Ernest Cline (best-selling author of Ready Player One) asked me to design the ADI-88 Interceptor and blueprints to be featured as a secret poster in the inner jacket for his next novel Armada. I worked with him to draft the Aerospace Drone Interceptor, beginning with the top silhouette featured on the Earth Defense Alliance insignia. When Ernie came to Portland and Beaverton, Oregon (which happens to be the setting of the story) I had the pleasure of signing covers with him at Powell's Books.
I was given an excerpt from the advanced reader's copy of the book describing the drone's features and immediately began sketching.
Ernie and I discussed the ADI-89 Prototype and decided to go ahead and draft it. Unlike the unmanned ADI-88, this Interceptor has a cockpit for a pilot.
Once the design and functionality of the ship was decided, parts were defined and labeled. The ship was laid out on a blueprint styled to complement the front cover.
The Earth Defense Alliance insignia was designed by Russell Walks.
This 3-D rendering of the ship was realized by Shariq Altaf.
The outside of the hardcover jacket was designed by Will Staehle.
