Chris Foss

Chris Foss (b. 1946)
Norman Conquest 2066
signed with artist's monogram (lower left)
acrylic paint on illustration board
16¹⁄₂ x 22⁷⁄₈in. (42 x 58cm.)
painted circa 1977

The original cover artwork for J.T. McIntosh's Norman Conquest 2066.

Norman Conquest 2066 projects a futuristic scenario in which a 'Norman' ruling class, akin to the feudal Norman dynasty of medieval history, takes control of the planet in the year 2066. The title alludes to the historical Norman Conquest of 1066, drawing a parallel between the past and an imagined future where conquest no longer requires military invasions but is achieved through social, technological, and cultural influence.

Foss's design is characterized by a meticulous attention to mechanical detail, as well as by a use of colour and geometry that lends his spacecraft a sense of realism and tangibility. Indeed, Foss remains one of the most celebrated names in the world of science fiction and his work has helped shift the genre from traditional, subdued portrayals of space to vibrant, mechanical landscapes that celebrate the vastness and diversity of imagined worlds. His artwork has helped shape the collective imagination of such iconic worlds as Dune and Alien. Norman Conquest 2066 is the last remaining cover artwork in the artist's possession, having been recently rediscovered after thirty years.