When I was checking out artists for Uglies: Shay’s Story, aka the Uglies Manga, there were a few key things I was looking for. Most of them, of course, had to so with drawing humans—expressions, faces, and actions, especially the sort of flying action you get with hoverboard chase scenes.
But I also wanted Shay’s Story to have the right settings. In science fiction, of course, setting is often a character. How many times have you described a science fiction movie or book by starting with something like, “It’s on this planet where . . . ” or “It’s in this future where . . . “?
The word where always plays a big role when talking about SF.
There are two main settings in the Uglies series—cities and nature. Indeed, a lot of the Uglies saga is about the relationship between the city and the wild. All four of the books start in a city, then include a voyage into and across the wild, and then return to a city in the end. The city represents control as well as civilization; the wild is danger as well as freedom. These are the two poles of the Uglies universe.
At the intersection between the city and nature is, of course, the Rusty Ruins. It’s the city that nature has taken back. It’s also the warning of what happens when humanity gets out of control. So the Ruins have to rock.
I am here to assure you that thanks to the skillz of Steven Cummings, they do:
Click here for the BIGNESS! And make sure to zoom in.
As you can see, that’s the tallest tower just ahead, where so many scenes in all the books happen. And in the big version you can see our heroes headed there on their hoverboards, surrounded by a bit of supernatural lighting so that you can see them.
It’s just one of many awesome nature/city settings that Steven has done.
Anyway, Uglies: Shay’s Story comes out March 6, which is two weeks away! That means there will be only one more reveal. What do you guys think it should be?
Feel free to think outside the box. Do you want a random special? The Smoke? A hoverboard scene? A hole-in-the-wall? Something completely different?
Let me know in the comments below.
You can pre-order Shay’s Story at Indie Bound, BarnesandNoble.com, or Amazon. Or buy it on March 6 at a proper bookstore or comics shop!
February 22nd, 2012 06:52
the hole in the wall.
February 22nd, 2012 06:57
I agree, the hole in the wall!!! I want to see all the cool high-tech widgets!
February 22nd, 2012 07:00
Special Circumstances Headquarters!!!!
February 22nd, 2012 07:16
Maybe I’m being oversensitive, but I’m not too keen on seeing an image like this on the 1-year anniversary of the deadly 22 Feb Christchurch earthquake. Our city centre looks a lot like that at the moment.
I’m sure it’s just an unfortunate coincidence.
February 22nd, 2012 07:47
I wanna see the orchid fields.
February 22nd, 2012 07:59
hole in the wall. nuf said
February 22nd, 2012 08:02
Davids mum and dad!
February 22nd, 2012 08:10
Ya know I wasn’t into this until this picture. Now I want to read it. I just finished the compendium of The Walking Dead, first long graphic novel I’ve read in YEARS. I tell all my friends who like The Hunger Games to read the Uglies series. Now I’m kinda into this one. Looking forward to it.
February 22nd, 2012 08:27
Not to get too off-topic, but I just discovered and devoured your midnight era series (I read the uglies series right around when specials came out) and discovered that the series just ends with Blue Noon in 2006. Are there any plans to continue this series in the future?
February 22nd, 2012 09:07
It’s true setting is KEY in SF or else it would be just…F, I guess.
I can tell the manga is going to be awesome.
Long long ago (or maybe it was in Bogus to Bubbly) wasn’t it mentioned that Rusty Ruins was post-disaster Seattle?
February 22nd, 2012 10:46
I WANT TO SEE THE SMOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty ruins. (That’s kind of an oxymoron…)
February 22nd, 2012 11:10
The smoke! please?
February 22nd, 2012 16:26
I want to see Az.
February 22nd, 2012 17:22
The armory!
February 22nd, 2012 17:41
I want to see the cure! i know it’s just a little pill but it’s kinda important. or the smoke. maybe a group photo of all the smokies? or a sneak peak of someone from uglies 2!
February 22nd, 2012 19:01
David’s parents.
February 22nd, 2012 20:40
Maybe you could show us a ranfom page from the manga?
