#bornebestiary

[ericnyquist]

Borne Bestiary is now in the @debezigebij (Dutch version)of Borne! Posters available in two colors on my site (link in bio). #jeffvandermeer #borne #bornebestiary #southernreachtrilogy #ericnyquist #illustration #drawing

[ericnyquist]

 The Borne Bestiary Specimen Poster from Jeff Vandermeer’s Bestselling novel, Borne is now available at EricNyquist.com and my Etsy Page  

[ericnyquist]

Dog-like Creature, Brittle Remains of (p. 13) Several doglike creatures in mummified form litter the interior of the Balcony Cliffs, a vast complex of sunken and abandoned living quarters overlooking the City’s polluted river. The advanced age of these remains, and where they are found, suggest less that they served as pets than that feral dogs, possibly human-made, supplanted the original occupants in these apartments for a time. Rumors of an uplifted species of dog, similar to a whippet—bred for aggression and used to guard the apartment complex—are complete rubbish. (See also: Coyote) #bornebestiary #borne #jeffvandermeer #ericnyquist #natalieportman #southernreachtrilogy #areax #dog #drawing #illustration #biotech #annihilationmovie #annihilation

[ericnyquist]

More/Borne for theBorne Bestiary. @mcdbooks @fsgbooks #jeffvandermeer #ericnyquist #annihilationmovie #southernreachtrilogy #areax #bornebestiary #bear #borne #drawing #illustration #natalieportman

[ericnyquist]

Memory Beetle (p. 6) One of the Company’s more ingenious creations—both used to placate the local population and sold elsewhere—the memory beetle allows extraction of memory from one host to another or for a host to better access their own memories. This is a tactic used by unhappy residents of the City to forget their problems by existing in the past. Memory beetles have also reportedly been created by rogue bioengineers, although the quality of these beetles may be poor and the memories thus thin or unsatisfying or unexpectedly banal. Most “hacking” of Company biotech creates a mere echo of the original. But beetles function as excellent delivery systems for many different experiences, as their exoskeletons make them durable, while their soft insides are ideal for housing certain kinds of genetic material. Their ability to fly increases their range, and it is easy to adjust beetle mating cycles to, in some cases, naturally create next-gen biotech. Other variants include the golden beetle (immediate obliteration of senses, good for escaping trauma, p. 12), the spy beetle (surveillance, p. 27), diagnostic beetle (otherwise known as the medic beetle, p. 32), defense beetle (creating mist-screen and vectored noxious spray, p. 179), and the battle beetle (p. 180). This last variety was used by the Company as a solution to the problem of security. It functions as a kind of living bullet, as it tunnels into the flesh, seeking the heart or brain. (See also Alcohol Minnows) #borne #bornebestiary #jeffvandermeer #southernreachtrilogy #southernreach #ericnyquist #drawing #illustration #annihilation #annihilationmovie #natalieportman #drawing #illustration #beetle

[ericnyquist]

Red Salamanders (p. 16) Red is the color of caution or “stop,” and when the red salamanders tumble from the sky, it signals that conditions in the City have faltered and contamination is heavy. For the tiny amphibians sacrifice themselves to cleanse the City, dissipating in the heat, and are absorbed as liquid into the soil. The levels of poison in the air drop, taken in by their skin and then diffused through the medium of the fluid they become. And where they go as liquid is not known, except that like wraiths these very same creatures reform and are taken up by the sky and deposited again. These creatures are so very old and yet so very new, and take on our sins as their own, for which we should thank them. Or so say the elders in the City, such elders as they be, who also claim the salamanders are holy relics. For if you put your ear to the ground after the rain of their bodies, you can hear them singing for the joy of their service and the promise of resurrection. All of them soft in their singing, yet so beautiful. #borne #bornebestiary #jeffvandermeer #ericnyquist #natalieportman #annihilation #annihilationmovie #salamander #southernreach #southernreachtrilogy #drawings #drawing #illustration #biotech

[ericnyquist]

Wayward Crayfish (p. 239) Although usually considered a nostalgic reference to a bygone time before the destruction of most of the world, the crayfish has adapted to desert conditions, aided by a high resistance to pollution and heavy metals. For this reason, the blotched crayfish, as it is sometimes called, has managed to survive in the City’s harsh conditions. The crayfish can immerse itself even in the polluted river for brief periods of time without harm and retain moisture for up to a week. Adaptations that include pollutant-targeting echolocation and the ability to eat Company moss have helped its chances. This species is called “blotched” due to the unique pattern across its carapace, which helps in camouflage but also functions as a two-fold screening system for certain types of pollutants. When the blotched crayfish was more common, some scavengers would use changes in its coloration as a guide to the level of contaminants in any given part of the city. (See also Fiddler Crabs and Mudskippers / Mudpuppies) #bornebestiary #borne #jeffvandermeer #ericnyquist #natalieportman #annihilationmovie #annihilation #southernreachtrilogy #southernreach #areax #illustration #drawing #crayfish #crawfish #biotech

[ericnyquist]

Eel-like Things (p. 54) Mysterious and often difficult to catch, the tough and hardy eels that inhabit the river and vestiges of underground reservoirs of the City may remain hidden for months before emerging into view. Unlike eels in the natural world, these “eellike things” are not just elusive but also very clever and go about their business with an intensity that makes it noteworthy when they do pop up. Rumor has it that the biotech signature on these creatures is three initials: “MCD.” Who MCD is or what MCD’s agenda is, not even the most astute scavenger can say. If few have seen the eels, then none have seen MCD or even know if MCD yet lives. Conjecture that MCD is Company-related or among the hidden masters who pull the levers of the world cannot be confirmed, for the obvious reasons. (See also Elongated Elastic Creatures) #borne #bornebestiary #jeffvandermeer #ericnyquist #annihilation #annihilationmovie #biotech #drawing #illustration #illustration #eel #southernreach #southernreachtrilogy