''Winston Science Fiction'' was a series of 37 American juvenile

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

books published by the

John C. Winston Company Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in high schools. The Holt name is derived from that of U.S. publisher Henry Holt (1840–1926), co-founder of the ...

of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1960 and by its successor

Holt, Rinehart & Winston Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in high schools. The Holt name is derived from that of U.S. publisher Henry Holt (1840–1926), co-founder of the ...

in 1960 and 1961. It included 35 novels by various writers, including many who became famous in the SF field, such as

Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until the 21st century. Anderson wrote also historical novels. His awards include seven Hugo Awards and ...

, Arthur C. Clarke,

Ben Bova Benjamin William Bova (November 8, 1932November 29, 2020) was an American writer and editor. During a writing career of 60 years, he was the author of more than 120 works of science fact and fiction, an editor of '' Analog Science Fiction and F ...

, and

Lester del Rey Lester del Rey (June 2, 1915 – May 10, 1993) was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the author of many books in the juvenile Winston Science Fiction series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science ...

. There was also one anthology, ''The Year After Tomorrow'', edited by del Rey and others. There was one non-fiction book ''Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man's Preparations to Explore the Universe'' by del Rey which details the factual science and technology of rocket flight. Many of the dust jackets became science fiction classics; the artists included

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...

winners

Ed Emshwiller Edmund Alexander Emshwiller (February 16, 1925 – July 27, 1990) was an American visual artist notable for his science fiction illustrations and his pioneering experimental films. He usually signed his illustrations as Emsh but sometimes used E ...

and

Virgil Finlay Virgil Finlay (July 23, 1914 – January 18, 1971) was an American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator. He has been called "part of the pulp magazine history ... one of the foremost contributors of original and imagi ...

along with Hugo nominees such as

Mel Hunter Milford "Mel" Joseph Hunter (July 27, 1927 – February 20, 2004) was a 20th-century American illustrator. He enjoyed a successful career as a science fiction illustrator, producing illustrations for famous science fiction authors such as Isa ...

and

Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa

Background

Juvenile science fiction hard covers had been published for some time prior to the beginning of the Winston series, most notably the

Tom Swift Tom Swift is the main character of six series of American juvenile science fiction and adventure novels that emphasize science, invention, and technology. First published in 1910, the series totals more than 100 volumes. The character was ...

series published from 1910 to 1941. However, as the Tom Swift series declined, and the economic pressures of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

escalated, juvenile offerings became slim. The Winston Publishing Company had a history of publishing material for youth since the early part of the 20th century, such as the ''Young People's Library of Entertainment and Amusement'' and ''The Forward Series for Boys and Girls''. After the publication of Robert A. Heinlein's ''

Rocket Ship Galileo ''Rocket Ship Galileo'', a juvenile science-fiction novel by the American writer Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1947, features three teenagers who participate in a pioneering flight to the Moon. It was the first in the Heinlein juveniles, a lo ...

'' in 1947 revived the juvenile science fiction market, The Winston Publishing Company decided to develop a juvenile science fiction series that would be set apart from the pulp fiction of its time. Known and respected SF authors were hired, and each novel was to include a factual foreword explaining the science and technology referenced in the novel. The publisher's announcement of the series in ''Publishers Weekly'' clearly outlines the goals of the series:

Five compelling tales designed TO SELL to the expanding science fiction market! Only writers who have won the respect of the science fiction audience have been signed to write these accurate yet absorbing books. Each contains an explanation of new terms and a discussion of its scientific aspects. ... For all ages.

History

The series began in 1952 with the publication of the first 5 books: ''Earthbound'' by Milton Lesser, ''Find the Feathered Serpent'' by Evan Hunter, ''Marooned on Mars'' by Lester del Rey, ''Son of the Stars'' by Raymond Jones, and ''Five Against Venus'' by Philip Latham. Later in the year a second group of five novels were added to the series: ''Sons of the Ocean Deeps'' by Bryce Walton, ''Mists of Dawn'' by Chad Oliver, ''Rocket Jockey'' by Phillip St. John, ''Islands in the Sky'' by Arthur Clarke, and ''Vault of the Ages'' by Poul Anderson. Each book was an original written especially for the Winston series, and marketed for the juvenile audience.

