Michael WhelanNOR CRYSTAL TEARS (1981)
Acrylic - 30" x 19”
A favorite theme of mine is the depiction of human-alien interactions. This book deals with the subject so wonderfully that I wanted to make it the focus of attention for the cover painting. 1/4
Several of my other concepts for the cover involve relationships between human children and the Thranx, the intelligent, insect-like species of Foster's imagination. I’ve long thought about developing one of the alternate concepts as a finished painting. 2/4
At any rate, months after delivering the final painting to Don Munson, I was chagrined to note a similar approach for the E.T. movie poster. A coincidence I'm certain, but frustrating! 3/4
Cover illustration for NOR CRYSTAL TEARS by Alan Dean Foster (Del Rey) 4/4
dwardoric@MichaelWhelan Great cover for an awesome book (whole homanx series is very good stuff). =)
sentientsponge@MichaelWhelan I read a lot of Foster as a kid back then, although I can't remember reading this one. I feel like I must have though, because that concept stuck in my head well enough that I put similar insectoid aliens in some of my stories. I was a pretty impressionable kid.
COBOL Dragon, Lady Curmudgeon@MichaelWhelan I wanted to thank you for the image descriptions. I fell in love with Nor Crystal Tears the first time I read it. I reread it just recently and it's still wonderful. I'm totally blind, and your image descriptions helped me appreciate your art. Thank you so much.
@coboldragon Thanks so much for sharing that. I write the alt-text and curate the feed for Michael, and it's always nice to know the descriptions I add are helpful. ~Michael Everett
Vir Cotto@MichaelWhelan I love this book and really like how the cover fit the story in addition to it being pretty. It is one of those books that, to me, flew under the radar and never got the sort of attention I thought it should have.
Deirdre Saoirse Moen@MichaelWhelan Glad I correctly remembered that was an ADF cover. I remember being wowed at it at the time.
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓!At one point, I may have read all of ADF's #Humanx books---#Icerigger---gods know how many times. @MichaelWhelan
Gracious 
Anthracitefuckin' gorgeous
"thranx taking care of kids" is a really interesting idea too but this just really nails it, it's so warm and inviting despite being set in snow.
Virginicus@MichaelWhelan I always liked the shoulder patch.
PastaThief@MichaelWhelan This cover art was a huge part of my childhood. Like, I enjoyed the book, but I only read it the once (I'm not a big re-reader). However, the book remained on my shelf and I looked at the art repeatedly for at least a decade.