Artist Todd Lockwood has created a gorgeous anatomical study of a dragon for the cover of the upcoming book The Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent, transcribed by Marie Brennan and itself a Victorian-era exploration of the evolution of dragons. The book doesn’t arrive until February of next year (preorder it here) but we had to share the cover with you now. Because dragons.
You can read more about this book below. We’ve also created free wallpapers you can download for iPhone/iPad/desktop/etc. Pick your size below.
About The Natural History of Dragons:
All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.
Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.
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Lockwood’s dragons fit my imaginary ideals perfectly and are so well executed – they are the standard by which i judge all others.
Hm, that cover reminds me of the Draconomicon a lot.
The Draconomicon featured a lot of art by Lockwood – including the cover.
Todd has been “the” dragon guy for a while. Well deserved. He’ll aslo be doing a few interrior drawings for the book.
WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME TODD LOCKWOOD WAS DOING THE COVER? Oh that is fan-frickin’-tastic! I was excited about this book before, now I’m positively drooling.
Yeah. My house is filled with Seba’s Cabinet of Natural Curiosities drawings, so this appeals on the naturalist level as well as the fantasy/geek/art level. So, I believe the phrase is, to put it mildly, “shut up and take my money”.
Oh my.
Please tell me there will be a book of colour illustrations. (I know, I know. But a girl can dream, right?)
Thanks, MatthewB, that obviously explains it.
Torvald — not only that, but Todd’s art in the Draconomicon is one of the things that inspired this series! The naturalistic drawings, along with all the “life cycle of dragons” type information in that book, got me thinking about people going out to study dragons instead of killing them and taking their stuff. :-) I was delighted beyond words when we managed to get him for this novel.
Nitpick, I’m sure, but this isn’t “free wallpapers”, this is one wallpaper in multiple sizes. I have a dual monitor setup, this art is beautiful and I would have LOVED to have a different image for each monitor. :(
Thanks for the great wallpaper, nonetheless. :)
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