Ed Emshwiller (1925–1990)

This lavishly illustrated book covers the commercial art and film-making of Edmund Emshwiller, nickname Emsh,, a very successful cover artist, mostly in the genre of science fiction and fantasy, but also in crime and men's pulp magazines and book covers. He eventually gave up this work in favor of making art films. Most of the reproductions are in color, unless they are of line-drawings, which of course are in black-and-white. A few pieces are in black-and-white, but are described as having color; perhaps the original did not survive. If one is interested in this artist, in particular, or in cover art, particularly in these genre, the book is not to be missed.

Emshwiller's wife, Carol, a science fiction and fantasy writer is also discussed at some length in the book. She very definitely takes second place, but the author is sensitive to her predicament of trying to pursue her own career in the face of raising children and being very supportive of her husband. Carol Emshwiller also studied art, but does not appear to have continued with it as a married adult. She turned instead to writing, often science fiction, but she also wrote more literary works. Ortiz is editing a series of volumes of her short stories.… (more)