Literary significance and reception

Differing from static characters like

and the

Lucky Starr series Lucky Starr is the hero of a series of science fiction books by Isaac Asimov, using the pen name "Paul French" and intended for children. On 23 March 1951 Asimov met with his agent, Frederik Pohl, and Walter I. Bradbury, then the science fic ...

the Winston heroes show dynamic growth and character development throughout their novels and series.Sands, Karen and Frank, Marietta (1999). ''Back in the Spaceship Again: Juvenile Science Fiction Series Since 1945'', Greenwood Press. , p 6 This fact has contributed to the lasting influence of the series on its readers, creating accessible role models for young readers.

Artwork

The first edition dust jacket illustrations by famous science fiction artists have made the Winston set highly collectible. Contributors include

Hugo Hugo or HUGO may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Hugo'' (film), a 2011 film directed by Martin Scorsese * Hugo Award, a science fiction and fantasy award named after Hugo Gernsback * Hugo (franchise), a children's media franchise based on ...

winning artists like

Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa

(who also created the endpapers used in every book of the series) and

, as well Hugo nominees like

, and

. There is even a cover ("The Ant Men") by

Paul Blaisdell Paul Blaisdell (July 21, 1927 – July 10, 1983) was an American painter, sculptor and visual effects creator, best remembered for his work in science fiction and horror B movies of the 1950s. Life and career Blaisdell was born in Newport, Rhod ...

, best known for his imaginatively extreme monsters in low-budget science fiction movies of the 1950s, such as "

It Conquered the World ''It Conquered the World'' is an independently made 1956 American black-and-white science fiction film, produced and directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef, Beverly Garland, and Sally Fraser. ''It Conquered the World'' ...

" Winston cover art features colorful images of

spaceflight Spaceflight (or space flight) is an application of astronautics to fly spacecraft into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board. Most spaceflight is uncrewed and conducted mainly with spacecraft such as satellites in or ...

exploration Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians. Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...

(of Earth, Space, and Time) and other fantastical subject matter describing important scenes from each book. The art is similar in style to

pulp fiction ''Pulp Fiction'' is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who conceived it with Roger Avary.See, e.g., King (2002), pp. 185–7; ; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhame ...

art of the time, but like the novels themselves, the art tends towards a believable and accurate portrayal of the subject matter. Artists like Mel Hunter had extensive training in scientific and technical illustration, and a broad knowledge of space technologies. This gives the covers a more serious feel than some other art of the time, and complements the educational attitude the authors took in writing their factual forewords describing the science and technology that appears in the books.

Books

The series was not numbered. This chronological list identifies the artists who usually illustrated the dustjackets only ("cover"), occasionally illustrated the novels too ("cover and interior illus."). * ''

Earthbound ''EarthBound'', released in Japan as is a role-playing video game developed by Creatures (company), Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The second entry in the Mother (video game s ...

'' by

Milton Lesser Stephen Marlowe (born Milton Lesser, in Brooklyn, New York, died , in Williamsburg, Virginia) was an American author of science fiction, mystery novels, and fictional autobiographies of Goya, Christopher Columbus, Miguel de Cervantes, and Edgar ...

, cover by Peter Poulton (1952) * '' Find the Feathered Serpent'',

Evan Hunter Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino,(October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film '' Blackb ...

, cover Henry Sharp (1952) * ''

Five Against Venus ''Five Against Venus'', written by Philip Latham, is a science-fiction novel first published in the United States in 1952 by the John C. Winston Company. Philip Latham was the nom de plume of Robert S. Richardson, a professional astronomer who ...

'',

Philip Latham Charles Philip Latham (17 January 1929 – 20 June 2020) was a British television actor. He was educated at Felsted School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 1951. In the late 1960s/early 1970s he was well kno ...

