Psychedelic Sci-Fi Round-up: Edge of Time by David Grinnell (Ace, 1958)

Just time to squeeze in a few new editions to this blog’s long neglected survey of psychedelic SF cover illustrations – beginning with two examples of the form produced before the term ‘psychedelia’ was even coined.

Though perhaps only marginally psyched out, this first one – by the “Dean of Science Fiction Artists” Frank Kelly Freas – is flat-out awesome. I’m not sure what else to say really. I mean, just look at it.

Psychedelic Sci-Fi Round-up: To Challenge Chaos by Brian M. Stableford (DAW, 1972)

Here, a young Brian Stableford (25 years old in 1972) presents one of what seems like about a million ‘70s science fiction/fantasy books about the forces of galactic order rather abstractly battling the forces of chaos, and that sort of thing. Did Michael Moorcock popularise this notion, or was there just something in the air? Either way, presumably best enjoyed with the accompaniment of a Camberwell carrot and a copy of the latest Hawkwind LP, whilst skiving off an engineering lecture.

To be honest, just trying to read the back cover blurb on this one gives me a headache, but the cover art by Frank Kelly Freas (“known as the Dean of Science Fiction Artists”) is very nice. By which I mean, swirly and purple. Lovely detail here if you look closely... which no doubt you will after about half an hour in the circumstances described above. Far-out, etc etc.

As a bonus, here's another rather superb Freas cover for a DAW Stableford book that popped up on a quick google image search.