Description
Book cover illustration called “Endangered Species” by Charles Gannon, cover art by Kurt Miller.
Author’s note for illustrating the book: “One, the buildings. This is the most common use for the old/pre apocalypse buildings which are tall and relatively intact: water collectors. Their tops are essentially sealable cisterns to collect rain. (When it rains on this planet it tends to come down heavy; the ravaged biosphere has profound weather extremes.) Their incredibly strong building materials make them the citadels of the greatest powers.
Because fresh water is scarce (particularly away from major rivers), this gives the owners of these cistern-citadels immense power. There would be one or two of these in the city we see on the cover. They are key elements because they are one of the clearest, simplest ways of showing (if only silhouettes in the mist) that this was once a MUCH more advanced planet.
Emergency reentry pods. Essentially, a trunk-sized system that, when activated, expands into a foam half-shell. An engine is affixed to the “back” of the unit, manually adjusted for guidance. The individual is partially embedded in the foam’s rough “back as well. Successful reentry is by making sure that the smooth, half sphere side bears the force and heating of the reentry. It does so not by resisting (that would make the ride to bumpy to sustain attitude relative to the angle of entry), but by burning off or “ablating” to deal with the heat and friction. By the time speed is slowed and altitude is within twenty kilometers, the passenger can cut loose from what remains of the reentry system and descend via parachute.
I only include this because it would be really, really useful (and cool) to put one of these in the sky on the cover. It is a distinctive—and very decisive—element of the story.
Actually, a teardrop shape would be even better. An optimal de-orbit attitude would lead with the fat part of the drop, the airflow tucking around it to help maintain stability……”
Image Information
Image Use
Book cover for Charles E. Gannon
End Client
Baen Books
Media Used to Create
Digital mix
Print Sale
Numbered fine art print 100% rag acid free Artist choice
Non-numbered gloss prints
Art Progress
Published Image
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