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Rick Tucker's avatar

I missed the chance to get Wonderworks when it first came out. I fact I only managed to see one copy on the stands at a time when I literally had no time to buy it. It was one of those, "Whoah! Check this out!..." "Rick! We gotta GO!!" moments. About a year later, my, then, new wife and I are in London (she was stationed in Germany and this was our big trip the UK). She always made time for me to do the book and comic shops and I had to go to Forbidden Planet (at the time in or near Charing Cross district). It was fantastic! Anyway, while perusing I found the signed and numbered slipcase edition of Wonderworks. Finally, I got to look inside, AND it was on sale (last store copy, unsealed), I had to buy it. That was in 1983. I still have it. You probably don't recall, but in '86 I visited you in your home (on my way from PA to NYC), and you signed it for me. I'll never forget that visit or your hospitality.

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Michael Whelan's avatar

That's so kind of you to mention. I’m grateful to have so many fans of my artwork over the years. It has made all the difference.

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Laura Lasley's avatar

Michael Everett, I can't wait to see what you've done with WW! I'm sure it's wonderful. I can only imagine the work and care that has gone into this project, thank you for undertaking it! I'm sure Michael and Audrey greatly appreciate it.

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J.Q. Graziano's avatar

Wow - great edition and how exciting about the new Wonderworks! I've never read C.J.'s books, so will now be on a quest to obtain some!

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Laura Lasley's avatar

They are marvelous! I have enjoyed every one, and own some of the prints for those covers. Delighted that MW's art matches the excellent writing

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James Garza's avatar

I've probably mentioned in these comments before 'Wonderworks' was the first art book I ever bought with my paper route money at B. Dalton. Anybody remember those at the malls? (The second was 'The Studio' with Jones, Kaluta, Windsor-Smith, and Wrightson.)

Some, what, almost 50 years later, it's still here with me. Much worse for wear. This has been a working book, not a collector's item. It's pages fired my imagination. They transported me. They made me put pencil to paper if just for my own enjoyment. It got opened and looked through a lot. It got paint smudges, varnish splatters.

That is all to say I'm really looking forward to seeing what you've cooked up for us, Mr. Everett. And you too Mr. Whelan.

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Michael Everett's avatar

It sounds like your "working" copy of WW is as well loved as mine. I've had to replace copies of Michael's books over the years due to the wear and tear.

I miss the days of mall bookstores. That's where I discovered my love for SFF when I started picking my own books. I worked for Crown through college and later spent 13 years with Borders.

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James Garza's avatar

I too worked for Borders when we lived on Long Island. 3 years a bookseller.

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Michael Everett's avatar

I worked in a few regions from the Midwest to LA and SF but never on the East Coast. I knew a few General Managers from out there tho.

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