Approach to Infinity

[Glendale, CA]: [Roy Squires], 1952. Pictorial Self-wrappers. Fine. 8½x5½. Dollens, Morris Scott. [Glendale, CA]: [Roy Squires], [June, 1952]. A supplement to Squires' Fantasy Advertiser series - presumably packaged separately, rather than laid-in, since it is the same size as that historic fanzine - this variant of 'Approach to Infinity' appeared fourteen months after the April, 1951 first issuance of the title. Signed by Dollens and inscribed to Barbara Champlin on the "About the Artist" page. Illustrated throughout by Dollens. Unpaginated, but 14 pp, including wraps. A little age toning of the paper, else fine. Extraordinarily rare and visionary little black-and-white paper opus published by Roy Squires in Glendale, with front and rear wrapper illustrations based on photographic miniatures with projected backgrounds, the illustrations within reproduced from water-color and tempera paintings, partly sprayed through stencils, all by Dollens. The theme herein, for the images and the text (also by Dollens), is a mystical one of man's approaching destiny out there somewhere in the endless stars, with a sense that this is so very natural, a step in our spiritual evolution; in this sense, Dollens hit the right note about science fiction as well as anyone, and perhaps even represents it still. Somewhere in the web between the text and illustrations lies an oddly almost religious mood. Looking at it, reading it, this unpretentious little book really does seem to crystallize what science fiction is all about for many of us - as does the title itself. Subsequent readings then almost feel like a benediction. Sounds like a very lot from a very little, but that's what Dollens achieved here. The multi-talented Dollens was a long-time science-fiction illustrator and photographer, with numerous cover and internal illustration credits in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Aboriginal Science Fiction, Science Fiction Advertiser, Fantasy Advertiser, Räuber auf Selena, The Future Is Now, Gamma: New Frontiers in Fiction, and others, and was the dustjacket portrait photographer for such authors as Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes) and Chad Oliver (The Winds of Time), not to mention non-sci-fi works such as the photography for Karen Kuykendall's Every Cats. Inscription to Barbara Champlin is in blue-green ink, next to his professional address at the time (presumably circa 1952, though the inscription is undated) at 3771 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles 34 California. A very early creation for both Dollens and publisher Roy Squires. Try finding another one of these - signed or not. L-100