Spectrum: The First Annual Collection of the Best in Contemporary Fantasic Art (SPECTRUM (UNDERWOOD BOOKS)) Paperback – Import, 1 October 1994

awesome service!!!

Arrived on time in good condition and at a good price . perfect .

Who knew that this would be the first of the Fenners' twenty annual collections of fantasy art? Well, if quality of material and presentation have anything to do with it, that should have been the give-away.This first volume sets the pattern. It features well-known fantasy artists, including Brom, Royo, Jon J. Muth, and Shaun Tan (to name only a few), plus dozens of less-known but by no means lesser artists. Media cover the whole range, including oils, watercolor, pencil, gouache, and scratchboard - digital artwork appears but, unlike a decade or two later, is relatively rare. And, like everything else about this collection, moods and styles cover the spectrum - goofy and humorous, pin-up glamorous, heroic, noir, romantic, demonic, and often some mix.Considering the quality of work here, I'm almost ashamed to admit to favorites. A few pieces really stood out for me, though. Extracts from Tan's "The Arrival" appear, and remind me of how much I enjoyed that book. Sculptural pieces, including "Sunsatiable" and "Robot Gangster Mouse" demonstrate (respectively) wonderful skill and humor. DiTerlizzi's gouache "Succubus" shows both. Whelan's "Asylum", in a stark, imagined setting captures a feeling - I'm not sure what, but desperation and defeat must be part of the mix.But, as someone once said, "writing about art is like dancing about architecture." There's just no way to convey, in words, any one of these remarkable works, let alone the ensemble as a whole. Whether you're an artist looking for inspiration, or art fan just looking, this book will repay the time you spend with it - no matter how manny times you come back to it.-- wiredweird

Marked as "good" but it's in excellent condition. Super pleased.

Book in beautiful condition and very well taken care of -- the seller had added an additional clean, crisp plastic cover on top of the dust jacket to protect it. Minor wear on the corners of the covers under the dust jacket, but all in all, nicer than I expected. The dust jacket cover was a nice touch and will keep this book looking good for years to come. The book itself is a beautifully printed edition and a fascinating artistic and (now) historical reference. Gorgeous cover art by James Gurney.