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 "Protector"
(From the book "Solar Wind")
By :
Deborah Susan Jones :
Editor
"Phsthpok
(the Pak).
A Protector.
Humans are, according to Larry Niven, descended
from the Pak. It is a fighting machine "with armour-like skin,
super-human strength and super-human intelligence". Far more
intelligent than ordinary humans. But this super intelligence serves
only to protect its bloodline at any costs.
 To the Artist this triggered thought patterns thus >
"As
everyone knows, the "classic" view of the Alien in Science Fiction is
that of "Little Green Men" who carry ray guns that are a threat to
humanity; have a different ethos to the rest of us and generally spell
trouble and - being British - for me conjured-up childhood memories of
Eagle Comics and Dan Dare and the Mekon."
"Completed on the 16th September 1978, by
this date my Science Fiction work was selling extremely well and the
Publisher of the Niven Books, in the UK and Commonwealth market (Futura
Publications) was increasingly supportive of my work because the sales
figures were enviable, a result of my illustrative approach which was
loosely based around the idea of representing cliches and classic SF
concepts in a more plausible modern way. However, in the case of the
Protector Artwork I was of the view that even with the reputation I had
gained, the Publisher would baulk at my cover proposal - further
exacerbated by the rumour emanating from New York that a "green" SF
cover produced by one of the notable American Artists of the time had
been a commercial failure, the logic being that "Green" covers were
synonymous with bile, puss, puke etc.
"In
my gut I felt this was nonsense because British TV adverts were showing
cows munching on green grass for a famous butter manufacturer. So, I
rang the Art Director Patrick Mortemore, who I'd gotten to know well
and took a risk and said: "If I show you what I am going to do (in a
preparatory visual) you won't let me do it - but I'm convinced it will
work so - I will do the picture without showing you and when I bring it
in, if you reject it, I'll paint whatever you suggest." Patrick laughed
and, always keen to take risks to get great cover art, he said "OK".
"I did not go
out of the Studio for a whole week and when I took the painting to the
Art Director he liked it immediately and from then on whilst it was
hardly the last time I took such risks or caused Art Directors anxiety,
I do not recall ever having to submit preparatory visuals ever again
(though I always produced them for my own purposes)."
The picture has been a commercial success as a significant image in our SOLAR WIND PICTURE LIBRARY.
"Protector"
was published by Futura Publications - a 1973 novel by Larry Niven, set
in his KNOWN SPACE universe. Peter did the cover for the UK &
Commonwealth market edition, one of a series of books on the Paks and
their history - books that are literate and visually well described -
and amusing.
Well worth a read!
Deborah Susan Jones
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