A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists [Hardcover]

Robert Weinberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313243492 | ISBN-13: 978-0313243493 | Publication Date: April 27, 1988 | Edition: First Edition

While there have been numerous books published over the past few decades on the subject of science fiction and fantasy books and movies, almost no attention has been paid to science fiction and fantasy artists. Although a number of "picture books" emerged in recent years, only a limited number have provided any significant information. This comprehensive biographical dictionary represents one of the first research efforts in the field of science fiction art. It is not an art book, but rather a book about artists. As one of the first comprehensive biographical dictionaries, it was intended to serve as a catalyst to stimulate further scholarship.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

During the past few years science fiction and fantasy books and movies have been elevated to the level of serious study, with encyclopedias, illustrated histories, and memoirs of leading authors and artists available. Weinberg's work is the first comprehensive biographical dictionary to cover the science fiction/fantasy art field. Focusing on contemporary artists, and beginning with an informative historical essay, it provides entries for 279 artists that include a biographical sketch and a well-researched list of published works. The artwork identified has appeared in books and about 100 science fiction magazines. An important and impressive effort, sure to become a classic in a popular though specialized field. Russell Clement, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“. . . Weinberg's work is so ground-breaking, his research so arduous, and his precursors in this field so generally unhelpful that we must regard this as charting virtually unexplored waters. There is nothing really to compare the book to, and there is not likely to be a more complete such book in the near future. Weinberg deserves the thanks of anyone seriously interested in what we might call the cultural history of SF, and his book belongs in any collection that purports to represent that history.”–Science Fiction Studies

“. . . Weinberg and several collaborators have packed each entry with information on training, influences and first sales, personal anecdotes, discussions of technique, and fair critical appraisals. In a comprehensive introductory essay, Weinberg traces the history of fantastic illustration from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, focusing in particular on the impact that magazine chains, the paperback publishing boom, and the recent phenomenon of artists incorporating themselves as cottage industries, has had upon it. There is no other book like this currently available, and it is certain to be a standard reference for years to come.”–Science Fiction and Fantasy

“Robert Weinberg's A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists is the first of this month's nonfiction selections. This book lists some 331 science fiction and fantasy artists in an alphabetical arrangement, with each sketch providing birth/death dates, nationality, birthplace, education, career, and family data. Also provided is specific art career data, such as places of study, influences, technique, mediums and materials used, stylistic developments, and publishing relationships. . . . This is . . . a unique reference work, useful for research in high school, public, academic, and special (art) libraries. Highly recommended, especially for high schools with Advanced Placement art history courses.”–Wilson Library Bulletin

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; First Edition edition (April 27, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313243492
• ISBN-13: 978-0313243493
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,370,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born on August 29, 1946, making me one of the famous "baby boomer" generation. I attended Hillside High School in New Jersey, then got my B.S. degree in mathematics at Stevens Institute of Technology. I later obtained by M.S. in mathematics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where I taught math for two years. I was working on my Ph.D. in Number Theory at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago when I met my (future) wife Phyllis in 1972. We were married in 1973 and I left college to start my own business. I ran three very successful corporations after leaving college and did some writing on the side. When I was 40, I decided I wanted to concentrate more on writing fiction, which I had done in college but had abandoned afterwards. So I started writing novels in 1986. My first book, THE DEVIL'S AUCTION, was published in 1998 and I've written another 15 novels since then. I'm probably best known as the author of a popular trilogy I wrote for White Wolf Games entitled THE MASQUERADE OF THE RED DEATH. These three novels have been published in a number of different languages (including French, German, Spanish and Hungarian) and I've gotten well over 1,000 fan letters about them since they first appeared.

I also have written 17 non-fiction books, many of them in the pop-science field with my friend, Lois H. Gresh. And, in my spare time, I've edited around 150 anthologies. I like to keep busy!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible reference resource, June 14, 2011

By 

George Hagenauer (Verona, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (Hardcover)

Basically this is a biographical dictionary of every major (and a lot of minor) artists who worked in fantasy and science fiction up to the date of publication. As part of their biography there is a checklist of every magazine and books they worked on. As a person who collects original drawings and paintings in this field this has been the most useful book I have ever found. I highly recommend it- on the early art it is better than anything you will find on the net.