(Robert S. Richardson), cover

(1952) * ''

Islands in the Sky ''Islands in the Sky'' is a 1952 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. It is one of his earliest works. Clarke wrote the story as a travelogue of human settlement of cislunar space in the last half of the twenty-first ...

'', Arthur C. Clarke, cover

Alex Schomburg Alexander A. Schomburg, born Alejandro Schomburg y Rosa (; May 10, 1905Alejandro Schomburg Y Rosa

(1952) * ''

Marooned on Mars ''Marooned on Mars'' is a juvenile science fiction novel written by American writer Lester del Rey. It was published by John C. Winston Co. in 1952 with illustrations by Alex Schomburg. ''Marooned on Mars'' was commissioned as one of the first ...

'',

, cover

Paul Orban Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

(1952) * ''

Mists of Dawn ''Mists of Dawn'' is a juvenile science fiction novel by science fiction writer and anthropologist Chad Oliver first published in 1952 by John C. Winston, Co. as a part of the Winston Science Fiction series of juvenile novels. The story follows ...

'',

Chad Oliver Symmes Chadwick Oliver (30 March 1928 – 9 August 1993) was an American anthropologist and science fiction and Western writer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father was a surgeon and his mother a nurse. When he was young he suffered from ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1952) * '' Rocket Jockey'', Philip St. John (Lester del Rey), cover Alex Schomburg (1952) * '' Son of the Stars'',

Raymond F. Jones Raymond Fisher Jones (15 November 1915 – 24 January 1994) was an American science fiction author. He is best known for his 1952 novel ''This Island Earth'', which was adapted into the eponymous 1955 film. Personal life Jones w ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1952) – Clonar, book 1 * '' Sons of the Ocean Deeps'',

Bryce Walton Bryce Walton (May 31, 1918 – February 5, 1988) was an American pulp fiction writer. Walton was born in Blythedale, Missouri, the son of Paul Dean Walton and Golda Powers. He held various jobs starting in 1938, and attended Los Angeles Junior C ...

, cover Paul Orban (1952) * '' Vault of the Ages'',

, cover Paul Orban (1952) * '' Attack from Atlantis'', Lester del Rey, cover Kenneth S. Fagg (1953) * '' Battle on Mercury'', Erik Van Lhin (Lester del Rey), cover Kenneth S. Fagg (1953) * '' Danger: Dinosaurs!'', Richard Marsten (Evan Hunter), cover Alex Schomburg (1953) * ''

Missing Men of Saturn ''Missing Men of Saturn'' is a juvenile science fiction novel, published first in 1953, by astronomer and author Robert S. Richardson (as Philip Latham) with cover illustration by Alex Schomburg. The story concerns Dale Sutton's mission to the ...

'', Philip Latham, cover Alex Schomburg (1953) * ''

The Mysterious Planet ''The Mysterious Planet'' is the first serial of the larger narrative known as ''The Trial of a Time Lord'' which encompasses the whole of the 23rd season of the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast i ...

'', Kenneth Wright (Lester del Rey), cover Alex Schomburg (1953) * '' Mystery of the Third Mine'',

Robert W. Lowndes Robert Augustine Ward "Doc" Lowndes (September 4, 1916 – July 14, 1998) was an American science fiction author, editor and fan. He was known best as the editor of ''Future Science Fiction'', ''Science Fiction'', and ''Science Fiction Quarterl ...

, cover Kenneth S. Fagg (1953) * ''

Planet of Light ''Planet of Light'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Raymond F. Jones, first published in 1953 by the Winston Science Fiction, John C. Winston Co. as part of its 35-book set of juvenile novels. Written as a sequel to ''Son of the St ...

'', Raymond F. Jones, cover Alex Schomburg (1953) – Clonar, book 2 * '' Rocket to Luna'', Richard Marsten (Evan Hunter), cover by Alex Schomburg (1953) * '' The Star Seekers'',

, cover

Paul Calle Paul Calle (pronounced KAL-ee; March 3, 1928 – December 30, 2010) was an American artist who was best known for the designs he created for postage stamps, including 40 that were released by the United States Postal Service, and others for s ...

