Penguin Classics Science Fiction Series book covers

Category: In-house Design; Entered by: Penguin Press, Penguin Random House

Penguin art director Jim Stoddart took a minimal approach in the cover design for this series of ten classic science fiction books, which includes titles by James Tiptree Jr, Kurt Vonnegut, HP Lovecraft, and Stanisław Lem. 

Unlike traditional science fiction books that attempt illustrations of unfamiliar worlds on their covers, the Penguin Classics Science Fiction Series shifts these books towards a more literary genre, leaving space for the reader to travel to the limits of their imagination. The covers feature pared-back colour palettes and minimalist line drawings from artists such as Picasso, Le Corbusier and Herbert Mayer, with the vivid spirit of inventiveness in the images mirroring the vast worlds in each book.

Publisher: Penguin Press, Penguin Random House
Art Director/Designer: Jim Stoddart