We’re very excited to be able to show-off the latest Todd Lockwood cover for Marie Brennan’s next Lady Trent novel, The Voyage of the Basilisk. It’s always fun to work on something that looks a little different than the rest of our list. Once we established the “naturalist journal” look and feel of the series on book one, A Natural History of Dragons, the tone was perfectly set for the rest of the series. I have to admit, at this point I feel a little guilty—after a few fairly easy decisions are sussed out, I can just sit back and watch Todd to do his magic.
Check below for the full wrap-around cover image!
Todd Lockwood told us:
“I’ve always loved science. It informs my understanding of the visible world. Not only animals have anatomy. Mountains and trees, clouds and rivers, stars and planets—even movement—have structure that can be described. With Marie Brennan’s covers, I get to explore what things look like in a way that is a complete change of pace for me. They’re loads of fun to do.”
Clearly Marie is happy with the results so far:
“I almost feel sorry for any future cover artists assigned to work on my books. The images Todd Lockwood has produced for this series are so phenomenal, anybody else is going to have a lot to measure up to! He and Irene Gallo have hit upon a beautiful, iconic look — very clean and precise, clearly part of a set while still allowing for variation, and standing out quite distinctly from the crowd. Authors can go their whole careers without lucking out like this.”
I’m looking forward to working on book four!
Voyage of the Basilisk will be out in March of 2015 and will feature interior illustrations by Todd Lockwood. Below is the synopsis for this latest Lady Trent adventure:
Devoted readers of Lady Trent’s earlier memoirs, A Natural History of Dragons and The Tropic of Serpents, are well aware of how Isabella Camherst first achieved a degree of fame (not to mention notoriety) as an adventurous dragon naturalist who seldom let danger or social convention stand in the way of unraveling the thorny mysteries of draconic taxonomy. Those familiar with her illustrious career may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed—until now.
Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist who interests converge with Isabella’s in ways both professional and personal.
Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella’s life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons.
