Artist Spotlight: The Art Of . . . Jessica Roux

I've previously showcased a few of my favourite pop culture and vintage pulp artists, and each weekend I showcase art from more of my favourite artists.

The art of Jessica Roux.

#ArtOfTheDay: 'Sword Of Ages' by Miguel Mercado

Variant cover art by Miguel Mercado for 'Sword Of Ages' issue #1, published November 2017 by IDW Publishing

Book Review: 'Better Worlds' A Science Fiction Project About Hope from The Verge

'Better Worlds' is a collection of 11 optimistic science fiction short stories that is billed as a science fiction project about hope, and is available to read for free on The Verge website.

As is the way with some anthologies I've read, I found the collection a bit hit and miss with their stories. There were more hits than misses though as I did enjoy the majority of them, in particular 'A Theory Of Flight' by Justina Ireland - a story about a daring plan to build an open-source rocket could help more people escape Earth; 'A Model Dog' by John Scalzi - about an overbearing CEO that demands that his employees engineer a solution to his dad’s aging dog; and 'Monsters Come Howling In Their Season' by Cadwell Turnbull - about an island commonwealth that integrates an AI to defend itself against a worsening hurricane season.

The stories, although set in the near future, really a modern and current feel to them, with their real world settings and world building giving you a sense that technology in the future can be a benefit and inspire hope for humankind, plus with LGBT and POC characters as some of the main players in the stories, 'Better Worlds' also shows that the future portrayed in this anthology is assuredly a diverse and sanguine one.

Overall, 'Better Worlds' is something a bit different and was a pleasant change to read Sci-Fi that takes a more optimistic view of technology in the future instead of the dystopia that sometimes seems to be the default for science fiction.

Artist Spotlight: The Art Of . . . Jesper Ejsing

I've previously showcased a few of my favourite pop culture and vintage pulp artists, and each weekend I showcase art from more of my favourite artists.

The art of Jesper Ejsing.

#ArtOfTheDay: 'Conan The Barbarian & Red Sonja' by Boris Vallejo

Cover art by Boris Vallejo for 'The Savage Sword of Conan The Barbarian' issue #1, published August 1974 by Curtis / Marvel Comics

#CoolArt: New Star Wars Prints by JJ Lendl & Oliver Wetter for Dark Ink Art

New officially licensed 'Star Wars' prints from Dark Ink Art.

• 'Final Confrontation' by JJ Lendl. 16" x 24" lithograph print in a numbered limited edition of 250 for $40

• 'Droides Noir' by Oliver Wetter. 16" x 24" lithograph print in a numbered limited edition of 250 for $40

On sale now from the Dark Ink Art website.

'Final Confrontation' by JJ Lendl

'Droides Noir' by Oliver Wetter

'Spartacus' Exclusive Bluray Steelbook from Zavvi

'Spartacus' exclusive bluray steelbook for £15.99 from Zavvi.

Special features include:

• Deleted scenes
• Archival interviews with Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons
• Behind-The-Scenes footage
• 5 Vintage newsreels
• Image galleries, including Production Stills, Concept Art, Costume Designs, Storyboards, Posters and Print Ads

Available for pre-order Saturday February 23 at 6pm UK from the Zavvi website.

(Release date April 15 2019)

'Wreck It Ralph' Exclusive Mondo Series Bluray Steelbook & T Shirt Bundle from Zavvi

'Wreck It Ralph' exclusive limited edition Mondo bluray steelbook (with box art by Tom Whalen) for £24.99 from Zavvi .

A bundle including a 'Wreck It Ralph' T shirt for £32.99, or separately for £14.99, is also available.

Available for pre-order now from the Zavvi website. (Release date April 1 2019)

#CoolArt: 'Dirge' print by JAW Cooper for Static Medium

'Dirge' by JAW Cooper, a new print release from Static Medium.

