Book Cover with Post-Apocalyptic Middle East Map

[Coriolis]

This is my attempt at making a book cover. The centerpiece is a regional map of a post-apocalyptic Middle East. The story is set about 400 years in the future, about 300 years after a nuclear war has wiped out nearly everyone in the region.

Flat Cover No Borders.png

I started with a topographical map of the current Middle East, erasing all the low-lying areas (the seas have risen), and re-drawing the coast. Mesopotamia is part of an enlarged Persian Gulf, the Suez has become a saltwater marsh, and the lower peninsula is partially flooded.

For the topography, I used the Eriond technique by Arsheesh, with lots of smudging for the desert. The topography isn't a precise match for today's, but that wasn't what I was going for. I used GIMP and WILBUR for this one. No Inkspace icons this time; I wanted a bare look for the image.

I used a Supernova filter for the nuclear explosion.

I'm not sure about the non-map elements of the cover. The look of the text, the explosion, the fallout shelter symbol, these are things I may tweak. The map itself is done, though.

I welcome your comments/critiques.