February 22nd, 2012 22:34
Maddy and Az!
February 22nd, 2012 22:54
Maddy and Az or maybe random technology <3 <3
February 22nd, 2012 23:32
the az sounds good
text for free at
http://textme4free.com/
February 23rd, 2012 00:14
i have two votes for what to see
1) maddy and az. both of them. because they’re basically inseperable.
2) i dont know if there are any pictures of them yet, but i am dying (literally!) to see a cutter, preferably shay or fausto. i’ve never had that much pateince with tally-wa
February 23rd, 2012 00:18
i can obviously tell a lot of work went into this and everything, but i don’t really like it. maybe it’ll grow on me ( like the manga-zane has!) but i pictured it to be less… chaotic. i mean, it’s supposed to be spooky right? there’s nothing scary about like…trashy buildings and moss everywhere. i pictured there to be almost nothing left…only the skeletons of buidlings, cars, and not much growth really, or little animals. guess i was wrong, lol.
February 23rd, 2012 00:31
I really wanna see Maddy and Az!
February 23rd, 2012 00:54
i wanna see new pretty town!!!!
February 23rd, 2012 01:01
The Smoke please!!!!!
February 23rd, 2012 02:02
the smoke!
love this and can’t wait.
February 23rd, 2012 02:41
I wanna see the Smoke!
February 23rd, 2012 03:12
Lets see (the outside of) Valentino Mansion! Or maybe Peris or Fausto, because they never did get described that much in the books…
February 23rd, 2012 04:05
@22
I totally agree with you! If there’s been enough time for a tree to grow on a leaning skyscraper I don’t think the hanging headlights on a bus would still be attached. Another thing, can trees even grow that high up? Maybe it’s because I didn’t picture the ruins as if they were from a big city. (I live in the suburbs so that’s my “default,” I suppose.) Either way I think the entire manga will be magnificent. I’d like to see a random special, Dr. Cable was a tad underwhelming for me. Someone that looks more… severe.
February 23rd, 2012 06:42
AZ. I REPEAT AZ. I WANT TO SEE HIS SMEXY AWESOME PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 23rd, 2012 07:06
I like the Rusty Ruins! However, I did picture it a little more urban (less greenery). But I guess after decades, nature does take over. I just never thought moss would be growing on the buildings…. but (wow… I keep going back and forth here) if it rains a lot, moss and other vegetation will grow.
February 23rd, 2012 07:28
I noticed your alliteration there, Mr. Westerfeld. Sharp as a tack, I am. *thinks for a moment* Actually, I think I’m sharp as a Sharp. *fangirl giggle* Ahem. Good alliteration.
February 23rd, 2012 09:47
Well, let’s see some real computer-generated ruins made according to scientists who know what happens to cities for realz when people vanish and nature has free reign. Seattle+Life After People (TV show on History Channel) = This picture here, the Seattle Rusty Ruins: http://wallpapergravity.com/wallpapers2/389/389901.jpg
This picture is so neat! In the book I also remember the authorities actually work to preserve the main part of the city to show the Uglies at school, so I guess that’s why it’s still somewhat preserved.
February 23rd, 2012 10:32
I’d actually really love to see the white weed! It was always one of my favourite little quirks of the world in the books, and I’m really excited to see if Shay spends much time traversing the white weed as Tally did.
February 23rd, 2012 11:42
The view of New Pretty Town from Tally’s window!
February 23rd, 2012 15:05
I want to see the Smoke!
February 23rd, 2012 18:31
Being that I am the leader, founder, and biggest contributer to the TEAM AZ IS THE BEST MAN IN THE UNIVERSE AND HAS GREAT PANTS APPRECIATION CLUB, I say we got to see the Az Man. He has goregous pants, you know.
Recent studies have shown that Zane sprouted from his pants. It is quite unethical for our rusty minds, but coming from a 300 years in the future standpoint, it very well may be.
February 24th, 2012 00:30
Wait, what? Do I want to know?
