Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Signed by the author

Deluxe limited edition number 312/350
Published by Tor, 2024

 

Binding completed in 2025. 

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Private collection.

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Design Statement

For this design, I drew inspiration from the vividly described sky and chaotic ecosystem of the planet Kiln. Kiln’s sky is a striking blue interspersed with swarms of yellow-black aerial plankton that emphasizes to the protagonist just how far he's traveled from home. I utilized this unsettling color scheme of bold yellow contrasted sharply with black to capture Kiln’s uncomfortable and jarring atmosphere.

The covers feature otherworldly forms appearing to grow organically, accented by hints of bioluminescence. On the spine, shapes evoke imagery of cells dividing, reinforcing the theme of a strange, evolving ecosystem. Opening the book reveals a vibrant burst of color and a net-like pattern that expands dynamically, echoing the planet’s constant state of transformation and unpredictability.

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