"Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss " Topic

Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss : 240 pp, Titan Books 2011, 24 cm x 31 cm

This book is a beauty.

Titan Books have released Hardware as a large hardcover. There is no dustjacket; the title panel is matte and the cover art has a gloss finish, with a matte "F" logo superimposed that is only visible from an angle. There is minimal text; an introduction by Rian Hughes, an interview of Mr. Foss by Imogene Foss, and two short essays by artist Jean "Moebius" Giraud and film director Alejandro Jodorowsky. Ten pages altogether. The text presentation is the weakest part of the book, set in a four column format and using an odd sans-serif font.

Most of the book is occupied by reproductions of Foss' paintings, spanning the years 1962-2008. Many of the reproductions occupy a full page; a few are given two-page spreads. There are sections devoted to designs Foss did for Alien and for Jodorowsky's abortive Dune film. There is also a sampling of aviation and marine art. The bulk of the book is filled with Foss' spaceship art. His ships are variously angular, curvaceous, asymmetric. Their surfaces are lavished with pattern and color. They convey an impression of immense size and unknowable purpose. Under Foss' brush space itself is luminous, suffused with vivid color and atmospheric effects, which further help to establish scale. One may see why Foss became such an influential figure in the SF illustration world.

I bought this book a few years ago, and it remains one of my favorites. Every SF art fan should give it a look (and it would make a great Christmas gift).

link

Ron

I own this book and if you can get it at a good price then it is well worth it. To me Foss sums up the space opera theme of starships and this book has everything you need in it.

But be careful you will need strong wrists to hold it up while reading!

GBS
theionage.com

Very nice indeed. I do love Mr Foss's work. Brilliant work both from a gamers point of view and a lover of neo-realism in artwork.

Bagged it on Amazon.co.uk for £19.99 GBP hardback, thanks for the recommendation, loved his work.