Asimov’s Choice series, Dale Books
![Astronauts & Androids (1977), edited by George H. Scithers. Cover art by Frank Kelly Freas [The Internet Speculative Fiction Database]](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/58/58907/58907.jpeg?filename=5792207341_c00a23568c_o_d.jpg)
Astronauts & Androids (1977), edited by George H. Scithers. Cover art by Frank Kelly Freas [The Internet Speculative Fiction Database]
Asimov’s Choice is a series of science fiction anthologies edited by George H. Scithers and L. Sprague de Camp with Isaac Asimov and published by Dale Books, an imprint of Davis Publications.
The main typeface on the covers of the first three books from 1977 — Astronauts & Androids, Black Holes & Bug-Eyed-Monsters, The Queen of Zamba — is Benguiat Charisma Script Shaded. The heavy script is just one of over 600 typefaces designed by Ed Benguiat, who was born on this day in 1927. Happy 90th birthday, Ed!
The accompanying Clarendon is another face by Photo-Lettering, Inc. — Dave West’s Behemoth. Later volumes (Extraterrestrials & Eclipses, Comets & Computers, Dark Stars & Dragons, 1978) have less exciting covers featuring a condensed grotesque.
Black Holes & Bug-Eyed-Monsters (1977), edited by George H. Scithers. Cover art by Frank Kelly Freas
The Queen of Zamba (The Cosmic Manhunt) (1977), edited by L. Sprague de Camp. Cover art by Jack Gaughan
Title page
1 Comment on “Asimov’s Choice series, Dale Books”
Charisma Script is yet another style that was picked up and emulated by Letraset, after having been popularized by Photo-Lettering, Inc., see my recent comments on Chwast Art Tone Boot Black / Bottleneck and Cooper Nouveau Swash 10 / Lazybones.
Top: Letterforms from the title page, in Benguiat Charisma Script Shaded
Bottom: Resetting in Letraset’s Candice, made by Alan Meeks in 1976 (URW digitization, tracked –25).
Unlike many Photo-Lettering creations, most Letraset faces made it to the digital age.