(1953) * '' Vandals of the Void'',

Jack Vance John Holbrook Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. Though most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance, he also wrote several mystery novels under pen names. ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1953) * '' Rockets to Nowhere'', Philip St. John (Lester Del Rey), cover Alex Schomburg (1954) * ''

The Secret of Saturn's Rings ''The Secret of Saturn's Rings'' is a science-fiction novel by Donald A. Wollheim and was first published in the United States by the John C. Winston Company in 1954. This is the first of three novels that Wollheim wrote for the Winston Company, ...

'',

Donald A. Wollheim Donald Allen Wollheim (October 1, 1914 – November 2, 1990) 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, Martin Pearso ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1954) * '' Step to the Stars'', Lester del Rey, cover Alex Schomburg (1954) – Jim Stanley, book 1 * ''

Trouble on Titan Trouble may refer to: Film and television * ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin * ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Trouble'' ...

'',

Alan E. Nourse Alan Edward Nourse (August 11, 1928 – July 19, 1992) was an American science fiction writer and physician. He wrote both juvenile and adult science fiction, as well as nonfiction works about medicine and science. His SF works sometimes focused ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1954) * '' The World at Bay'',

Paul Capon Harry Paul Capon (18 December 1912, in Kenton, Suffolk – 24 November 1969) was a British author who wrote fiction in various genres. He also worked as an editor in three films for Maurice Elvey (1887–1967), as an administrator in film and TV ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1954) * '' The Year After Tomorrow'', eds. Lester del Rey, Cecile Matschat, and Carl Carmer, cover and interior illus.

(1954) – anthology of nine short stories * '' The Ant Men'',

Eric North Bernard Cronin (18 March 1884 – 9 June 1968) was an Australian author and journalist. With Gertrude Hart, he founded the Old Derelicts' Club in 1920 which later became the Society of Australian Authors. Life Cronin was born in Ealing, Middl ...

, cover

(1955) * ''

The Secret of the Martian Moons ''The Secret of the Martian Moons'' is a science-fiction novel by Donald A. Wollheim. It was first published in 1955 by the John C. Winston Company. Playing world-class hide-and-seek with the Martians, Nelson Parr believes that he has found th ...

'',

, cover Alex Schomburg (1955) * ''

The Lost Planet ''The Lost Planet'' is a 1953 American horror science fiction serial film 15-chapter serial which has the distinction of being the last interplanetary-themed sound serial ever made. It was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet with a screenplay b ...

'',

Paul Dallas Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

, cover Alex Schomburg (1956) * '' Mission to the Moon'', Lester del Rey, cover Alex Schomburg (1956) – Jim Stanley, book 2 * '' Rockets Through Space'', Lester del Rey, cover and interior illus. James Heugh (1957) – Special Companion Book (nonfiction) * '' The Year When Stardust Fell'', Raymond F. Jones, cover James Heugh (1958) * ''

The Secret of the Ninth Planet ''The Secret of the Ninth Planet'' is a science-fiction novel written by Donald A. Wollheim and first published in the United States in 1959 by the John C. Winston Co. Wollheim takes his heroes on a grand tour of the Solar System as that team s ...

'', Donald A. Wollheim, cover James Heugh (1959) * '' The Star Conquerors'',

, cover Mel Hunter (1959) * '' Stadium Beyond the Stars'', Milton Lesser, cover Mel Hunter (1960) * '' Moon of Mutiny'', Lester del Rey, cover

(1961) – Jim Stanley, book 3 * '' Spacemen, Go Home'', Milton Lesser, cover Ed Emshwiller (1961)

References

{{reflist

External links

Winston Science Fiction
at the

Internet Speculative Fiction Database The Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) is a database of bibliographic information on genres considered speculative fiction, including science fiction and related genres such as fantasy, alternate history, and horror fiction. The ISFDB ...

American science fiction American speculative fiction publishers Children's science fiction novels Science fiction book series Science fiction publishers Young adult novel series