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
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.