Spectrum 2: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art

Spectrum #2

by Cathy Fenner (Editor), Arnie Fenner (Editor)

The acclaimed Spectrum series is the premier venue for fantasy and science fiction artwork. The only book to thoroughly address the amazing variety and quality of fantastic art created each year, the release of each annual issue is an eagerly anticipated event for artists, readers, and art directors alike. The early issues in the series had very small print runs, sold out quickly, and today, are much sought-after by collectors. Now in print for the first time in ten years, Spectrum 2 features works by Hugo Award-winner Michael Whelan; Caldecott winners Diane and Leo Dillon; James Gurney, creator of Dinotopia; and more than 200 other pieces created by artists from Germany, England, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and America. Drawn from books, comics, magazines, art galleries, advertisements, and artist’s portfolios, these visionary portraits of the future offer fans an intriguing look at the evolution of fantastic art over the past decade.

Genres: Art, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[ambyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 90s sure were an era. I think my single favorite piece of art in here is Bob Eggleton channeling Lisa Frank, with orcas ascending into a rainbow horizon. It's soothing overall, going back to look through an earlier era when (almost) everything was physical media (there's, like, one piece of digital art in this entire collection, and it is painfully bad by 2020s standards though I'm sure it pushed the graphics capacity of whatever it was drawn on to the limits at the time) and AI generative art wasn't even a glimmer of concern on the horizon.

I wish more of the art was full-page instead of tiny thumbnails, though.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

i remember first coming across the Spectrum art books in my twenties, when i would buy books simply for their dust jackets and hope the story inside wasn't too awful... the art in these books is amazing, creative, imaginary, dreamlike, fascinating, and ultimately full of life and the love of wonder and wondrous things... i would own them all if i could... extremely highly recommended...

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

These used to be shorter.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another lovely collection of art works for this second year! I especially loved pieces by Brian Froud, Les Edwards, John Howe, Donato Giancola, Brom, James Gurney, Scott Gustafson, Stephen Youll, Charles Vess, Thomas Blackshear II, Rick Berry, Ezra Tucker, Michael Whelan (That's the album cover for Meat Loaf?!), Bob Eggleton, and Dennis Nolan.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love fantasy and SiFi art of any type; paintings, drawings, sculpture, cartoons then this is the book for you. Fantastic selection of the years art. You can't help but find something you like inside. Highly recommended

[Winter Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My significant other contributed this reprint of a long unavailable earlier edition to my collection for Yule. I just love these. The art is incredible.

[Carly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic compilation of fantasy art. Comes out yearly (every Novemeber). Awesome series!!!!

[James L]

Picked this up at the big sale at HalfPrice Books