Species Design (1996)

Species Design (1996)

Author + Illustrator: H.R. Giger | Page Count: 86

"I cast worms in silicon […] Instead, in the film, reddish brown computer-generated sausages burst out (but very quickly, to hide the computerised embarrassment)."

A large format coffee table book (approximately the size of a vinyl LP) that doesn't fit on any of my shitty Argos flat-pack shelving. Grrrr.

Inside its pages are a number of the Swiss artist's illustrations. It's primarily early stage concept sketches that rarely get released to the public, most of which are black ink on paper.

Giger's sketches have an almost obsessively hurried appearance. Seeing what he'd envisioned for the creature, that didn't make it into the film, is perhaps the only notable reason to purchase.

For example, if you've seen the film you may remember Sil's dream, with the train? Although, perhaps not, because it was so brief. Giger put a huge amount of work into the train, even building a working scale model from animal bones, PVC, wood and metal at his own expense. The studio gave it a mere eight seconds of footage in the final product. Had it remained as he envisioned, it could've been spectacular - perhaps even the highlight of the whole movie.

- All aboard the penis train to an artist's perverted dreamland -

Giger's association with Hollywood over the years wasn't a pleasant one, so it's nice to get something from his POV. However, at times the book serves as a platform for his grievances about the Hollywood machine. It's either a man having a bitch-fit, or a dedicated artist whose vision was cruelly compromised finally getting a cathartic release. Either way, it borders on the depressive. I felt so very sorry for him, and wondered why he took such treatment from the money-whores. I have my suspicions, but you'll maybe discover that for yourself upon reading.

Alongside the aforementioned sketches are colour photographs of the animatronic puppets used in the production, and lots of stills from the film that are either there contractually or as filler.

If you've a heretofore unfulfilled need for a deeper insight into the creation and/or evolution of what I consider to be the most memorable aspect of the film as an end product, then the book will probably give it to you. I just hope you have some sturdy oversized shelves to house it on.