A favorite theme of mine is the depiction of human-alien interactions. This book deals with the subject so wonderfully that I wanted to make it the focus of attention for the cover painting. Several of my other concepts for the cover involve relationships between human children and the Thranx, the intelligent, insect-like species of Foster's imagination. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to develop at least one of the alternate concepts as a finished painting. At any rate, months after delivering the final painting to Don Munson, I was chagrined to note a similar approach for the E.T. movie poster. A coincidence I'm certain, but frustrating!