Michael WhelanMar 30

THE CAVES OF STEEL (1986)

Acrylic - 18" x 30"



The composition of this painting is dictated by the "caves" metaphor running through the narrative and reflected in the title. The figures of Baley and Daneel are surrounded by the vast metal "cave" of an Earthly city. 1/4

#sciencefiction #illustration #isaacasimov #delreybooks

Show threadMichael Whelan
The political tension which provides a nervous undercurrent to the narrative is indicated in the stickers and posters stuck on the escalators—a part of city life since Pompeii and visible, of course, in any contemporary metropolis today. 2/4
Mar 30 at 1:29pmWeb
Show threadMichael WhelanMar 30
The problem here was how to reveal Daneel as a robot when he is described as looking exactly like a human being! Fortunately there are a couple of scenes in the book where Daneel "opens up"–literally–and reveals his inner makeup to Bailey. 3/4
Show threadMichael WhelanMar 30

Cover illustration for THE CAVES OF STEEL by Isaac Asimov (Del Rey) 4/4

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/caves-of-steel/

Show threadGabriel NMar 30
@MichaelWhelan that’s one of the most fun Asimov Novels!
Show threadD. G. MarshallMar 31

@wtrmt @MichaelWhelan

I remember reading that Asimov wrote it because his (agent? editor?) said you couldn't write a mash-up of two genres.

So Asimov wrote a Science Fiction Murder Mystery to prove you could, in fact, write such a thing.

Show threadKerr AvonsenMar 31
@MichaelWhelan I also find it intriguing that Lije Baley is pale and washed out -- wearing grey/black clothes (with just a little highlight of red), his hair is dark and bleached, his skin is the pasty colour of someone who never sees the sun -- and by contrast, R. Daneel Olivaw has bronzed skin, brown hair, brown trousers, and sky-blue top. Was that deliberate?
Show threadMichael Whelan6d ago
@kerravonsen Yes, I had thought of that when composing the figures. I’m glad someone noticed! Thanks for examining my painting so closely!
Show threadWhat A Charming House1d ago
@MichaelWhelan This one takes us way back.