GISKARD

Cover illustration for Isaac Asimov

Nov 18, 2024

A robot stands with one hip slightly cocked and hands clasped over its forehead as if shielding its eyes. Sunlight reflects off its metallic body. Behind and slightly below him, A thick-trunked alien tree spreads its canopy wide and flat, mirroring the form of the robot's arms, elbows pointed out. From the top down, the sky is a lime to lemon gradient that bleeds to orange and purple haze at the horizon. The mound of dirt in the foreground is sparsely covered with leaves and berries, framing a human face. — GISKARD (1984), Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28" x 18"

What makes someone human? Can a robot be murdered? What is the future of human relationships and what is the ultimate destiny for the human race?

These are huge issues that Isaac Asimov deals with in his novel The Robots of Dawn, but of course the extraordinary author also tells a great story!

Preliminary concept for THE ROBOTS OF DAWN featuring the bottom side of an old hard drive tilted at an angle against the night sky. Among the integrated circuits is the silhouette of a ponderous man's face with hand stroking chin. On the block fields of the chips are a series of codes: JCN 444824, JCN AW776, JCN AMPW 11441. AMPW is a hidden reference to the artist's daughter by her initials.

The pivotal plot element is the robot Giskard and I hint at the major themes by posing him in a human-like stance as he gazes skyward to the stars where the destiny of man-and robot-ultimately awaits.

Note the face of the Terran police detective Elijah Bailey in the rocks.

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Additional images from GISKARD

LEFT: Detail from GISKARD featuring a robot with hip cocked and hands clasped over its forehead as if shielding its eyes. Behind it a massive alien tree echoes the outward flare of its elbows. The trunk is massive. Smaller trees on narrow trunks climb high with the leaf cover shifted right possibly from the wind. The hills in the background are rendered in waves of purple. To the left of the tree are signs of buildings on the ridge line in the distance set off by points of light that represent windows. CENTER: Detail from GISKARD featuring the robot in a human pose with hip slightly cocked left and hands clasped over its forehead, simultaneously evoking a burden of thought and shielding its eyes from the light of the sun. The robot is made of a combination of mechanics and silver leathery fabric. It isn't all plates of steel. RIGHT: Close detail from GISKARD featuring the face of Elijah Bailey in the mound of dirt at the robots feet. He's an older man looking ponderous as he rubs his chin. Leaves frame the earthy image. To the lower left berries grow. — Details from GISKARD

Book cover for THE ROBOTS OF DAWN by Isaac Asimov, published by Del Rey Books — The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov (Del Rey)

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Cluster of Isaac Asimov prints that include MULE, HARI, ARKADY, TRANTORIAN DREAM, GISKARD, and FOUNDATION AND EARTH. — Asimov print set

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Debra Sanders

Debra’s Substack

Nov 18Liked by Michael Whelan

Astonishing! I've had this book for years and NEVER saw Elijah in the boulder. Michael, you are a magician. (I held up the book to have Giskard meet the Martians in your Martian Chronicles cover print; that went well. :) )

This ALONE is worth the subscription price. THANKING YOU every day.

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Laura Lasley

MY FAVORITE!!! I mean, ALL of your art is a favorite (which is why I have one or more Whelans' in every room of the house, and the hallways too) but this one really speaks to me. The color, composition and thoughtful pose of Giskard is just perfect. And the book is pretty good too, haha.