Most of the time when I post here, I’m blogging about covers that I’ve done, or the books they represent. Not the case with the cover you see on your left. Next Saturday, I’ll have the honor of commemorating Ed Emshwiller’s induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in Seattle. I’ll be presenting his posthumous award, as he’s inducted that evening along with Gene Wolfe, Gene Roddenberry and Ridley Scott. Serious artillery there!

I suspect most sf/fantasy fans have at least a glancing knowledge of Wolfe, Roddenberry, and Scott. However, some may know very little about Ed Emshwiller’s work. A shame, but if so, here’s some great news. Luis Ortiz has put together a stunning book called EMSHWILLER INFINITY X TWO: THE ART AND LIFE OF ED AND CAROL EMSHWILLER (Nonstop Press). Introductions are by Carol Emshwiller and Alex Eisenstein. Packed with a lifetime of Emsh’s art and personal photos of the Emshwillers, it’s a riveting bio of their lives and times. I highly, highly recommend it. On the surface, it would seem that Emsh’s career as a Hugo Award-winning illustrator (five-time Hugo Award winner, in fact) was very different from his career as a pioneering experimental filmmaker. However, the two were very much born of the same brew of technical fascination, intuitive genius, and sheer vision. Emsh was an artist, if there ever was one. My hat’s off to Ortiz for his diligent research and thoroughness. Carol offers balance and perspective, and the whole package presents a very inspiring account of two artists’ shared lives. Bud Plant Comic Art has copies right now. So does DreamHaven Books. If you’re at all interested in the creation of art, this book’s a real treasure.