John Schoenherr

John Schoenherr, an acclaimed American illustrator, pioneered a distinctive approach to science fiction art that melded impressionistic techniques with speculative themes, most notably exemplified by his iconic visual interpretations of Frank Herbert's Dune universe, which helped define the aesthetic of the seminal science fiction series.

A graduate of the Pratt Institute, Schoenherr began illustrating for science fiction professionally in 1956, making his debut in Amazing Stories. He created 75 covers for Astounding Science Fiction/Analogue magazine from the 1960s to the 1980s, painting covers for, among others, Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider, as well as for stories by Frederik Pohl, Gordon R. Dickson, and Clifford D. Simak. Schoenherr also painted for paperback publishers, including Ace Books and Pyramid, lending his talents to Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers and Harry Harrison’s The Stainless Steel Rat.

His covers for the serialization of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga in Analog magazine, beginning with Dune World in 1963, are especially notable. Prophet of Dune followed in 1965, earning Schoenherr a Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist. Later in his career, Schoenherr turned to wildlife and children’s book illustration. In 1988, he won a Caldecott Medal for his work in Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.