue concerns a readers’ poll about the magazine’s future and what will come as a result. The Five Star Shelf column will remain unchanged. An issue of self-contained stories will follow the conclusion of a serial. Stories with themes “too adult, too profound or revolutionary in concept” to be published elsewhere will continue. The editorial culminates with Gold’s plan for the magazine’s artwork which he describes thusly.

…we have been experimenting both in art and in technical processes, since we believe that a rebirth in science fiction should not be breeched by art of the forceps school. This month marks another experiment: halftone reproduction of photographs and wash drawings. This could not be done without trying out our technical processes. As we extend control, we will present other improvements that are now being worked on.

John Bunch once again illustrates the issue and it seems the decision to introduce wash drawings happened between his first and second illustration. These drawings give the artwork for this issue a distinctly different feel from the first two installments. Let’s take a look! Here’s the opening image.

The opening two-page spread from the third installment of "The Stars, Like Dust —" as published in Galaxy Science Fiction, March 1951,

And here are the wash drawings. All but one of these span two pages.

Artwork from the third installment of "The Stars, Like Dust —" as published in Galaxy Science Fiction.

If you’re interested in how the artwork in Galaxy developed, take a look at our coverage of The Caves of Steel which appeared in Galaxy two and a half years later.

And when you’re done reading The Stars Like Dust ― join us as we wrap up our conversation about the novel in our next episode!

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Published by Dr. K

I'm a Mathematics Professor interested in Mathematics Education and Voting Theory. I've been a science fiction buff and comic collector nearly as long as I can remember. Occasionally I'm lucky enough to teach courses about such things.

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