Author: Poul Anderson
First Publication: 1967
Source: News stand
Publisher: Ace Books
Serial: Analog June & July 1966
Cover 1: Michael Whelan
Cover 2: Kelly Freas
Cover 3: Chesley Bonestell
Way back in the days I bought books off a spinner rack at a newsstand, one series of books seemed to jump off the racks at me. They were the reissues of Poul Anderson’s novels with new covers by Michael Whelan. Whelan has created many classic covers but one of my favorites was always his one for this cover. To this day I still can spend time staring at it.
A bonus, in addition to the cover, was the fiction of Poul Anderson. I had previously read one of his Dominic Flandry novels in the final issues of “Worlds of IF”. That was “A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows”. It led me to search out other books he wrote.
“World Without Stars” has many classic elements. Travel to an alien world, trying to establish trade relations, alien contact, and a traveler who is separated from the woman he loves. That relationship is what ties the book together.
At this short length, I would recommend reading this Anderson classic.
I have always been a fan of science fiction artists. My love of sf art began with the magazines. Looking at the great book covers and magazine art inspired me. Just looking at them would transport me to other worlds. One of my favorites is Michael Whelan.
I never spent the money on any of the art books. When a friend (a big thank you to Terry Kissinger) gave me a Borders gift card for Christmas, I knew it was time to start a collection of these books.
The first one to arrive was Wonderworks by Michael Whelan. Just leafing through the pages took me back to the days I spent reading the books he illustrated. Some of my favorites are included.
How can you not appreciate the series of covers he did for Ace's Poul Anderson series? One of the lesser known covers still stands out in my mind. It is the cover from World Without Stars.
The striking colors of the campfire lit protagonist surrounded by the rabbit like aliens with the galaxy in the background stands out. Whelan comments that the colors were too dark but it is a haunting image that has stayed with me since the first time I saw it in 1977. I have not read the book since that first time. In my mind, I have always ranked it high on my list of Poul Anderson books. Sometimes, I wonder if part of the reason is the excellent cover.
Whelan's cover for Clifford Simak's classic City collection was one that I don't remember seeing before this collection. I do not know how I missed this one when it first appeared.
Among the other images that took me back to the days of yesteryear were the Elric and Morgaine series' covers. I bet if you look through this collection, Michael Whelan's art will bring back good memories for you.
