“King Dragon” by Andrew J. Offutt. Ace Science Fiction 44469-5 (October 1980). First printing. Cover art by Rowena.
“Doyle and Haggard, Burroughs and Howard gave us the LOST WORLD novel. Science took it away. Now Science Gives it Back.
“From deep space came a signal, sent just under a thousand years before: a planet called Jauhar al-Ajr, third from its sun and of a type that could be made livable for human beings, was being terraformed as an experiment in observed evolution. Aboard the now ancient ship sent to colonize the planet were embryos modified by genetic engineering: feline, canine, ursine, saurian. And perhaps – but only pehaps – human.
“For a thousand years these creatures have developed on an alien world – into what? What strange quirks has the planet Jauhar al-Ajr imposed on the development of the species that on Earth became cats, dogs, bears, lizards . . . and men. After a thousand years of isolation, Earth means to find out. The mission will be dangerous, but it will be the making of everyone aboard. A lost world in space, ready for exploration, the world of KING DRAGON.” [From the back cover].
Includes 50 glorious black and white illustrations inside by famed Esteban Maroto.
American artist Rowena Morrill (1944–2021) who did the cover was famous for her influential science fiction and fantasy illustrations, particularly for paperback covers. She was one of the first female artists to significantly impact the paperback cover art industry.
“King Dragon” by Andrew J. Offutt. Ace Science Fiction 44469-5 (October 1980). First printing. Cover art by Rowena.
“Doyle and Haggard, Burroughs and Howard gave us the LOST WORLD novel. Science took it away. Now Science Gives it Back.
“From deep space came a signal, sent just under a thousand years before: a planet called Jauhar al-Ajr, third from its sun and of a type that could be made livable for human beings, was being terraformed as an experiment in observed evolution. Aboard the now ancient ship sent to colonize the planet were embryos modified by genetic engineering: feline, canine, ursine, saurian. And perhaps – but only pehaps – human.
“For a thousand years these creatures have developed on an alien world – into what? What strange quirks has the planet Jauhar al-Ajr imposed on the development of the species that on Earth became cats, dogs, bears, lizards . . . and men. After a thousand years of isolation, Earth means to find out. The mission will be dangerous, but it will be the making of everyone aboard. A lost world in space, ready for exploration, the world of KING DRAGON.” [From the back cover].
Includes 50 glorious black and white illustrations inside by famed Esteban Maroto.
American artist Rowena Morrill (1944–2021) who did the cover was famous for her influential science fiction and fantasy illustrations, particularly for paperback covers. She was one of the first female artists to significantly impact the paperback cover art industry.