Spectrum 9: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art

This annual showcase gathers the best of contemporary fantastic illustration. Its pictures come from novels, comic books, magazines, gallery exhibitions and advertising, as well as from the personal portfolios of leading working artists. The ninth volume reaches wider than its predecessors, with contributions from creators based in the United States, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Canada and France. Seven sections organize the work, one of them given over to comics. Among the illustrators featured are James Gurney, known for the Dinotopia books, Brom, who has worked in film design, Michael Whelan, a ten-time Hugo winner, and Leo and Diane Dillon, both Caldecott Medal winners. A reference index lists how to reach each artist, and an extended illustrated review of the year opens the book, placing the field in context. Roughly 300 full-color pictures fill its pages.