February 24th, 2012 04:34
I am DYING to see a hoverboard as it is charging. I mean it’s just hard to picture one of those things being completely unfolded, so I would like to see it so I can be able to picture it! UNFOLDED CHARGING HOVERBOARD!!!!!
February 24th, 2012 04:38
@Kay- As a member of TEAM AZ IS THE BEST MAN IN THE UNIVERSE AND HAS GREAT PANTS APPRECIATION CLUB I once again say: WE MUST SEE AZ’S PANTS. WE MUST. LET US SEE HIS PANTS. LET US SEE HIS PANTS. FORGET EVERYTHING BUT THE FRICKING PARACHUTE PANTS.
February 24th, 2012 04:46
Thank you Beth, for your wonderful insight.
Please, almighty Scott Westerfeld of the Universe, let us see the Az-
Man.
February 24th, 2012 04:48
Hole in the wall!
That, or a glimpse/scene involving New Pretty Town.
February 24th, 2012 07:15
I’d really love to see the Smoke, or maybe the room where they do the operations?
February 24th, 2012 23:03
Love it!!!!! Now let’s see the smoke!!
UGLIES LIVES
February 25th, 2012 00:52
I really really really really want to see the smoke!!!!
February 25th, 2012 02:31
@42-YESSSSS
February 25th, 2012 02:32
@41-LOVE YOUR NAME!!!
February 25th, 2012 02:32
I wanna see the hover-boards up close. The picture didn’t really give much detail. Or Tally on her expedition to the Smoke.
February 25th, 2012 02:32
@35-FRIKIN ICY!! YESSSSS
February 25th, 2012 02:34
@21-WHA?? Tally-wa…
February 25th, 2012 02:35
@48-ya!!
February 25th, 2012 02:36
@37-icy!
February 25th, 2012 21:08
Where is everybody?!?!??
February 25th, 2012 21:13
Is that a typo in the second sentence?
February 25th, 2012 21:14
“Most of them, of course, had to SO with drawing humans—”
February 25th, 2012 21:14
8)
February 25th, 2012 21:15
A-hole-in-the-wall sounds cool.
February 25th, 2012 21:16
Or the Rangers!
February 25th, 2012 21:17
A.k.a fire-bug-eyes.
February 25th, 2012 21:40
I realize that “skillz” was intentional.
February 25th, 2012 21:42
It seems like a lot of people put “lol” at the end of their rants when they are in no comic mood. A period works fine.
February 25th, 2012 21:43
“Where is everybody?!?!??”
*Ahem* Right here.
February 25th, 2012 21:45
@22: I think the same way, sorry about the “lol” trash talk. Lol.
February 25th, 2012 21:46
Bye-bye.
February 26th, 2012 00:36
Is anyone on right here?
February 26th, 2012 00:37
-__- DAAARN!
February 26th, 2012 10:42
Hole in the wall please!!! (Pretty please? (-:)
February 26th, 2012 21:32
I… um… dunno… *hurriedly runs to library to read series in terrible moment of Lent-induced Leviathan withdrawals*
February 26th, 2012 22:44
You know, scott-la, just because you called it fanart sunday a few weeks ago doesn’t give you permissionto make THAT late, too.
Also, what this about Az and his pants?
February 27th, 2012 07:03
Scott, I think that you should just surprise us all!
P.S. WHERE IS FANART FRIDAY???? * hyperventalation*
February 28th, 2012 17:31
I want to see the smoke! The ruins look amazing check out the detail. I really want to hoverboard the coaster!
February 29th, 2012 06:01
i wish i was in the book to experience it myself :3
February 29th, 2012 06:01
February 29th, 2012 06:02
O.o
February 29th, 2012 06:02
-.-
February 29th, 2012 06:03
-.O
February 29th, 2012 06:03
XD
February 29th, 2012 07:24
Fan art….*wednesday*?
March 22nd, 2012 09:29
O.O
xD
*excited now*
May 10th, 2012 00:49
are you going to make a graphic novel for the Pretties story-and if so does it come out soon!!!