by Vincent DiFate and Ian Summers
DiFate is one of the top illustrators of science fiction, and most of the 53 paintings in this book appeared first as covers or illustrations for the works of writers like Robert Heinlein, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Ursula K. Le Guin. Unlike some sci-fi artists, DiFate is not all hard-edge and airbrush slickness. His works are always paintings-a bit of his brushwork shows-and they are all the better because of it. Among the future marvels that he depicts are space stations, an orbital hospital, an interplanetary freighter, all kinds of weaponry, a sky station and space colonies. DiFate, book designer Ian Summers and writer Beth Meachem are less successful with subjects like cyborgs, androids and robots (the Star Wars duo is far more convincing), but the hardware of the future is completely convincing. Handsome blueprint-style drawings add a further touch of authenticity. (Workman, $17.95; $8.95 paperback)
Your Reaction
