Michael Whelan2010: ODYSSEY TWO (1982)
Acrylic on Illustration Board - 30" x 20"
When legendary publisher Judy-Lynn del Rey asked me to do the cover to the sequel to 2001 by Arthur C. Clarke she said, "What we're looking for here is a 'big book look'." 1/3
I knew what she really meant was "mainstream bestseller" look.
The book and the movie by Stanley Kubrick are all-time favorites so I felt the pressure even more. I did 10 preliminary roughs or comps (unlike the customary 2-4)... 2/3
...and agonized over using airbrush almost exclusively to achieve that diffuse, soft-edged quality. It was worth it—the publisher was thrilled with the result and even the artist was pleased!
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/2010-odyssey-two/
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Alaric Snell-Pym@MichaelWhelan dude... You did the covers for a large fraction of the most influential books of my childhood.
Gabeuscorpus@MichaelWhelan I loved this cover, and the book inside it!
Son of a Sailor@MichaelWhelan Another classic cover for a classic book (that I have in my library 🙂).
John Siracusa@MichaelWhelan I didn’t know this was one of yours. I have such a vivid memory of this cover!
Billthoo@MichaelWhelan I’m pretty sure I bought the book with this cover.
Owlet of Minerva@MichaelWhelan Oh, wow. I remember having my 13-year-old mind blown by this book. The cover was just perfect.
(And the colors blended rather well with the horizon through my window – I read it in one stretch on a trans-Pacific flight.)
Darkedge@MichaelWhelan such a good image. Would love it as a high quality framed print on my wall - do you sell it anywhere??
@Darkedge Not currently but if you send in a request thru the website we’ll let you know if/when we make it available.
J. Peterson@MichaelWhelan I remember that cover so well! Was a huge ACC fan then, and bought the book as soon as it came out.
aproitzWow ! A beautiful #Image for this beloved #Film of mine. Very good #Implementation.
sunsetkindaguy@MichaelWhelan I’ve always been so blown away by this. Gorgeous, evocative and powerful.