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EMPIRE'S HORIZON

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EMPIRE'S HORIZON

Cover illustration for John Brizzolara

Michael Whelan
Oct 09, 2024
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EMPIRE'S HORIZON

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Standing in profile, a dark skinned humanoid with long white hair braided to the scalp holds a long spear angled up. Its eyes are covered with metal, rounded and form-fitting like swim goggles only strapless. A beaded flame-like pattern surrounds the eye, colored in a gradient that starts green over the jaw and cheek, transitions from yellow to orange around the eye, and finally deepens to purple at the ridge of the nose. Behind the alien, stands a square-jawed man in a tattered shirt and hooded jacket suited to the arid climate. He stares directly at the viewer with his face dramatically lit and his skin pale in contrast. On his forehead rests a pair of polarized ski goggles. The backdrop behind resembles the prow of a ship; the material appears to be leather-like. Intricately woven macrame gives it all structure, tying in many colored stones. High on the prow, the point of the spear intersects a nested blue stone with red swirls. In the background distance, a trio of flying creatures
EMPIRE'S HORIZON (1989), Acrylic on canvas - 36" x 24"

John Brizzolara's novel is about a confrontation between extraterrestrials and humans, and humankind's attempt at domination. Caught up in this struggle and all the internal conflicts of the native politics, there is one man who comes to live with the natives and learn about them on a personal level. The tension of their interaction provided me with the approach I chose for the cover.

The clue to who wins in the end is in the spear 'sticking it' to the earthlike stone embedded in the macrame.

Additional images from EMPIRE’S HORIZON

LEFT: Detail from EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring a dark skinned alien in silhouette holding a spear. Behind, a square jawed man in tattered shirt and light coat stares directly toward the viewer. CENTER: Figure sketch for EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring the square jawed man with goggles resting on his forehead. There is more detail in his face and looser lines for his goggles, shoulder, and arm. RIGHT: Close detail of the ship featuring the tip of the spear pointed at the marbled stone embedded in macrame. Other colorful polished stone orbs are worked into the surface of the ship. Below right is a ring magnet tied with just a few cords. To the left is webbing that resembles a dream catcher.LEFT: Detail from EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring a dark skinned alien in silhouette holding a spear. Behind, a square jawed man in tattered shirt and light coat stares directly toward the viewer. CENTER: Figure sketch for EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring the square jawed man with goggles resting on his forehead. There is more detail in his face and looser lines for his goggles, shoulder, and arm. RIGHT: Close detail of the ship featuring the tip of the spear pointed at the marbled stone embedded in macrame. Other colorful polished stone orbs are worked into the surface of the ship. Below right is a ring magnet tied with just a few cords. To the left is webbing that resembles a dream catcher.LEFT: Detail from EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring a dark skinned alien in silhouette holding a spear. Behind, a square jawed man in tattered shirt and light coat stares directly toward the viewer. CENTER: Figure sketch for EMPIRE'S HORIZON featuring the square jawed man with goggles resting on his forehead. There is more detail in his face and looser lines for his goggles, shoulder, and arm. RIGHT: Close detail of the ship featuring the tip of the spear pointed at the marbled stone embedded in macrame. Other colorful polished stone orbs are worked into the surface of the ship. Below right is a ring magnet tied with just a few cords. To the left is webbing that resembles a dream catcher.
Details and figure sketch from EMPIRE'S HORIZON
Book cover for EMPIRE'S HORIZON by John Brizzolara, published by DAW Books.
Empire’s Horizon by John Brizzolara (DAW)

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