Spectrum 7: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 7) [Paperback]

Cathy Fenner (Editor), Arnie Fenner (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art | Publication Date: September 30, 2000

The year's most exciting fantastic illustrations, from science fiction imagery to futuristic erotica, by artists from around the world The Spectrum annual, now in its seventh year, has established itself as the premier venue for science-fiction art. Drawn from work created for advertisements, books, comics, magazines, art galleries, and the portfolios of some of the finest fantastic artists working today, the illustrations in this collection extend the boundaries of the imagination and explore new realms of creativity. Spectrum 7 promises to be the most exciting edition yet, packed with over 200 full-color paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Michael Whelan (12-time Hugo Award winner), James Christensen (The Voyage of the Bassett), James Gurney (Dinotopia), Gregory Manchess (artist for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace), Bob Eggleton (The Book of Sea Monsters), and scores of others. This edition also features an illustrated tribute to Grand Master Award recipient Alan Lee (Faeries, Black Ships Before Troy).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Each year's volume is better than the previous. Highly recommended!" - Locus"

About the Author

Arnie Fenner is art director for Andrews & McMeel Publishing. Cathy Fenner is a graphic designer for Hallmark Cards. Winners of the prestigious Locus and Hugo awards for book design, they live in Overlook Park, Kansas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Underwood Books (September 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887424555
• ISBN-13: 978-1887424554
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great inspirations....., June 7, 2001

By 

Collin M. David "allnerdreview" (Putnam Valley, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spectrum 7: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 7) (Paperback)

I love the Spectrum series, and this one fits in with the rest of them perfectly. While much of the art is truly innovative and skilled, there are always a good number of pieces that slip by the judges as 'quality' and make it into the book, making it disappointing at times. Next to the well-chosen genius of Dave McKean, Phile Hale, Tony DiTerlizzi and the like, we are oppositely bombarded with the cliches that make fantasy art laughable - large chested, scantily clad women done without skill or grace. I mean, what's up with the devil-chick on page 74? More and more quick photoshop 'works' are worming their way into the competition, making the painter obsolete and reducing the real intellectual thought, whimsy and quality of this series.

I'll collect 'em anyhow. It's an amazing source of inspiration for the aspiring fantasy illustrator. If not from the great works, the poor works, at which one can say 'I can do better than that, ...!' [and then try their hand at it]

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectrum Does it Again, October 12, 2000

By 

Dustin Van Wechel "dustinv" (Gilbert, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spectrum 7: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (No. 7) (Paperback)

For anyone who enjoys art of the fantastic or sci-fi, the Spectrum series has become the definitive source for the years best in these fields.

And Spectrum 7 is no disappointment. In fact, from my own perspective, this years Spectrum is superior to the last three years' editions. It provides some of the most imaginative and perfectly executed works of wonder I have had the pleasure of viewing in a VERY long time. Well, since last years Spectrum. Works by Palencar, Hale, Jusko, Brom and many, many other "new" artists are absolutely beautiful.

I just want to thank Arnie and Kathy Fenner for bringing these books to the fantasy & and sci-fi loving public. Please keep them coming!

And with a little luck, some of my work will be shown in next years annual. We'll see...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book I still pull out and go through from front to back., January 27, 2004

By 

Kill the Robots (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectrum 7: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art) (Hardcover)

I bought this from Amazon over 2 years ago (just getting around to rating it :)) and it is still near the top of my read pile. This book has made me want to collect the entire series. Top quality.