Grashopper by Chipka
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Description
Once upon a long time ago, I used my allowance to purchase an issue of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine…or was it The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction? I think it was Asimov’s…but don’t quote me on that. At any rate, once upon a long time ago, I found myself within the now-vanished confines of Evergreen Plaza, in the equally-vanished interior of Kroch’s and Brentano’s…the litte bookstore one went to because the K&B Mothership was too far away, in the Chicago Loop. I’d just received my allowance, and I was itching to buy something. And so, after a bit of a browse, I’d decided on one of those sorts of things grownups would buy. A magazine filled with the sorts of things that adults went for…stories without pictures…stories about boring things like ladies in sundresses drinking iced tea on verandas and contemplating wallpaper. You know…literature. I got pulp science fiction instead. I can’t remember all of the stories, but I have fond and distinct memories of “Softly Touch A Stranger’s Mind”. I can’t remember the author, though I’m sure I can look it up. I don’t remember much of the story, despite the fact that I remember the front-piece illustration involved a...
…grasshopper.
Actually, the grasshopper in question was supposed to be an alien, and to be fair, it was a grasshopper with oddly human proportions, and ant-like mandibles. But still…it was a grasshopper.
Which brings us to this image.
This is not an alien. Well…it’s not an extraterrestrial. The face, however, reminds me of a particular, ink-rendered face in the now-yellowed pages of a vanished digest-sized magazine. I think of a grasshopper-alien building a sand-castle…well…a sand-castle city full of odd features: lots of sand-domes and improbable sand-bridges. The sorts of things you can only find within the illustrations that live in old science fiction magazines. This is not an image of an extraterrestrial, but—for me—it recalls one in particular, and so in honor of 1970s era science fiction artwork: here is an alien…but not an extraterrestrial.
I took this photo last fall, on the front porch of a house that is no longer my place of residence. I don’t miss the house, but I do miss the summertime insects, and now that I’ve mentioned it, I think I’m going to go in search of a particular issue of a particular pulp science fiction magazine.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (14)
Faemike55
Fabulous image and wonderful narrative. Yes! Science Fiction and Fantasy - the stuff that opens the mind and lets it soar throughout the universe vast!
Wolfenshire Online Now!
The seeds of imagination exist in the smallest of things, and grow into Universes. This write-up made me think a bit. Cool image.
RodS
Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved grasshoppers - and I'm not really sure why..... Other than the fact they just look cool. And they look intelligent, despite the fact they have a brain the size of a grain of sand. I kept them as pets; I gave them names. I even made little collars and leashes for them.. And buried them with reverence when they checked out... Nuts, I know.... I don't make leashes for them any more, but I still think they look cool. LOL Sweet photo, Chip!
Chipka
I know exactly what you mean. I did the same...I never made leashes and collars for them, but I did attempt to polish their jumping legs. They weren't really into that. I gave them really extravagant funerals when they became ex-grasshoppers. I suspect the little grasshopper tombs are still in the back yard at my childhood home.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
durleybeachbum
A stunning clear photo. They are wonderfully engineered creatures.
blinkings
The intricate details in it's body are amazing. It strikes me as quite 'military' in form.
helanker
A beautiful grashopper shot, Chip. This has so much color and pattern. I do like that. Fascinating creatures.
jendellas
He looks like a warrior, superb capture. x
NefariousDrO
It's funny to me that the first thought I had when I looked closely at this one was: "Hmm, that's actually pretty cool-looking armor. I wonder if I could adapt that into a new costume for this summer's Renfest-season" I guess that's just the way I'm wired, these days. But hey, you've just inspired a totally new character for me to make!
NightGallery
Great catch. Love their armor!
MrsRatbag
What a marvelous portrait of this fellow; he seems to be posing so nicely for you!
pauldeleu
Excellent work.
KatesFriend
You have a very steady hand getting this fine fellow in such sharp relief. I've always been taken by the greens and golds of a grasshopper. My cat also likes to catch them and bring them home to play with. Okay, that's creepy but she is a cat. David Cronenberg (fellow Canadian, yeah!) would agree with your outlook of this 'alien' grasshopper. 'Naked Lunch' always comes to mind - must look that film up again. It's hard to believe sometimes that both our kinds evolved on the same world at nearly - cosmically speaking - the same time. Let's hope that this little fellow was smart enough to stay clear of the dyslexic (perhaps just caffeine stoned) spider that seems to have been in the vicinity recently.
auntietk
I love its uniform, and I love the fact that Mike is feeling inspired. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next year! :) This is a great shot. Somehow you've captured the "individual" rather than just a generic grasshopper. I think this little soldier has a family and prefers certain activities over others. It's a very intimate and personal shot!