I don't know if I'm breaking any rules by posting this, but here goes anyway. (If I am, I'll delete this as soon as I'm told - I don't want to get in anyone's bad books...) And talking of books, that's exactly what the challenge is about. I've just started reading "Perdido Street Station" by China Mieville (ISBN 0 330 39289 1) and have been staggered by the images it conjurs up. A mix of sci-fi and fantasy (and a touch of "Gormanghast" in the richness of description). There are characters who are part human, part insect/plant/mechanoid; others who have been deliberatly changed. A city that's developed organically(spelling??) and is mostly dysfunctional (think "Blade Runner" set in Victorian times) -- and I'm only up to page 180 out of about 800+! So, to the challenge (sorry no prizes - I spent the last of my available dosh on DAZ's "Universal Texture Converter"): Create a scene based on stuff in the book. I think it DESERVES to be visualised! (Essential statement: I have nothing whatsoever to do with anyone involved in any way with the book - I'm just a voracious sci-fi/fantasy reader) I don't expect this post to be replied to any time soon:-)) I'd try to help by quoting some lines in paragraphs in the book, but I suspect that'd infringe copyright) Now, where can I get a scarab beetle to replace Vicky's head with.... Cheers, Diolma (and if doesn't engender any interest -- ahh well, I tried..)

errm -- I've just found out about the forum "Virtual Tavern" -- this would probably do better there, I'll leave it here for a couple of days, then delete it.. Cheers (hic)... Diolma

Just to say Diolma also loved Perdido Street Station...The Scar is also fantastic. good idea for challenge..

http://forums.3-darena.com/viewtopic.php?t=1283 - they have a thread that will "attack" PSS sometime this spring. Awesome book :-) ~S