H.R. Giger’s multi-faceted career: From surrealistic dream landscapes to album cover designs and sculptures For decades H.R. Giger (1940—2014) reigned as one of the leading exponents of fantastic art. After he studied interior and industrial design for eight years at the School of Commercial Art in Zurich, Switzerland, from 1962 till 1970, he was soon gaining attention as an independent artist, with endeavors ranging from surrealistic dream landscapes created with a spray gun and stencils, to album cover designs for famous pop stars, and sculptures. In addition, Giger’s multi-faceted career includes designing two bars, located in Tokyo and Chur, as well as work on various film projects—his creation of the set design and title figure for Ridley Scott’s film Alien won him not only international fame but also an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects (1980). About the series: Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

理察．麥特森（Richard Matheson） 1926出生於紐澤西，於1951年後遷居並工作於加州至今。 理察‧麥特森的作品啟發了當代許多知名作家。雷．布萊伯利尊他為二十世紀最重要的作家之一，史蒂芬‧金更公開表示：『我認為影響我寫作最深，啟發我成為一個作家的人，是理察．麥特森。』，狄恩‧昆茲亦盛讚：『文壇因有了理察．麥特森而變得更多采多姿。』 理察．麥特森的文學才華遍及懸疑、科幻、恐怖、奇幻及西部體裁等領域，作品等身的他，同時也是電影及電視劇本方面的多產作家。曾經締造了許多影史上的傳奇：一九八○年〈似曾相識〉的浪漫悽美（電影「超人」男主角好萊塢明星克里斯多夫李維主演），一九九八年〈美夢成真〉的深情動人（羅賓威廉斯主演）、影集〈陰陽魔界〉、The Shrinking Man……大導演史蒂芬‧史匹柏初試啼聲的電視電影長片《飛輪喋血》（Duel，1971），也是出自於麥特森的原著短篇和劇本。二○○七年《我是傳奇》更是第三度改編為電影，由威爾‧史密斯擔綱主演，堪稱麥特森畢生的巔峰代表作。 在橫跨五十年的文壇生涯中，理察‧麥特森獲獎無數，其中包括世界奇幻文學年會頒發終生成就獎、布蘭姆．史托克終生成就獎、雨果獎、愛倫坡獎、金羽毛獎以及作家協會獎……等。 陳宗琛 曾任Huthwaite商業顧問集團研究員，現專事文學翻譯。 一個每天早上起床第一件事就先去找好吃的東西的台南人。比吃更快樂的兩件事，一是在埋沒的古書堆裡挖出令人廢寢忘食的好看小說，一是用中文探索一種敘事的韻律。曾獲十三屆梁實秋文學獎譯詩獎。譯有《時間迴旋》、《神鬼認證》等作品。