More Strange Stars Art

I've shared these on G+, but for the non-Gplussers amongst my readership or those that might have missed them, here's a couple of art pieces from the Strange Stars setting book:

This is a moravec named Lincoln-5 Rhadamanthus-beta-27, a lawyer and judicial duelist in Circus, as rendered by Waclaw Wysocki.

Every sci-fi setting needs its cantina scene, right? This is a rough obviously, but it gives a hint of how great the finished image by David Johnson will be. It showcases a number of different Strange Stars sophonts having a drink somewhere in the Zuran Expanse.

Wednesday Comics: Absolution

Here's the next installment of  Jim Starlin's Metamorphosis Odyssey. The earlier posts in the series can be found here.

"Absolution (Metamorphosis Odyssey Chapter IX)"

Epic Illustrated #6 (June 1981) Story & Art by James Starlin

Synopsis: Using the talisman which holds the secret to the Infinity Horn's location, Aknaton performs a ritual, casts a spell. He reaches out into the void to find something greater than himself. And his call is answered by a being the awestruck Aknaton calls "Ra."

By whatever name, Aknaton begs the entity's help. The entity replies that the need of his worshipers is the whole reason for his existence: what does Aknaton need? Well, Aknaton needs advice--about what he's planning to do.

The entity is aware of the Osirosian plan to destroy the Milky Way. Does Aknaton want to know if it will be successful? Or does he want aid, perhaps?

Neither are Aknaton's desire. He is fully confident in the success of the plan (though the entity points out that in giving the sword to the Byfrexian, Aknaton may have created a variable beyond his control) and he needs no aid. He wants to know if what he is doing is right.

The entity shows him the horrors of the future where he doesn't act. After these visions he asks: "Is the question, do you have the right to play god? Or is it, do you have the duty to play god?"

Aknaton awakens alone, unsure if he actually communed with a god, or did part of him merely conjure the experience for reassurance? No matter:

Aknaton returns to the others. Vanth confronts him about his plans. Aknaton suggests he wouldn't question the plan if he saw the face of Zygoteism--and the future it will bring.

Things to Notice:

• "God" is a pretty standard Starlin cosmic entity.
• Finding the location of the Infinity Horn (the stated reason for this episode seems almost an after-thought.

Commentary: 
The purpose of this chapter seems to be to show the Aknaton's internal conflict regarding what he must do. Starlin chooses to dramatize this in his signature cosmic style, though he toys with the literal reality of the situation and the "god" in a way that is not far off from the sort of thing that might have been seen in a Verigo comic a decade later.

It all comes off as a bit of a cheat, perhaps. Does Aknaton earn his "absolution?" There aren't really any pros and cons to weigh--only pros are presented. The horrors of the Zygoteans are worse, we're told again and again. No additional evidence is really presented here to convince the reader Aknaton is right, though perhaps it makes him a bit more sympathetic by showing he's conflicted.

Biosculptor

A biosculptor is a limited form of bio-assembler, made for the purposes of plastic surgery. It's alterations are not as extensive or as customizable as those available with a trained technician and a full surgical suite (for instance, genetic alteration only of the grossest sort can be performed), but it has the advantage of being portable and easy to use. 

The biosculptor can reduce mass (up to 40%), but not add it appreciably (5%). It cannot create new subcellular assemblies (like chloroplasts in a nonphotosynthetic organism), lay down neural pathways involved in complicated behaviors, or alter body plan extensively (e.g. four-limbed to six-limbed). In general, it's changes will not alter attributes (GM discretion).

The biosculptor folds up to about the size of a briefcase, and self-extends as soon as it's booted up. The operator simply chooses the desired template from the devices library (or downloads another template) and uses the key pad or voice command to add further specifications.

Once that's done, the patient enters the biosculptor and applies the appropriate sensors. The unit anesthetizes the patient and fills compartment with a gel-like nanotech solution. The nanites begin the task of disassembling then reassembling the patient's body into the desired form.

[Inspired by the device appearing in the images above from the comic Lost Horizons by Juan Zanotto.]

Audience Participation: The Next Illustration

As I've shown hints of here, artists are diligently at work on material for the Strange Stars book. The only problem is, I can't decide on some of the species and cultures to have them illustrate!. So, I thought I'd see if you guys have any preferences. Here's the list of possibilities with links to refresh you memory:

Atozan - Keepers of the Great Library
Caliban - Vicious sophontophagists
Circean - Psychic witches
Kosmonik - Space-adapted travelers.
Minga - Slave race out to covertly conquer the galaxy
Phantasist - Dream-merchants.
Quicklings - Tiny, fast-living humanoids
Sisterhood of Morrgna - Cloned Amazons.
Virid - Photosynthetic humanoids from a sophont biosphere.
Zhmun - Wealthy invertebrates.

So are any of these guys worthy of illustration? If you have a preference, let me know in the comments.

Worlds of the Vokun Empire

by Arve Sellesbakk

EBEN: (Primary: Ushkalish, F9.5) The homeworld of the ibglibdishpan--or at least where they are found currently. Eben is a highly ordered world where everyone knows their place, assigned by aptitude testing in adolescence. The importance of their service to the vokun is stressed in all facets of ibglibdishpan life.

by Sam Mulqueen

UTU-AN: (Primary: Matari ) The watery world of the aquatic Dragon Mothers and their human worshipers/pets the kuath.

