Jack Gaughan
Encyclopedia
Jack Gaughan was an American science fiction artist and illustrator who won the Hugo Award
several times. Working primarily with Donald A. Wollheim
at Ace Books
and later DAW Books
, and also Galaxy Magazine during the late 1960s, his simple linear style brought to life unforgettable images of such classics as Andre Norton
's Witch World
Novels and Edward Elmer Smith's Lensmen and Skylark novels (for which he did two related sets of Pyramid Books
covers). His broad visual vocabulary enabled him to render the objects, spaceships and scenes in whatever was presented to him as they were described in the books and stories he illustrated. That was especially an accomplishment as many of these authors drew on their knowledge of very esoteric subjects for their imagery. This ability made him very popular among people with an engineering background.
During most of Ejler Jakobsson
's tenure at Galaxy Magazine from 1969 to 1974 he did all the illustration and much of the design that went on in the magazine. In addition, many of the books he did for Ace featured frontispiece
s, hand-lettered titled pages or maps at the front with Gaughan's distinctive calligraphy. An example would be Alan Garner
's The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
. L. Sprague de Camp
's 1967 anthology, The Fantastic Swordsmen
included a Gaughan map before each of the stories in it. Notably, he illustrated the covers and hand-lettered title pages for the Ace Books' edition of J. R. R. Tolkien
's The Lord of the Rings
.
As well as his professional work, he was a frequent contributor to SF fan magazines. Locus
ran a column by him for a while, and in his heyday he was often nominated for Hugo Award
s for both professional artist and best fan artist simultaneously.
In his memory, the New England Science Fiction Association
presents the Jack Gaughan Award
for best emerging sf illustrator.
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
several times. Working primarily with Donald A. Wollheim
Donald A. Wollheim
Donald Allen Wollheim was an American science fiction ' editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell....
at Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
and later DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
, and also Galaxy Magazine during the late 1960s, his simple linear style brought to life unforgettable images of such classics as Andre Norton
Andre Norton
Andre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
's Witch World
Witch World
The Witch World by Andre Norton is a long series of fantasy novels set in a parallel universe where magic works and, at the beginning of the series, is exclusively performed by women. The series combines many traits of high fantasy and sword and sorcery. It begins with what is now called the...
Novels and Edward Elmer Smith's Lensmen and Skylark novels (for which he did two related sets of Pyramid Books
Pyramid Books
Jove Books, formerly Pyramid Books, is a paperback publishing company, founded in 1949 by Almat Magazine Publishers . The company was sold to the Walter Reade Organization in the late 1960s. It was acquired in 1974 by Harcourt Brace which renamed it to Jove in 1977 and continued the line as an...
covers). His broad visual vocabulary enabled him to render the objects, spaceships and scenes in whatever was presented to him as they were described in the books and stories he illustrated. That was especially an accomplishment as many of these authors drew on their knowledge of very esoteric subjects for their imagery. This ability made him very popular among people with an engineering background.
During most of Ejler Jakobsson
Ejler Jakobsson
Ejler Jakobsson was a Finnish-born science fiction editor.Jakobsson moved to the United States in 1926 and began a career as an author in the 1930s. He worked on Astonishing Stories and Super Science Stories briefly before they shut down production due to paper shortages...
's tenure at Galaxy Magazine from 1969 to 1974 he did all the illustration and much of the design that went on in the magazine. In addition, many of the books he did for Ace featured frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
s, hand-lettered titled pages or maps at the front with Gaughan's distinctive calligraphy. An example would be Alan Garner
Alan Garner
With his first book published, Garner abandoned his work as a labourer and gained a job as a freelance television reporter, living a "hand to mouth" lifestyle on a "shoestring" budget...
's The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is a children's fantasy novel by English author Alan Garner, first published in 1960. The novel is set in and around Macclesfield and Alderley Edge in Cheshire, and tells the story of two children, Colin and Susan, who are staying with some old friends of their mother...
. L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
's 1967 anthology, The Fantastic Swordsmen
The Fantastic Swordsmen
The Fantastic Swordsmen is a 1967 anthology of fantasy short stories in the sword and sorcery subgenre, edited by L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in paperback by Pyramid Books. It was the third such anthology assembled by de Camp, following his earlier Swords and Sorcery and The Spell...
included a Gaughan map before each of the stories in it. Notably, he illustrated the covers and hand-lettered title pages for the Ace Books' edition of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
.
As well as his professional work, he was a frequent contributor to SF fan magazines. Locus
Locus (magazine)
Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
ran a column by him for a while, and in his heyday he was often nominated for Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
s for both professional artist and best fan artist simultaneously.
In his memory, the New England Science Fiction Association
New England Science Fiction Association
The New England Science Fiction Association, or NESFA, is a science fiction club centered in the New England area. It was founded in 1967, "by fans who wanted to do things in addition to socializing"...
presents the Jack Gaughan Award
Jack Gaughan Award
The Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist honors the memory of Jack Gaughan. Because Jack felt it was important to encourage and recognize new blood in the field, The New England Science Fiction Association, Inc., presents the Gaughan Award annually to an emerging artist chosen by a panel of...
for best emerging sf illustrator.
External links
- A piece of fan writing by Gaughan for the fanzine Alphecca.
- A sample of his work with a brief biography at the bottom of the page.
- His work for the unauthorised Ace Books paperback volumes of The Lord of the Rings.
- A gallery of Gaughan's illustrations for Fred Saberhagen's "Berserker" science fiction series.