Anne Steelyard: The Garden of Emptiness #3

Barbara Hambly's period adventure series continues with this richly painted cover by Glen Orbik, who brings a pulp-magazine sensibility to the image of Anne Steelyard herself — sharp green eyes, head wrapped in desert cloth — dominating the composition against ancient carved reliefs bathed in an eerie green glow. Surrounding her are a cast of supporting figures: a uniformed officer, several tense allies and adversaries armed with rifles, a crate of TNT, and urgent "DANGER" signage that sets a charged, conspiratorial mood. Orbik's lush oil-painting style gives this 2011 Penny-Farthing Press release the feel of a golden-age adventure novel cover, making it a compelling entry in the series.