Michael Whelan

CROWN OF SHADOWS (1995)
Acrylic on Panel - 28" x 22"

There's something in the complexity of an anti-hero that grabs the attention of readers. Such rich characters naturally provide an illustrator with opportunity to revel in the shadows. 1/4

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #csfriedman #coldfiretrilogy

Jul 14, 2025 at 3:08pmWeb
Show threadMichael WhelanJul 14, 2025
So it went with Gerald Tarrant in C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy. His prolonged life, gained through tragic means, dominates a dark fantasy set on an alien world more than a millennia after colonization. 2/4
Show threadMichael WhelanJul 14, 2025
Surrounded by an energy field sensitive to human thought and subject to constant seismic activity, the planet Erna itself serves as antagonist as detailed in the hostile alien environs on each cover. 3/4
Show threadMichael WhelanJul 14, 2025

Cover illustration for CROWN OF SHADOWS by C.S. Friedman (DAW) 4/4

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/crown-of-shadows/

Show threadMichael WhelanJul 15, 2025
I found better scans of the color concepts, so I updated the images in the thread.
Show threadhexamanderJul 14, 2025
@MichaelWhelan This is one of my favorite pieces of artwork, and has inspired me for years. It's so cool to see the thought you put into its creation.