TANGLED UP IN BLUE (2000) by Michael Whelan, cover for the book by Joan Vinge.
I remember fondly poring over dozens of preliminary concepts when Michael was painting this cover. The book is set on Tiamat during the time of The Snow Queen. Naturally his imagination was pushing overdrive and my interest was piqued.
As always, his sense of SF fashion is inspired, and it’s his use of a simplified palette that makes the constrast of textures in the costuming and environment pop.
Not surprisingly, his covers for Joan Vinge are among my favorites.
Source: michaelwhelan.com
