"Dr. Adder Cover" by Barclay Shaw

This is the original cover art for the 1st edition paperback issue of K.W. Jeter's historically important book, possibly the first cyberpunk novel - "Dr. Adder".

Originally written in 1972, the publication of this dark Science Fiction novel was delayed by a decade, according to Philip K. Dick (see wiki) because of its extreme violence and graphic sex - and were it not for the difficulty in finding a publisher, this novel might well be considered the first cyberpunk novel. But in 1984, Bluejay Books took a chance on it and chose artist Barclay Shaw - then coming into his prime as a major illustrator of SF - to create the cover. Known for his highly realistic and warmly rendered characters, Shaw does justice to the artist-surgeon Dr. Adder . . . he is part criminal, part countercultural figure.

This work is in acrylic on illustration board, 20" x 13.5" matted to 25" x 18" and is signed and dated '83 by the artist bottom left.