The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert

The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert

Although Frank Herbert is best known for the Dune series, he penned a number of novels over the course of his career, including The Santaroga Barrier, which was originally published in the October 1967 issue of Amazing Stories. The cover shown here is from the novel’s first paperback edition, published by Berkley Medallion in 1968.

When writing The Santaroga Barrier, Herbert strove to create a society that readers could perceive as either a utopia or a dystopia. The novel was heavily inspired by Being and Time by Martin Heidegger. References to Heidegger’s philosophies are peppered throughout the book.

The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert

The pink-and-purple-hued cover art comes from artist Paul Lehr. While Lehr isn’t officially credited, you can spot his signature on the cover if you look closely. Lehr was a prolific cover artist that frequently partnered with Berkley Medallion, creating covers for writers like Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke. He also painted 11 covers for Analog.

Lehr often referred to his works as “futurescapes,” using a combination of bright colors and barren landscapes to create atmospheric and memorable covers. Most of his covers were painted with oil, acrylics, or a mixture of paints. He was nominated for the Hugo Award in 1980 and 1981.

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