Art by Fernando Rodrigues

YANTRA: (Primary: Suryana, G7V) The paradise (before the arrival of the vokun) inhabited by the primitive humanoids called the Yantrans.The vokun occupation has been plagued by a number of unusual setbacks.

Wednesday Comics:Sunrise on Lartoprez

Here's the next installment of  Jim Starlin's Metamorphosis Odyssey. The earlier posts in the series can be found here.

"Sunrise on Lartoprez (Metamorphosis Odyssey Chapter VIII)"

Epic Illustrated #5 (April 1981) Story & Art by James Starlin

Synopsis: Aknaton has brought his group together. Now, he's got to unlock the secrets of the amulet so they can locate the Infinity Horn. Unfortunately, that sort of secret can't be discovered "on a plane of existence such as this one" or in the company of others, so Aknaton leaves them for an appropriate place.

With him gone, Whis'par, Za and Juilette are able scrutinize the newcomer. They are not much impressed with Vanth and his beard. Za starts to check under Vanth's hood to see if the little man is hiding special powers there.

Vanth storms off to keep watch on a nearby ridge. Za, rubbing his head, opines that "Master chose well." Juliette asks Za why he calls Aknaton "Master." Za replies that Aknaton saved him from death. Save him from himself.

"What did he save you for?" Juliette asks. Za isn't sure. "Maybe a better death," he replies, finally.

Whis'par finds Vanth. She apologizes for their testing him earlier thanks him for not hurting Za. She says they were nervous, but she recognizes Vanth must be as well. He agrees. He doens't know why he's here.

Whis'par knows--and she thinks Vanth does too, really. His eyes have death in them. Aknaton needed someone who could understand the Zygoteans. Vanth realizes she's right:

He wonders what he's gotten himself into. "Death," Whis'par says. "On a scale undreamed of." She can't believe he doesn't know, that he hasn't guessed. Vanth begins to get angry at her obscureness. She realizes her people have had a long time to become inurred to the horror of "Aknaton's madness." She surmises Vanth just can't accept the truth.

Vanth still isn't buying it. Everybody's talking about death and destruction, but nobody is saying when or where or who. Whis'par reminds him there has also been talk of suicide.

The Orsirosians couldn't defeat the Zygoteans. They looked into the future and saw the galaxy enslaved by their foes. They devised the Infinity Horn, the ultimate doomsday weapon:

Things to Notice:

• "Pulsar sucker" is another space insult.
• Starlin has the Infinity Horn here and later the Infinity Gauntlet when he returns to work at Marvel.

Commentary: 
After all the hinting and circumspection, Aknaton's plan is finally revealed: He's going to destroy the galaxy to get rid of the Zygoteans. Whis'par describes it in negative terms, though she is clearly going along with it. It's unclear at this point how much Juliette and Za know, and we don't get to see Vanth's reaction to the revelation this chapter.

Five Worlds for Space Opera

Genres run on tropes (or cliches, if you're less charitable).

Planet of Amazons
Whatever strides the future will have made in terms of gender equality, there still always seems to be some place out there with warrior woman who are either hostile to men, find them fascinating and strange, or both. This is perhaps just a variant of the Woman Dominated Planet (where men are present but second class citizens, and the women aren't necessarily a warrior race) with less cool a name.
Examples: Queen of Space (1958), Star Maidens,  Buck Rogers "Planet of the Amazon Women," Space: 1999 "Devil's Planet," Omega 3 in Starstruck, the Femizons from Marvel Comics, Lyrane II from Second Stage Lensmen.

Casino World
If your space opera setting doesn't have a world like this, where would Lando Calrissian play sabacc? There are probably very few whole planet casinos, but there might be casino cities surrounded by wastelands or casino space stations--bonus points if it's shaped like some sort of gambling device. There may be some overlap with the Pleasure Planet.
Examples: Buck Rogers "Vegas in Space," Cowboy Bebop "Honky Tonk Women," The Wheel from Marvel's Star Wars comic, Ventura the Gambler's World in the Legion of Superheroes.

Forbidding Planet
Some planets have secrets. Dangerous secrets. These worlds are usually desolate and hard to get to. Those who have sought their secrets before may have died for them--or maybe they've somehow become their guardians. If the secret is particularly dangerous, this might be a Hellworld is disguise.
Examples: Forbidden Planet (1956), Planet of Vampires (1965), Miranda in Serenity (2005), LV-426 in Alien (1976), LV-223 from Prometheus (2015); any number of worlds in the Star Trek series fit the bill, but Talos IV is probably the most archetypal; there are a couple of these in the Deathstalker novels.

Hellworld
Some planets just want you dead. Maybe they've got super-hostile sapient inhabitants, a deadly biosphere, or a poisonous atmosphere, the result is the same. It's going to take something of value to attract PCs to a Hellworld; this may be a natural substance or some person stranded there. As mentioned before, there is some overlap with the Forbidding Planet.
Examples: Aliens (1986), Star Trek "Whom Gods Destroy" and "The Way to Eden," Nu-Earth in Rogue Trooper, Lythyl in Legion of Superheroes, Spatterjay in The Skinner by Neal Asher, and of course Deathworld by Harry Harrison.

Pleasure Planet
Everybody needs a little relaxation and recreation, and a Pleasure Planet is it. This may be a fairly tame resort world, a place of supreme decadence and indulgence, or seedy planet with deadly secrets.
Examples: Doctor Who "The Leisure Hive," Wrigley's Pleasure Planet and Risa from Star Trek, Delirius from Lone Sloane, Raggashoon from Omega Men.