Helix and the Sword

From the book by John C. McLoughlin, commissioned and published by Baen Books, 1983

This was one of the weirdest covers I ever did.

Set on Earth 5000 years in the future, the world is in a medieval culture, but space travel still exists-as an organic technology of living beings, as space stations, and propulsion systems. The coiled creatures at left, uncoil to shoot out ships travelling to and from destinations.

And an artifact-a metal ship from the past, is found...

Gouache on Masonite, 17" x 28"