Roy V. Hunt: A Retrospective

Through the 1930s, science fiction fans with discernable artistic talent emerged. Illustrators such as Clay Ferguson, Jr., Morris Scott Dollens and Nils Frome labored in amateur obscurity. A handful of other fan artists managed to cross over to professional careers, including Julian Krupa, Ronald Clyne and Hannes Bok. In this latest offering from First Fandom Experience, we focus on the work of Roy Vernon Hunt. Hunt lived and worked in Denver, Colorado from 1914 until his passing in 1986. His first published art appeared in the fanzine The Alchemist in February 1940. Hunt was a founding member of the Colorado Fantasy Society, a group formed to organize the 1941 World Science Fiction Convention in Denver. We believe that Hunt’s work should be enjoyed and remembered by fans of all sorts. We’re pleased to present a retrospective illustrating the arc of his career and the scope of his talent. The book includes: - A rich biography that documents Hunt’s life, influences and career - A foreword by Martin Mahoney, Director of Operations and Collections at the Norman Rockwell Museum, that puts the artist’s work in historical perspective - Many scarce fanzine illustrations, some likely not seen since original publication in the 1930s – 1950s - Stunning wood block prints produced for the Work Projects Administration in the 1940s - Selections from Hunt’s folios illustrating subjects from Sherlock Holmes and Fu Manchu - As you’d expect from FFE, lots of contextual and historical commentary - An illustrated appendix documenting the evolution of the technology early fans used to reproduce their art - A full chronological index of Hunt’s published art “It’s a unique look at both an interesting artist and also informative about the earliest days of sci-fi fandom and fanzine publishing in the 1940s, with wonderful reproductions of ultra-rare zine art and articles. I found it fascinating.“ — Bud Plant, Bud’s Art Books “Roy Hunt may have been categorized as a fan artist, but his talent, personality and excellent sense of design easily puts him in a league with many professional artists who worked during the same years that he did. If you never heard of Roy Hunt before seeing this book, you will be very happy to have discovered him now.” — Mark Wheatley, Breathtaker, Doctor Cthulittle, Song of Giants