The Science Fiction Art Of Vincent Di Fate (book review).
I’ve known of Vincent Di Fate ever since I got the huge book of his, ‘Infinite Worlds: Fantastic Visions Of Science Fiction Art’, giving the history of SF art that I really ought to find time to review here. As Di Fate’s art is mostly on the other side of the pond, I hadn’t really had a chance to examine it until I came across ‘The Science Fiction Art Of Vincent Di Fate’ last year. That book ‘Science Fiction And Fantasy Artists Of The Twentieth Century: A Biographical Dictionary’ by Jane Frank has a lot to answer for in an enjoyable way.
Di Fate was given his start by John Campbell Jr. no less for ‘Analog’, doing the illustrations for stories that were hard to illustrate by other artists, but it got Vincent up the ladder. He also developed a reputation as being a gadget man, that is painting spaceships rather than people, which he says he regrets now. Even so, looking at his paintings here you do get a sense of his own evolution of design over the years.
Although released in 2001, this book is still worth a look. Di Fate is articulate on a variety of subjects and his artistic skills weren’t just used in Science Fiction but also astro-art, horror and a smidgeon of fantasy in not only covers but black and white illustrations as well. He discusses his subjects like a geek would so you know you’re in good company.
As the book price varies a lot over the Net, you should be able to pick up a decent bargain if you look around.
GF Willmetts
July 2017
(pub: Paper Tiger, 2001. 112 page illustrated large hardback. Price: varies a lot but you might get the odd bargain. ISBN: 1-85585-949-1)
check out website: www.vincentdifate.com/
