Future (Life) Magazine #7 1979 Gil Kane Starhawks Buck Rogers

K49039 #7 January 1979. 78 pages. Future (later renamed Future Life) was a science, science fiction, and fantasy magazine. This issue includes Gil Kane's cover art, A.E. Van Vogt's interview, Star Hawks, SF awards, Buck Rogers on TV, The Brothers Hildebrandt color portfolio, and Charles Sheffield: Big Business in Orbit.

In this issue, Future (along with Starlog) announces the Getaway Special contest, where readers could design an experiment to be flown aboard the Space Shuttle. The contest, which cost $10,000 to sponsor, was extended multiple times, but no winner was ever officially announced. Still, it was a creative way to involve readers in space exploration, focusing on mental effort rather than luck or physical strength.

The issue features a cover illustration by Gil Kane from Star Hawks, and the two-page table of contents image is a rocket launch photo by Ctein. Kerry O'Quinn discusses the Getaway Special contest, while letters in the "Input" section defend artist Boris Vallejo and criticize Senator William Proxmire. The Databank section covers news such as Battlestar Galactica's production, efforts to save turtles, and high schoolers working to revive windmills.

Other highlights include interviews with A.E. Van Vogt and Star Hawks creator Steve Swires, reviews of SF illustrated books, and a guide to major SF awards. David Hutchison's Hardware page features the Apple II computer, while James Oberg explains NASA’s solar system exploration plans. The centerfold showcases John Berkey's artwork, and David Houston reports on laser games and interviews Buck Rogers producer Leslie Stevens.

The Future Forum asks notable figures like L. Sprague de Camp and Joanna Russ what project they would fund with a $10 billion budget. The Video Images column reviews The Shape of Things to Come and The Martian Chronicles. Other articles explore Venus, private industry in space, and career advice for working in space.

Marion Zimmer Bradley writes in the Future Forum, "These kids are the ones who are going to build tomorrow's world... but they are being turned off by education altogether."

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