Alan Baker's Kickstarter: The Bestiary

‘The Bestiary by Alan Baker’ is a large format hardback dystopian fantasy, with a launch on Kickstarter to raise funds for its publication.

The Bestiary tells the story of the post human world in a dark, humorous and pseudo-scientific way. Having plundered the internet to inform and establish AI, mankind’s dismal response towards the world’s climate degeneration becomes deeply embedded in the system, ensuring that the prospects of an uncontrolled AI tolerating the continuation of Mankind is highly unlikely. What happened next was a genetic runaway train as newly generated mutations nudged out human beings and dominated, all the existing classifications. As the flag came down to end the human race, a new world unfolded, and a new race began. This is the illustrated story of the new classifications.

Alan explains, "Over the years, I have had somewhere between 50 -60 picture books published, most of which I have also written, but this one proved tricky to place - partly because it wasn’t aimed at a very defined market. It’s what used to be known as coffee table books - a sort of adult picture book. Also, more importantly, I didn’t want to compromise, which is something that I have had to do in the more commercial world of picture books.  

One of the fun things about writing your own stories, is that you then control the illustrations. 

It was important to me that the creatures that I created should be believable and that the text should give a backstory to their life cycles and behaviour, as well as telling something about the world’s future ecosystem. Some mutants have more human-like psychology, which makes them more fun. There is always the danger that a project of this nature can become too serious and dark.

Maybe, it also sounds a warning about the potential of AI and GM!"

A veteran in the illustrated books industry and one of the UK’s leading children’s book illustrators, Alan's project comes from vast experience of a narrative with a fantastical yet realistic style. The artworks are A3 spreads printed on 135gms matt paper with 96+pages, approx. 7,000 words, beautifully illustrated throughout, all in full colour.

Launched via Kickstarter on March 1st, Alan aims to raise what is needed to print and publish the book, which will be sent to backers soon after the campaign closes. If the project fails to reach it’s target, the pledge/donation will not go through. 

Go to the Kickstarter Launch page.