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Barely contained within this book is the high octane work
of Paul Bonner, an intrepid artist able to vividly recall
in paints his visits to Valhalla, the blasted future, and
sundry haunted and ravaged stopping off points in between.
Here you will find over 150 of Paul's vibrant and compelling
full colour paintings, along with numerous character studies
and sketches, produced by the artist over the last twenty-five
years for the biggest names in fantasy role playing, such
as Games Workshop, Mutant Chronicles, Fasa, Riot Minds and
Rackham. So, saddle the dragon storm riders, suit up storm
troopers, and prepare to have your worlds revealed anew...
Out
of the Forests is
an impressive collection of some of the highlights of fantasy
illustrator Paul Bonner's long and illustrious career. His
warped, twisted vision of fantasy worlds is never pretty.
Almost all the creatures represented in this volume are grotesque,
heinous looking beasts who you really wouldn't want to meet
in a dark alley. Even the majority of the human illustrations
are twisted representations of our race.
But
Bonner also injects quite a lot of humour in some of his paintings,
and most depict a story that the reader is just dying to unearth.
For example in the selection of work for Mutant Chronicles
there is a great painting of a gun-wielding muscle-bound guy
who is falling down a cliff face holding his dog, while shooting
up at an unseen nemesis. Did he jump? Was he pushed? Why is
he falling and what will happen to him?
There
are few representations of women in this volume. But, in the
handful of illustrations in which they are included, you'll
be glad to hear that it's not your typical scantily clad variety
that Bonner opts to depict - fantasy illustrations are all
too rife with that sort of school boy fantasy image these
days.
There's
also a section on the work that Bonner has tackled based on
dinosaurs. This is an interesting section, as it contains
the same visual energy depicted in many of his fantasy paintings,
while bringing to life real creatures of the past.
If
Jim Henson were alive today then I could imagine him working
with Bonner to create creatures for future movie projects
like The Dark Crystal or Labyrinth, so vividly
brought to life is his fantasy world.
This
volume will find pride of place in any serious fantasy gamer's
book case, and anyone who like nightmarish visions of other
worlds will also find much in here to satisfy their whim.
Just don't read it alone late at night...
Nick
Smithson
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