16" x 20" Archival inkjet print on Moab Entrada 290gsm Cotton Rag paper, in a signed an numbered limited edition of 44 for $80.

On sale Friday February 22 at 1pm PT from the Static Medium website.

#CoolArt: Haven Gallery presents '居場所: Ibasho' Solo Art Exhibition by Daria Theodora

Haven Gallery presents '居場所: Ibasho', a mini solo exhibition of seven new mixed media artworks by Daria Theodora. Facets of folklore and the natural world intermix with her graceful females as Daria beckons the aesthetics and themes most prevalently found in one of her greatest sources of inspiration, manga.

The opening reception is Saturday February 23 from 6-8pm ET at Haven Gallery, 155 Main Street, Carriage House Square, Northport, NY 11768 with Daria also in attendance.

The exhibition is on view until March 31 2019.

#CoolArt: Haven Gallery presents '万葉集 (Manyoshu): A Collection of Endless Layers', A Solo Exhibition by Daria Aksenova

Haven Gallery presents '万葉集 (Manyoshu): A Collection of Endless Layers', a solo exhibition of twelve new shadowbox artworks by Daria Aksenova, featuring her iconic pen and ink paper cut collages, each containing multiple layers of her suspended illustrations, full of detail and cut precisely to create an illusion of movement and depth.

The opening reception is Saturday February 23 from 6-8pm ET at Haven Gallery, 155 Main Street, Carriage House Square, Northport, NY 11768 with Daria also in attendance.

The exhibition is on view until March 31 2019.

#CoolArt: 'The Omega Hulk' print by Alex Ross for Sideshow Collectibles

'The Omega Hulk' by Alex Ross, originally the cover art for 'Hulk' issue #5 published August 2014 by Marvel Comics, now a new officially licensed print release from Sideshow Collectibles.

18" x 21½" lithograph print, on 100% archival heavyweight 300gsm rag art paper, in a signed limited edition of 200.

On sale for Pre-Order framed for $350 on Friday February 22 between 12pm-3pm PT from the Sideshow Collectibles website.

Any remaining copies will be available for Pre-Order as an unframed edition for $150 from Monday February 25 between 12pm-3pm PT.

#CoolArt: 'Looney Tunes' & 'Gremlins' prints by Dave Perillo for Bottleneck Gallery

New prints by Dave Perillo available through Bottleneck Gallery.

• 'Looney Tunes'. 18" x 24" screen print in a numbered Regular edition of 115 for $40, and a numbered Foil Variant edition of 40 for $50.

• 'Gremlins'. 18" x 24" screen print in a numbered limited edition of 115 for $40.

On sale Friday February 22 at 12pm ET from the Bottleneck Gallery website.

'Looney Tunes' (Regular Edition)

'Looney Tunes' (Foil Variant Edition)

'Gremlins'

#ArtOfTheDay: 'Spider-Man & The Hobgoblin' by Charles Vess

Fold-out poster by Charles Vess that was available with 'The Spectacular Spider-Man' issue #189, published June 1992 by Marvel Comics

#CoolArt: 'Kingdom Hearts' inspired print by Jed Henry

'Keepers Of The Key' by Jed Henry.

12″ x 17″ giclee print on Acid-free handmade Japanese paper in a signed edition for $40.

The bottom left caption loosely translates to "Light conquers darkness".

On sale now from his website.

#CoolArt: 'Destroyer' print by Matt Ryan Tobin for Mondo

'Destroyer' by Matt Ryan Tobin, a new print release from Mondo.

36" x 24" screen print in a numbered limited edition of 150 for $45.

On sale Thursday February 21 at a random time from the Mondo website. Follow them on Twitter @MondoNews for the on sale announcement.

#CoolArt: 'Black Panther' prints by Martin Ansin for Mondo

'Black Panther' by Martin Ansin, a new officially licensed print release from Mondo.

24" x 36" screen print in a numbered Regular edition of 375 for $60, and a numbered Variant edition of 200 for $80.

