Frank R. Paul's 'An Invading Sun' — Science Fiction Magazine, August 1939
Created in August 1939, just weeks before World War II erupted, this cover captures pulp sci-fi at its most grandiosely cosmic. Frank R. Paul — the godfather of science fiction illustration — depicts a massive cityship or fleet of vessels streaming away from an enormous encroaching red sun, with a ringed planet visible at lower right. The cover story, Eando Binder's 'An Invading Sun,' gave Paul the perfect canvas for his signature blend of awe-inspiring astronomical scale and densely packed futuristic detail.
A colossal sun swallowing the sky while an entire civilization flees aboard a gargantuan cityship — Frank R. Paul cranks the cosmic dread to eleven. The sheer density of detail crammed into the fleeing vessel combined with the apocalyptic astronomical scale makes this a fever-dream of Golden Age excess.
“SCIENCE FICTION THE GOD THAT SCIENCE MADE by LLOYD ARTHUR ESHBACH also ED EARL REPP RAYMOND Z. GALLUN EDMOND HAMILTON 15c AUG. AN INVADING SUN the story behind the cover by Eando Binder PAUL”
