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 imaginative art work for the most memorable science fiction and fantasy publications of our time.” While he worked in a range of media, from gouache to oils, Finlay specialized in, and became famous for, detailed pen-and-ink drawings accomplished with abundant stippling, cross-hatching, and scratchboard techniques. Despite the very labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of his specialty, Finlay created more than 2600 works of graphic art in his 35-year career.
Virgil Finlay, The Horror of the Heights by Arthur Conan Doyle, Famous Fantastic Mysteries 47-12, p.109.Virgil Finlay, Thirty Seconds – Thirty Days (left side) by Arthur C. Clarke, Thrilling Wonder Stories 49-12, p.106.Virgil Finlay, Thirty Seconds – Thirty Days (right side) by Arthur C. Clarke, Thrilling Wonder Stories 49-12, p.107.Virgil Finlay, The Sound of Willow Pipes by Wilbur S. Peacock, Startling Stories 54-Spring, p.87. Blurb: Rog held a key to the past which opened a door to the future.Virgil Finlay, Sunfire! by Edmond Hamilton, Amazing Stories 62-09, p.7.Virgil Finlay, Sunfire! by Edmond Hamilton, Amazing Stories 62-09, p.6.Illustration By Virgil Finlay. For Adam’s Eva By Alan Dirkson. Worlds Of IF July 1967Virgil Finlay, The Fortunes of Peace by C.C. McApp, If 67-09, p.11.Virgil Finlay, unknown source.Virgil Finlay, The Fortunes of Peace by C.C. McApp, If 67-09, p.21.Virgil FinlayVirgil Finlay, Slan by A.E. van Vogt, Fantastic Story Magazine 52-Summer, p.25. Caption: A dim torpedo-like shape leaped toward the star-filled sky.Virgil Finlay, unknown source.Virgil Finlay, Anything Your Heart Desires by Stephen Marlowe, Fantastic Adventures 51-11, p.51.Virgil Finlay, Anything Your Heart Desires by Stephen Marlowe, Fantastic Adventures 51-11, p.50.Virgil Finlay, Vortex.Virgil Finlay, Anything Your Heart Desires by Stephen Marlowe, Fantastic Adventures 51-11, p.50.Virgil Finlay, A Ticket To Zenner by C.C. MacApp, If 67-07, p.87. The signature in the lower left shows that, intentionally or unintentionally, the illustration was flipped versus the original orientation.This illo was selected for the 2019 Virgil Finlay calendar. A Ticket to Zenner by C.C. MacApp, If 67-07, p.63.Virgil Finlay, Dreadful Dreamer by Margaret St. Clair, Super Science Stories 49-07, p.80. Blurb: The Mars cat would give you anything you desired—and it took nothing but friendship in return…nothing except one tiny thing you didn’t want, and without which you couldn’t live!Virgil Finlay, A Question of Courage by J.F. Bone, Amazing Stories 60-12.Virgil Finlay, Monsters from the West (right side) by Benj. Miller. Thrilling Wonder Stories 49-02, p.99.Virgil Finlay, Monsters from the West (left side) by Benj. Miller. Thrilling Wonder Stories 49-02, p.98.Virgil Finlay, Thunder in Space by Lester Del Rey, Amazing Stories 62-06, p.9.Virgil Finlay, Thunder in Space by Lester Del Rey, Amazing Stories 62-06, p.8.Virgil Finlay, Thunder in Space by Lester Del Rey, Amazing Stories 62-06, p.23.Virgil Finlay, Thunder in Space by Lester Del Rey, Amazing Stories 62-06, pp.8-9.Virgil Finlay, The Green Blood of Treachery by Willard Hawkins, Amazing Stories 51-09, p.74. Caption: She was the universe’s most beautiful woman; yet hatred ran green in her veins!Virgil Finlay, The Encounter by J.G. Ballard, Amazing Stories 63-07, p.88.Virgil Finlay, The Gods Hate Kansas by Joseph J. Millard, Fantastic Story Magazine 52-11, p.17.Virgil Finlay, The Manless Worlds by Murray Leinster, Thrilling Wonder Stories 47-02, p.17.Virgil Finlay, After a Judgement Day by Edmond Hamilton, Fantastic 63-12.Virgil Finlay, Marooned Off Vesta by Isaac Asimov, Amazing Stories 59-03, p.8, the 20th anniversary of its first publication, Asimov’s first published story.This image was chosen for the 2020 Virgil Finlay calendar (May) as Cosmic Kiss. Virgil Finlay, The Time Masters by Wilson Tucker, Startling Stories 54-01, p.19.Virgil Finlay’s final illustration for Fantastic Adventures (52-11, P.94), I’ll Follow You to Hell by William P. McGivern.Virgil Finlay, The Time Masters by Wilson Tucker, Startling Stories 54-01. Blurb: They were lost on an alien planet—Earth—and nothing could bring this man and woman together!Virgil