SSD 62, December 1960 by theseus88bc
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Russian scientists made a bizarre claim in November 1960... they claimed in a top secret report that some of the Near Earth Asteroids were made of gold. They never substantiated their findings but Professor Quatermass of the British Rocket Group contacted his Russian counterpart, Ygor Bloskov and asked for confirmation.
Ygor was never heard from again.
SSD gained a new writer for the stories in the form of Minnie Bannister... a strange reclusive woman who lived in the Outer Hebrides and wrote stories which even pulp magazines refused. Why Puckle and Grimsdale chose to hire her is anyone's guess, but long time contributor AJ Crudworthy was displeased enough to write to the Times about the matter!
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The rocket comes from a freebie site so I can't credit anyone with it, I'm sorry, but it's nice ^_^ I chose to give the alien surface a metallic look to reflect the article about the Golden asteroids.
Thanks for looking, and for the kind comments. They really do mean a lot.
Iain

Comments (11)
GOLD!!! rubbish, cheese I tell you, cheese........."coming nurse....." Another belter, good to see mention of the late AJ....greatly missed.
Thanks Neil... Old Crudworthy will return!
not kind comments mate, just honest ones, nuff said
Great cover, I remember the days when some of the "Founding Fathers of SF" got annoyed when women started appearing in "their" playground. Alas, some of that still goes on even now, I'm afraid... Here's hoping Crudworthy grows up and accepts the women deserve to be there too!
Excellent graphics.
Ever read Fred Hoyle's story "Element 79'? It's the story of what happens when a small asteroid hits Britain and they discover it's mostly made of gold.
Fantastic image! Corrie
Very cool image and great fun story lines too - oh, those writer names!
Apart from Crudworthy I, er, borrowed the other names. Any fan of the Norman Wisdom films of the 50s and 60s will recognise Puckle (used by Norman a lot in the films) and Grimsdale (most often shouted by Norman as "Mr Grimsdale!"). Minnie Bannister is the love of Henry Crunn, and are characters from the 50s/60s Goon Show of the BBC Light Programme fame. Hey, they fit with my fictionalised era, lol. (Just be grateful I never used Doppleganger Wormscrew, the notorious international spy ^_^ )
wonderful image