The art of the as-yet unreal.

Science fiction & fantasy book covers, magazine illustrations and film posters are some of the most reliably awesome well-springs of  artwork that, well… that you just won’t see anywhere else. Every year, the Chesley Awards spotlight the alien/elvish goodness of the artists who fire up our imaginations (and our consumer impulses…) with their creations.  The Chesleys are divvied out by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists — and here are some of last year’s nominees over at i09.  A gorgeous assortment of unearthly strangeness and beauty!