One of the most iconic and memorable images from my years as a teen reader of Science Fiction is an illustration on the cover of a 1968 edition of Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (see cover below).
The work “GROK” which has been appropriated by the online X social media platform as the name of their AI feature was originated in that novel. In the story it is based on the Martian word that loosely translates as “profound understanding”.
My post here is not to delve into the plot of the novel but to remark on how the image of the two connected profiles of woman and man has had a long term resonating impact on me as a visual symbol.
Through my online research I have learned that the artist who created the image is Paul Lehr. Here is a brief biography I have found for him:
Paul Lehr (1930 - 1998) American artist. Lehr studied illustration at the prestigious Pratt Institute, where he worked under Stanley Meltzoff, an early influence on his art. Lehr was an artist and illustrator well known for the cover art he produced for science fiction novels in the 60's and 70's.
He created several memorable illustrations for Science Fiction novel covers that can be viewed more thoroughly at this search page link. Thumbnails from that page:
So here's to Paul Lehr! He was a tremendous and masterful artist. I hope you can explore and enjoy more of his work.
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