On sale Thursday February 21 at a random time from the Mondo website. Follow them on Twitter @MondoNews for the on sale announcement.

(only available for shipping to United States, its territories and possessions, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom)

Regular Edition

Variant Edition

#CoolArt: 'The Shining' & 'Jaws' AP Edition prints by JC Richard

Officially licensed AP edition prints by JC Richard.

• 'The Shining'. 36" x 24" screen prints in signed and numbered AP editions, including a limited amount of matching numbered sets.

• 'Jaws: The Chase' by JC Richard, 36" x 12" screen print in a Titled Regular AP edition and an Untitled Variant AP edition.

On sale on Friday February 22 at 2pm ET from his website.

#CoolArt: 'Spider-Gwen' AP Edition print by Chris Thornley

'Spider-Gwen' by Chris Thornley (Raid71).

18" x 24" screen print in an officially licensed signed and numbered AP edition for £40.

On sale Thursday February 21 at 1pm ET from his website.

Finalists for the 2019 SFWA Nebula Awards Announced

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have announced the finalists for this year’s Nebula Awards for works first published in 2018, along with contenders for the Ray Bradbury and Andre Norton Awards.

Each year, the organization’s members vote on which stories they consider to be the best novel, novella, novelette, short story and Young Adult story in the genre, as well as the best outstanding dramatic presentation.

The Nebula Awards Ceremony will be held from Thursday May 16 through Sunday May 19 at the Marriott Warner Center in Woodland Hills, CA.

Novel

• 'The Calculating Stars', Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• 'The Poppy War', RF Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• 'Blackfish City', Sam J Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• 'Spinning Silver', Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• 'Witchmark', CL Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• 'Trail of Lightning', Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)

Novella

• 'Fire Ant', Jonathan P Brazee (Semper Fi)
• 'The Black God’s Drums', P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• 'The Tea Master and the Detective', Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• 'Alice Payne Arrives', Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• 'Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach', Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• 'Artificial Condition', Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)

Novelette

• 'The Only Harmless Great Thing', Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• 'The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections', Tina Connolly (Tor.com July 11 2018)
• 'An Agent of Utopia', Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• 'The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births', José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed Jan. 2018)
• 'The Rule of Three', Lawrence M Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest Dec. 2018)
• 'Messenger', Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and RR Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)

Short Story

• 'Interview for the End of the World', Rhett C Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• 'The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington', Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside Feb. 2018)
• 'Going Dark', Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• 'And Yet', AT Greenblatt (Uncanny Mar-Apr. 2018)
• 'A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies', Alix E Harrow (Apex Feb. 6 2018)
• 'The Court Magician', Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed Jan. 2018)

Game Writing

• 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch', Charlie Brooker (House of Tomorrow & Netflix)
• 'The Road to Canterbury', Kate Heartfield (Choice of Games)
• 'God of War', Matt Sophos, Richard Zangrande Gaubert, Cory Barlog, Orion Walker, and Adam Dolin (Santa Monica Studio/Sony/Interactive Entertainment)
• 'Rent-A-Vice', Natalia Theodoridou (Choice of Games)
• 'The Martian Job', M. Darusha Wehm (Choice of Games)

The Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

• 'The Good Place: Jeremy Bearimy' (Written by Megan Amram)
• 'Black Panther' (Written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole)
• 'A Quiet Place' (Screenplay by John Krasinski, Bryan Woods, and Scott Beck)
• 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse' (Screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman)
• 'Dirty Computer' (Written by Janelle Monáe and Chuck Lightning)
• 'Sorry To Bother You' (Written by Boots Riley)

The Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy Book

• 'Children of Blood and Bone', Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• 'Aru Shah and the End of Time', Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• 'A Light in the Dark', AK DuBoff (BDL)
• 'Tess of the Road', Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• 'Dread Nation', Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• 'Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword', Henry Lien (Henry Holt)