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MarkJayBee — Look to Windward by-nc-nd

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Published: 2016-09-29 00:01:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 8979; Favourites: 148; Downloads: 0
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Description Mandelbulb 3D v1.9.1: www.fractalforums.com/index.ph…  + PS

DEcombinate in min mode using SphereHeightMapVoid only.

This is an imagining of a scene from the SF novel 'Look to Windward' by the late Iain M. Banks :

The Chelgrian 'ambassador', Major Quilan - previously aboard the Culture ROU (Rapid Offensive Unit) 'Nuisance Value' - had now been passed to the Superlifter 'Vulgarian' for transfer to the next stage of his journey.

The GSV (General Systems Vehicle) 'Sanctioned Parts List' appeared on the forward view screen as just another point of light in the starfield.
It rapidly expanded to a silver dot and grew quickly to fill the viewscreen. "That'll be it then - I thought it might look a little more grand" said Quilan. "They always looking pretty unimposing from the outside" said his 'passenger'.

The Superlifter plunged into the centre of the silver surface. Passing through multiple membrane-like surfaces in quick succession, they finally burst through the last membrane, and emerged into a great hazy space. They were above and aft of the craft's stern. The ship was twenty-five kilometres long. Part of the upper surface was parkland; wooded hills and ridges separated by and studded with rivers and lakes.

Bracketed by colossal ribbed and buttressed outriggers chevroned in red and blue, the GSV's sheer sides were punctured by a bewildering variety of brightly lit openings, like a glowing vertical city set into cliffs three kilometres high.
The air swarmed with craft of every type Quilan had ever seen or heard of, and more besides. Some were tiny, some were the size of the Superlifter. Still smaller dots were individual people, floating in the air.
"It is a little more impressive on the inside, isn't it?" murmured his 'guest'....

A larger version of this piece can be viewed at: mjb-graphics.co.uk/look-to-win… or: markjaybeefractal.com/look-to-…



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Comments: 18

GreyArea2 [2018-10-27 16:38:05 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful! We need a Culture movie with you on the creative side.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to GreyArea2 [2019-02-23 18:23:33 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, sorry for the delay - see my journal? Believe me, I would like nothing better; apparently Amazon
are planning several mini-series based on the 'Culture' books. I await the call....!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

GreyArea2 In reply to MarkJayBee [2020-05-20 09:45:02 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

mecengineer [2016-10-20 17:49:19 +0000 UTC]

beautiful

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to mecengineer [2016-10-21 23:59:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Talat!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dark-beam [2016-10-10 09:47:25 +0000 UTC]

all sphere hm? crazy Mark

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to dark-beam [2016-10-11 23:50:39 +0000 UTC]

Yes indeed my man! A few additional little controls would have been handy though. Thanks buddy!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

darkdroner [2016-10-02 10:01:32 +0000 UTC]

I love the Culture novels and your vision of this unviverse is awesome!! Well done.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to darkdroner [2016-10-02 22:48:27 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear my vision and yours jibe! Thanks Stan!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JobSnow [2016-09-29 15:01:09 +0000 UTC]

This is amazingly awesome!
I really like it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to JobSnow [2016-09-29 19:07:52 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Job - glad you do!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Undead-Academy [2016-09-29 13:19:15 +0000 UTC]

super awesome Mark

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to Undead-Academy [2016-09-29 19:07:14 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Patty m'dear!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Undead-Academy In reply to MarkJayBee [2016-09-30 20:03:04 +0000 UTC]

welcomed friend

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

sohighlydubious [2016-09-29 05:20:52 +0000 UTC]

Awe-inspiring stuff...just as Culture ships should be!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to sohighlydubious [2016-09-29 12:19:35 +0000 UTC]

Cheers JR - much appreciated!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

batjorge [2016-09-29 01:03:32 +0000 UTC]

Very remarkable work Mark Cool scene, would fit perfectly in Banks novel

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MarkJayBee In reply to batjorge [2016-09-29 12:18:55 +0000 UTC]

Gracias Jorge, glad you like it amigo!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0