Super Science Stories Scifi Cover

14 Vintage Scifi & Fantasy Covers Where Women Aren’t “Damseled”

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We already know I’m a huge retro-sci-fi fan, but one of the things that irks me the most about vintage magazine and book covers is how often the women on them are portrayed as “damsels in distress”. They’re often falling victim to evil robots, scary space monsters, or clothing that just won’t stay on their busty bodies.

Although those sexist images are the ones that most often come to mind when you think of pulp stories of yesteryear, there are some glorious vintage covers that feature ladies as more than a trope.

The Conquest of the Moon Pool

Conquest of the Moon Pool Vintage Sci-fi Magazine Cover
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From “Fantastic Novels” September 1948, we get this interesting cover illustration by Lawrence Sterne Stevens for the story “The Conquest of the Moon Pool” by Abraham Merritt. Who the blonde woman in the Marylin Monroe-style dress on the cover is I don’t know, but it’s evident she’s in charge with her laser-gun and her army of toad-like creatures from the center of the earth. Source

The Rebel of Valkyr

The Rebel of Valkyr Science Fiction Cover

The Fall 1950 issue of “Planet Stories” featured the novella The Rebel of Valkyr by Alfred Coppel and a gorgeous cover illustration to go with it. The lady at the center of the cover is Imperatrix, “the ruler of 10 million space warriors.” How closely this relates to the text I don’t know, but she has a dagger and isn’t being rescued by everyone. She does lose points for the impractical shoes.

Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories

Vintage Future Science Fiction Cover
I’m not sure which story this vintage cover illustration is supposed to go with, but I love it. Our leading lady is carrying her wounded (possibly dead? Looks like his helmet is obliterated. Hard to tell what’s going on with the atmosphere on this planet) colleague over her back while fighting off unseen enemies with her raygun. Again, her outfit seems to be a little impractical (I’m seeing a theme here) but it’s nice to see a man being damseled for once.

Women’s Work

Women's Work Vintage Sci-fi Cover
Here’s something a little different. This cover for the November 1956 issue of “The Original Science Fiction Stories” has a stunning image for the story “Women’s Work” by Murray Leinster. I can’t find any summary for the story, but the cover alone makes me interested. Featured prominently on this magazine cover is a woman working as some sort of radar operator or possibly launching rockets or missiles.

War-Maid of Mars

War-Maid of Mars Retro Science Fiction Cover
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Another from “Planet Stories”, the cover of the May 1952 issue features an illustration of a blonde-haired warrior woman leading her martian army into battle. Is that a pistol on her hip?




Red Death of Mars

reddeathofmars

This Australian book cover for the Red Death of Mars by Robert Moore Williams from 1952 features a prominent lady-astronaut ready to blast off with her male companion to Mars.

Secret Agent of Terra

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This 1962 cover for the John Brunner novel Secret Agent of Terra features the character Maddalena, who is trying to prove her worthiness as a member of the Corps Galactica. Note the practical footwear. [Source]

The Green Thumb

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“Science Fiction Quarterly” for February 1953 features an illustration for a Poul Anderson. Tiny web-weaving creatures are attempting to tie up the lady on this cover, though I think she has the upper hand. Cover by A. Leslie Ross. [Source]

The Timeless Ones

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Another vintage scifi cover I absolutely love from the November 1952 issues of “Science Fiction Quarterly”. That helmet to to die for.

Black Amazon of Mars

Black Amazon of Mars Retro Sci-fi Cover
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Another classic pulp cover from “Planet Stories” for their March 1951 cover. The illustration for Leigh Brackett’s “Black Amazon of Mars” features a red-haired warrior woman fighting tentacled martians.

Slan

Slan Vintage Sci-fi Cover
This cover for the 1953 edition for A.E. Van Vogt’s Slan by Robert Stanley is filled with retro-scifi goodness. Sheath dress! Raygun! Atomic Symbol!

The Black Priestess of Varda

The Black Priestess of Varda Retro Science Fiction Cover

The Black Priestess of Varda makes a menacing subject for the Winter 1947 cover of “Planet Stories”. With her whip and her blue lemur-creature she’s fighting off gray bumpy villains.

Sword of the Seven Suns

swordofsevensuns
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“Planet Stories” Spring 1947 featured a vivid cover for “Sword of Seven Suns” where they’ve reverted to the “era of the sword” yet our leading lady is wielding a futuristic gun that’s either spewing some sort of gas or otherwise enveloping in the enemy in a high-tech soul-sucking vapor. (Note the impractical shoes.)

Super Red Catsuit

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We’re finishing off this list with a fantastic cover from “Super Science Stories” September 1949. Though the illustration is similar to the “Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories” earlier on the list, with our raygun wielding leading lady protecting her wounded companion, in this iteration she’s wearing a fantastic (and slightly more practical) red spacesuit. Cover: Lawrence Sterne Stevens. [Source]

I know this isn’t a comprehensive list of all of the awesome non-damseled covers out there, so please share any others in the comments!

About the author

Tiffany is a science fiction writer and collector of artifacts from the future of the past. She wishes she had a robot to drive her hovercar. Read more...

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