Finlay, A Taste of Fire by Lloyd Biggle, Jr., Amazing Stories 59-08, P.50.Virgil Finlay.Virgil FinlayThis illo was selected for the 2019 Virgil Finlay calendar, The Espadrilles by Margaret St. Clair, Famous Fantastic Mysteries 53-04, P.94. Caption: I found something that made me realize I had to get away from there…Virgil Finlay, The Shore of Tomorrow, Startling Stories 53-03, P.90.Virgil Finlay, Rider in the Sky by Raymond F. Jones, Thrilling SF 73-04, P.5. Reprinted from Amazing Stories 64-11.Virgil Finlay, Beside Still Waters by Robert Sheckley, Amazing Stories 53-10,11.Virgil Finlay, The Shore of Tomorrow by Chad Oliver, Startling Stories 53-03, P.91.Virgil Finlay, Space sled. Rider in the Sky by Raymond F. Jones, Thrilling SF 73-04, Pp.4-5. Reprinted from Amazing Stories 64-11.Virgil Finlay, The Bad Life by Jerome Bixby, Galaxy 63-02.Virgil Finlay, How the Heroes Die (Known Space) by Larry Niven, Galaxy 66-10.Virgil Finlay, The Shore of Tomorrow, Startling Stories 53-03, pp.90-91.Virgil Finlay, Saline Solution (Reteif) by Keith Laumer, If Worlds of SF 63-03, P.23.Virgil Finlay, Problem in Geometry by T.P. Caravan, Science Stories V1N4, 54-04, P.109.Virgil Finlay, Enter the Twilight Zone.Virgil Finlay, How The Heroes Die (Known Space) by Larry Niven, Galaxy 66-10.Virgil Finlay, Third Stage by Poul Anderson, Amazing Stories 62-02, P.8.Virgil Finlay, After a Judgement Day (left side) , Edmond Hamilton, Fantastic 63-12, p.6.#2 Virgil Finlay, After a Judgement Day (right side), Edmond Hamilton, Fantastic 63-12, p.7.Virgil Finlay, Tin Lizzie by Randall Garrett, Amazing Stories 64-06.Virgil Finlay, Secret Weapon by Joseph Farrell, Startling Stories 43-Fall, p.114.Virgil FinlayVirgil Finlay, The First Invader by Paul Dallas, Amazing Stories 58-01, p.75.Virgil Finlay, On the Storm Planet by Cordwainer Smith, Galaxy SF 65-02.Virgil Finlay, The Fifth Stone by Alfred Coppel, Fantastic 56-12, p.29. Caption: Madness, destruction, and the point of no return.Virgil Finlay, The Stars, My Brothers by Edmond Hamilton, Amazing Stories 62-05, p.7.Virgil Finlay, And We Sailed the Mighty Dark (right side) by Frank Belknap Long, Startling Stories 48-03, p.77.Virgil Finlay, Adam’s Eva by Alan Dirkson, If 67-07, P.103.Virgil Finlay, A Step Farther Out (right side) by Raymond Z. Gallun, Super Science Stories 50-03, p.49.Virgil Finlay, A Step Farther Out by Raymond Z. Gallun, Super Science Stories 50-03, p.48.Virgil Finlay, Saline Solution By Keith Laumer, If 63-03.Virgil Finlay, Last Order by Gordon Walters, Fantastic 64-01, back cover.Virgil Finlay, Gift Horse by A. Bertram Chandler, Worlds of If 58-06.Virgil Finlay, Last Order by Gordon Walters, Fantastic 64-01, p.97.Virgil Finlay, Last Order by Gordon Walters, Fantastic 64-01, p.75.Virgil Finlay, 240,000 Miles Straight Up (right side) by L. Ron Hubbard, Thrilling Wonder Stories 48-12, p.43.Virgil Finlay, 240,000 Miles Straight Up (left side) by L. Ron Hubbard, Thrilling Wonder Stories 48-12, p.42.Virgil Finlay, The Big Blow-Up (left side) by Daniel F. Galouye, Fantastic 61-03, p.6.Virgil Finlay, The Big Blow-Up (right side) by Daniel F. Galouye, Fantastic 61-03, p.7.Virgil Finlay, Hepcats of Venus (right side) by Randall Garrett, Fantastic 62-01, p.11.fantastic vintage science fiction artwork from magazines | by modern_fredVirgil Finlay, On The Fourth Planet by J.F. Bone, Galaxy 63-04.Virgil Finlay, Hot Planet by Hal Clement, Galaxy 63-08.Virgil Finlay, All Jackson’s Children by Daniel F. Galouye, Galaxy 57-01, P.33.Virgil Finlay, Condemned to Death by Poul Anderson, Fantastic Universe 59-10, P.34.Virgil FinlayVirgil Finlay, Let Me Live in a House by Chad Oliver, Universe SF 54-03, pp.28-29.Virgil Finlay, Tin Lizzie, Amazing Stories 64-06.Virgil Finlay, Prize Ship by Philip K. Dick, Thrilling Wonder Stories 54-Winter, p.89. Caption: A tiny man appeared and shot an arrow. Blurb: They had no way of knowing where they’d go in the—PRIZE SHIP (title).Virgil Finlay, Planeteer by Fred Saberhagen, Galaxy 61-04, pp.24-25.Virgil Finlay, Planeteer by Fred Saberhagen, Galaxy 61-04, p.8-9.Virgil Finlay, Planeteer By Fred Saberhagen Galaxy, Galaxy 61-04, Pp.24-25, cropped. (The pin is from the British Edition, so it may have been published this way.)
