Hey, science fiction artists! Stop anthropomorphizing space stations and outposts! Just because a space station is run by artificial intelligences doesn't mean it has to look human — where are all the giant space lions these days? Actually, just kidding — this humanoid floaty station looks cool and impassive, and totally makes us want to pick up the new Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, whose cover it adorns. It's an illustration by artist Fredrik Fahlstad for the cover story, "The Roberts," and it's that rare cover that actually makes us curious about the accompanying story, especially with the head-wires the bits floating off the many-handed edifice, and what looks like a bullet-train below. [Mondolithic Studios]

4:00 PM on Thu May 1 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
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14 comments

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Aethyr at 04:46 PM on 05/01/08
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So like. What's the story?
Charlie Jane Anders at 05:08 PM on 05/01/08
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@Aethyr: No idea, it's not out yet.
Priam at 05:09 PM on 05/01/08
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Kind of reminds me of the Two Great Buddhas of Bamiyan.
Ed Grabianowski at 07:00 PM on 05/01/08
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Looks sort of like a sci-fi version of my favorite artist of all time, Zdzisław Beksiński. [bsd.miki.eu.org]

Beksiński is simply amazing. This cover art is pretty awesome too. :-)
Silver_Back at 09:16 PM on 05/01/08
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Dude...ummm. What? @_@
Ed Grabianowski at 10:47 PM on 05/01/08
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@Silver_Back: The huge impassive faces, monolithic self-disassembling architecture, and bizarre anatomy. All very Beksińskiesque.
strider_mt2k at 04:58 AM on 05/02/08
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Even the city can't hail a cab in this city.
Space_Crime at 05:25 AM on 05/02/08
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Somewhat like a 'Dark City' transformation but morphizing structures.
Gann at 06:07 AM on 05/02/08
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Gundam recycling at its best.
Jeff-Minor at 06:14 AM on 05/02/08
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I think it was the second Batman movie that had all the statue-buildings. It thought it was a very cool looking city scape.
Goodnightbabytron at 07:06 AM on 05/02/08
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What they're not showing you is the the building across the street -- Setebos' Cuttlefish-fry and Soft-Serve Emporium.
Klebert L. Hall at 09:36 AM on 05/02/08
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The building's face looks kinda like Arthur, from The Tick...

-Kle.
Silver_Back at 11:44 PM on 05/02/08
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@Ed Grabianowski: Ah, that explains it all. Seriously, I'm lost. :p
EdwinAegialeia at 12:41 PM on 05/03/08
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BODY { font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px; } Hguys... thanx for the plug. Just a small correction... the illustration is by Kenn Brown and not Frederick F - He is the bloke who designed the wordpress template. Bestest kenn Monolithic Studios 143 Tomaz V. Gomez PH#8 Ladron De Guevarra Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 44600