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The Art of Michael Whelan · Aug 26, 2026

PARADISE

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Michael Whelan · The Art of Michael Whelan

Holding a tall spear topped with red feathers, a humanoid alien oversees a herd grazing on lush grassland. A bright contrail arcs down into a pocket of billowing clouds, but because the alien is turned in profile it's not clear whether it notices. The alien has yellow eyes with tall thin pupils. Its elongated head slopes gradually with pointed ears set far back. Blue fur on its long slender neck resembles gills. It wears an assortment of native jewelry on its neck, upper arm, and wrists.
PARADISE (1989), Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28” x 38”

Though it is a very different novel, Mike Resnick's Paradise recalls for me some of the themes in Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. This similarity is echoed in the use of the descending contrail, a device I used in the sky of the cover art for the latter book. In both paintings, the symbol stands for the same idea: mankind’s arrival signals the end of a beautiful native balance and harmony.

Alternative concept for PARADISE, Acrylic on Illustration Board, 9” x 6”. An ape-like humanoid sits in profile on a rock overlooking a prairie. Behind him, thorny branches of a barren tree extend front of blue skies. A contrail arcs down past clouds dark and light. There is no dragon in the concept and the spear tip is longer.
Alternative concept for PARADISE

The fact that the book is an allegory for the discovery and destruction of Africa-Kenya, in particular gives the book a potent immediacy and a pang of sadness. There seem to be no sure answers to the problems facing those living either in Resnick's world or in present day Africa.

LEFT: Creature studies for PARADISE, Graphite Pencil on Paper, 12" x 9". A variety of creatures inspired by African wildlife but made alien. From top left, a tall necked beast, a nimble herd beast, a bird with buzzard like ring of its neck, a pair of pachyderms, and herd beasts with a pair of horns atop their heads and one protruding from the snout. RIGHT: Head study for PARADISE, Graphite Pencil on Paper, 12" x 9". An ape-like alien in profile. It has a flat nose and sloping forehead that arches back over huge almond eyes. Three gill-like flaps form on its long, slender neck.
Creature studies and head study for PARADISE

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LEFT: Figure detail from PARADISE featuring the alien herdsman holding a spear to its chest as its large glassy eyes focus on something off panel left. Blue plumage drapes gill-like on its long slender neck. Behind it pink and peach clouds billow across the savannah. RIGHT: Background detail from PARADISE featuring the herd of stocky alien pachyderms migrating across the grass of the savannah. Horns protrude from their cheeks pointing forward. LEFT: Figure detail from PARADISE featuring the alien herdsman holding a spear to its chest as its large glassy eyes focus on something off panel left. Blue plumage drapes gill-like on its long slender neck. Behind it pink and peach clouds billow across the savannah. RIGHT: Background detail from PARADISE featuring the herd of stocky alien pachyderms migrating across the grass of the savannah. Horns protrude from their cheeks pointing forward.
Details from PARADISE
Book cover for PARADISE by Mike Resnick, published by TOR Books
Paradise by Mike Resnick (TOR)

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Read the original on theartofmichaelwhelan.substack.com ↗

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