Yet another cover for the Weinbaum book

I've decided that I'm not happy with the fairly crude rocket-ship and Mars version of the cover (as in the icon), so I've reworked the best Red Peri picture instead, and gone for a smaller picture centered on the page rather than a solid graphic background - apart from other considerations, it'll be easier to print, and I like the way the title breaks the margins.

( Peri Cover )

The original picture converts to a reasonably nice monochrome line trace which works well as an interior illustration if I reduce it fairly small.

( Line art )

Any thoughts?

Later Decided to go with a colour version of the Mars picture as the interior illo.

( Colour version )

Strange but true...

Doorbell just rang as I was nibbling some nachos. Although I half-expected it to be someone peddling religion, as is usually the case if the bell rings on a Sunday, I went down to take a look.

Standing there is a stranger holding a large book, who says "Marcus Rowland?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Frank Jacobs, and I've brought you a copy of my book!"

The book is Strange Maps, An Atlas of Cartographic Curiosities (UK details here), and he's apparently touring and leaving copies with people who contributed material - my bit was from an article called What The World May Come To, which proves that one day the Earth will be a tetrahedron.

To say that I was surprised is putting it mildly - I couldn't even get him to come in for coffee, and by the time I thought of giving him a copy of my collected works he was long gone. I'll have to post him some stuff instead...

Anyway, his web site is here and there's a livejournal feed as strangemaps which I thoroughly recommend. And the book is REALLY nice!

Last Io pic - a Parcat

This is another manip from a 1900-ish source. The Parcat is described as an animal with one foot, two front paws, and the ability to mimic sounds. I'm imagining them as living with people somewhat like a cat or a parrot, e.g. jumping up to the table to get scraps, as in this picture. Any thoughts?