Michael WhelanMichaelWhelan@mastodon.art

Nov 2, 2026, 1:56 PM

THE SUMMER QUEEN (1990)
Acrylic on Panel - 36” x 24”

I was glad to learn that Joan Vinge was writing a sequel to The Snow Queen, and even more so when I got a call from Warner Books for the cover assignment. 1/7

#sciencefiction #illustration #joandvinge #warnerbooks

A woman in ornate headdress and leafy yellow cloak holds out two glass vials. One is accented in black with a skull decorating the slender handle of the stopper. The other vial is decorated with a gold swirl leading to a Celtic shield knot. Her young face is covered by a mask of pointy yellow leaves with a gold and green border framing her blue eyes. A motley pattern of butterfly wings peeks out underneath; a purple butterfly is centered above her forehead. Bells hang from her ear which is covered by a single pink rose. A hint of white hair mixes with beaded necklaces covering her neck. Wild grass sweeps off the top of the mask. The tall headdress is laden with symbols. Central among them is a sun with a stylized biohazard symbol at its center.