MikeDunnAuthor
MikeDunnAuthor  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

Today in Labor History January 2, 1921: Karel Čapek’s science fiction play “R.U.R.” premiered. "R.U.R." stands for “Rossum's Universal Robots.” The play introduced the word “robot” to the English language and to the world of science fiction. He derived the word “Robot” from the Czech word for forced labor by Serfs, a derivation he attributed to his brother, Joseph. The play is an archetype for many of the science fiction stories and films that followed, like Bladerunner, West World and Terminator, and others about robots, replicants and hosts that rebel against humans. However, “R.U.R.,” like Čapek’s 1936 novel “War with the Newts,” is also a satirical critique of totalitarianism, which was already on the rise in Europe at the time he wrote the play.

Čapek was opposed to all forms of totalitarianism, including both communism and fascism. As a young man, he worked as a journalist, in Prague, where he wrote on topics such as nationalism, totalitarianism and consumerism. As a teen, he was expelled from his high school for participating in an unauthorized student club, which he later described as a "very non-murderous anarchist society." In 1938, he had the chance to leave for the UK, but refused to leave Czechoslovakia, where the Nazi Gestapo had named him "public enemy number two." He died later that year from pneumonia.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #karelcapek #sciencefiction #scifi #robot #serf #slavery #totalitarianism #satire #play #playwright #theater #film #bladerunner #rebellion @bookstadon

A scene from R.U.R., showing three robots. By Unknown, uploaded to ar.wiki by ar:المستخدم:Classic 971 on 13 July 2006, to en.wiki by en:User:Rocketmagnet on 4 December 2007, to commons by User:Sreejithk2000 on 2 June 2010 - http://www.umich.edu/~engb415/literature/pontee/RUR/RURsmry.html (via ar:ملف:Capek_play.jpg and en:Image:Capek play.jpg), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10522903
A scene from R.U.R., showing three robots. By Unknown, uploaded to ar.wiki by ar:المستخدم:Classic 971 on 13 July 2006, to en.wiki by en:User:Rocketmagnet on 4 December 2007, to commons by User:Sreejithk2000 on 2 June 2010 - http://www.umich.edu/~engb415/literature/pontee/RUR/RURsmry.html (via ar:ملف:Capek_play.jpg and en:Image:Capek play.jpg), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10522903
A scene from R.U.R., showing three robots. By Unknown, uploaded to ar.wiki by ar:المستخدم:Classic 971 on 13 July 2006, to en.wiki by en:User:Rocketmagnet on 4 December 2007, to commons by User:Sreejithk2000 on 2 June 2010 - http://www.umich.edu/~engb415/literature/pontee/RUR/RURsmry.html (via ar:ملف:Capek_play.jpg and en:Image:Capek play.jpg), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10522903
Joachim Boaz
Joachim Boaz  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

Karl Stephan's cover art detail for the 1970 German edition of Men and Machines, ed. Robert Silverberg (1968)

It illustrates Fritz Leiber's "A Bad Day for Sales" (1953)

#scifi #sciencefiction #books #art #artist

Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

A FIGHTING MAN OF MARS (1979)
Acrylic - 24" x 32"

Since I was endeavoring to be the illustrator most faithful to Burroughs' descriptions, Lester del Rey and I had a lengthy discussion about whether the white lizard I wanted to show had six or eight legs. 1/4

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #sff #edgarriceburroughs #johncarter #barsoom

Menacingly, a white, six-legged lizard grips pale rocks rising well above the floor in an expansive cavern. Distant stalactites extend from the ceiling washed in dark pink and purple providing contrast. The lizard perches above twin Barsoomian warriors opening its maw to expose its teeth. As if caught by surprise—evident by the sword still in its scabbard—one of the men is standing upright and poised to attack with just a dagger in hand. His companion crouches warily with a basket-hilt sword held out, tip up. His shoulder length black hair swings forward with motion. A massive bone protrudes from the floor, the ball joint of a femur seemingly larger than the lizard itself. The foreground around it is littered with human bones, swords, and shields.
Menacingly, a white, six-legged lizard grips pale rocks rising well above the floor in an expansive cavern. Distant stalactites extend from the ceiling washed in dark pink and purple providing contrast. The lizard perches above twin Barsoomian warriors opening its maw to expose its teeth. As if caught by surprise—evident by the sword still in its scabbard—one of the men is standing upright and poised to attack with just a dagger in hand. His companion crouches warily with a basket-hilt sword held out, tip up. His shoulder length black hair swings forward with motion. A massive bone protrudes from the floor, the ball joint of a femur seemingly larger than the lizard itself. The foreground around it is littered with human bones, swords, and shields.
Menacingly, a white, six-legged lizard grips pale rocks rising well above the floor in an expansive cavern. Distant stalactites extend from the ceiling washed in dark pink and purple providing contrast. The lizard perches above twin Barsoomian warriors opening its maw to expose its teeth. As if caught by surprise—evident by the sword still in its scabbard—one of the men is standing upright and poised to attack with just a dagger in hand. His companion crouches warily with a basket-hilt sword held out, tip up. His shoulder length black hair swings forward with motion. A massive bone protrudes from the floor, the ball joint of a femur seemingly larger than the lizard itself. The foreground around it is littered with human bones, swords, and shields.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

CHANUR'S HOMECOMING (1986)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" X 18"

This is one of my all-time favorite cover paintings. 1/3

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #cjcherryh #hani

A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

PEEKABOO FUZZIES (1983)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 16" x 22"

The Fuzzy Sapiens created by H. Beam Piper first appeared in the early 1960's and they were a welcome contrast to the menacing aliens that seemed to dominate science fiction of the day. 1/2

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration#hbeampiper

A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

THE DARK TOWER: KA-TET (2003)
Oil on Panel - 28" x 18"

Throughout the Dark Tower series, Stephen King portrayed Roland's group of fighters known as the Ka-Tet as a circle. 1/2

#horror #horrorart #fantasy #sciencefiction #sff #illustration #darktower #stephenking#rolanddeschain #eddiedean #susannahdean#jakechambers #oy #billybumbler

In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
Gerard Thomas ⭕️
Gerard Thomas ⭕️  ·  4 months ago

Content Warning

#RaidMetal The rules are where I want them. Now working on a unit building system so I can come up with some testing scenarios. Catch is making them as simple as the rules yet workable!

https://iamgerardthomas.com/b/TH7

#TTRPG #tabletopgames #tabletop#SciFi#ScienceFiction

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