A compilation of the famous sci-fi/fantasy artist's works, both from book covers and his own personal paintings, annotated with Whelan's remarks and
interviews.
Review
Michael Whelan is the artist whom I would most like to be able to draw like (yeah, me and half a million other fantasy fans... but I digress.) Fantasy
lovers have undoubtedly seen his works gracing the covers of many popular books. Perhaps his most famous images are the covers from Anne McCaffrey's
Dragonriders of Pern series, not to mention his covers for Tad Williams's fantasy novels. His personal paintings are beautiful, as well. I love
this collection! Even the interviews are interesting! I consider myself especially lucky for having found it in the Clearance section of a now-defunct
bookstore for less than half of the original price; it's the only way I could possibly afford it.
Beyond Science Fiction: The Alternative Realism of Michael Whelan
Micheal Whelan Baby Tattto Books Nonfiction, Art ****+
Description
One of the great names of science fiction and fantasy illustration, Michael Whelan has left an indelible mark on genre art... but there is more to his body
of work than his iconic book covers. This collection, from an art exhibition, shares his older, familiar pieces and newer works, as he explores his personal
brand of peculiar imagery. Presented with a foreword by Robert Williams.
Review
In the off chance I ever manage to write a book worth selling, I still dream of having a Micheal Whelan cover for it. Though he is technically retired, that
dream remains a dim possibility: he still does the occasional cover commission, as for Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series and Tad Williams's
new Osten Ard books (the latter not included in this compilation.) Mostly, though, Whelan has moved on to visions from his own mind, visions that utilize his
ability to realistically render impossible worlds to create some mind-twisting scenes: a child climbing a tubular ladder to nowhere, figures ascending a
staircase of impossible scale toward enlightenment, a girl climbing the crumbling ruins of a world not unlike our own, bubble-encased flames adrift through
peculiar landscapes, and more. His work remains astounding - if anything, he's only growing more impressive beyond the world of illustration, improvement
dramatically illustrated as older works from the 1970's and 1980's are shown with his most recent output. My only real objection is that this book should've been
larger, to better do justice to Whelan's details and the textures that tempt one to run one's finger over the page, checking if it's just paper or something
deeper. If you're a fan of his art, or just love imaginative realism, this is a must-have book for your collection.
One of fantasy/sci-fi's most widely-recognized illustrators compiles and annotates several images he created for such immortal genre works as Isaac
Asimov's Foundation series, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern and Crystal Singer books, and Edgar Rice Burrough's
Mars adventures. With a foreword by Isaac Asimov and an introduction by Donald Munson.
Review
Half Price Books has been good to me lately, unlike much of the rest of 2008... but I digress. This is an older compilation of Whelan's work, coming
out long before his spectacular The Art of Michael Whelan (reviewed above), but with surprisingly little overlap or reprints from the former
appearing in the latter. These were all done for specific books, though he states here that he already wanted to turn more toward private projects, which
he now does almost exclusively. His annotations explain some of the creative struggles and symbolism which he works into almost every cover illustration;
unlike some artists, Whelan actually reads the source material clear through, and it shows in the end product. A great collection of art from one of the
masters of his field. If and when I ever get one of my stories published, I hope to get a cover artist like him, even if I can't get him to do it
himself.
