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The order of the swords was corrected to reflect the name of the series, the first being Minneyar, which translates to “year of memory.” I can’t say much more than that as spoilers abound—even decades later for some fans! 8/8

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/in-dai-chikiza/

When Tad returned to the kingdom of Osten Ard for a new story arc a few decades later, DAW Books asked me to provide illustrations of the swords that had decorated the spines of the original hardcovers. This time they would be placed front and center on the reissued covers. 7/8

“…[the blade] was no mere weapon, but a blasphemy against the earth that had yielded both iron and witchwood. It was a hole in the tapestry of creation, and life leaked away through it.” 6/8

It was a blade forged by the Storm King. Inspiration for the design came in these ominously detailed passages:

“…in a sheath at [King Elias’] side was the sword with the strange crossed hilt…there was something queer and unsettling about the blade…[It] had a strange double guard, the cross pieces making; with the hilt, a sort of five pointed star.” 5/8

The jacket art for the first volume of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn features Jingizu (the Sithi word for “Sorrow”). It was a blade forged by the Storm King. 4/8

Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy went on to become both a commercial success, with a long stretch on the New York Times bestseller list, and a critical hit with lasting impact on the genre.

George R.R. Martin cited the books as influential in his own smash hit A Song of Ice and Fire. He praised Tad’s work as “one of the great fantasy epics of all time.” 3/8

No matter how intriguing, when a manuscript is especially long and complicated it's hard to choose one scene that will be faithful to the story and grab new readers. 2/8

IN DAI CHIKIZA (1988)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 18" x 46"

Creating the cover for the first book in a proposed epic trilogy can be a daunting task for an illustrator. They have to help the author gain an audience for a new fantasy world with a whole new cast of characters. 1/8

#fantasy #illustration #tadwilliams #memorysorrowandthorn #dawbooks

(She's named after Dr. Ellie Arroway, the character in Carl Sagan's Contact, portrayed by Jodie Foster in the movie, but that's the only connection to the story.)



The job remains undone, the dream unfulfilled. 3/3

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/ellies-dream/

The curving structure is shaped to resemble a wind-twisted rocket contrail something I witnessed many times living near Vandenberg missile base. I chose a girl at the pinnacle of the structure because humanity's reach for the moon will be incomplete until a female crew lands there and explores the surface, representing the other half of our species. 2/3

ELLIE’S DREAM (2010)
Acrylic - 40” x 30”

The vision came to me exactly as you see it here. I was thinking about the Moon Race and the clear cloudless skies of my childhood days in California. 1/3

#fineart #personalvisions #imaginativerealism #carlsagan

PERIWINKLE (1988)
Acrylic on canvas - 34" x 21"

Patricia A. McKillip is a terrific writer, very inspiring. 1/4

#fantasy #illustration #patriciamckillip #delreybooks

THE GOLDEN KEY (1995)
Oil on Gessoboard - 36” x 24”

In this story written by 3 top female fantasy authors—Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson, and Kate Elliott—the court painter is a mad artist. 1/3

#fantasy #illustration #melanierawn #kateelliott
#jenniferroberson #dawbooks

Cover illustration for FOUNDATION AND EMPIRE by Isaac Asimov (Del Rey) 3/3

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/mule/

In this scene, hopeful dawn gives way to the harsh light of midday. The once stately columns are now in broken disarray and perching over the wreckage like a comic vulture is the Mule. 2/3

THE MULE (1985)
Acrylic on Canvas 32” x 20”

For book two of the Foundation series, there was once again a clear choice for the central subject.

Outwardly a buffoon, the Mule is the greatest concentration of power in a single individual in the Galaxy, the one variable Seldon overlooked in his massive plan. 1/3

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #foundation #isaacasimov #delreybooks

ALIENS (1979)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 23” x 14”

The concept here is that the aliens and the lone human-—who is an alien to the others—are posing for a group photograph, with the photographer being out of view to the right. ¼

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #anthology #gardnerdozois #jackdann

WINTERSTAR (2025)
Acrylic - 12 ½” x 16”

As the long night of solstice draws near, Winter calls on the wonder of starlight and frost to illuminate a path to the new year. 1/3

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/winterstar/

#holiday #fantasy

Cover art for A PRINCESS OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Del Rey) 4/4

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/princess-of-mars/

Once I became a professional illustrator, the eleven-book series was among the assignments I hoped to do...someday.

Figuring that if the chance to do the covers ever came my way it would be after decades of work in the field, I was surprised and thrilled to have been offered them after only three years as a professional. 3/4