The Tower to the Sun

One hundred years in the future, when the earth is so polluted that the sun can't be seen, the richest man in the world wants his grandson to experience the blue sky and orange sun he remembers from his childhood. So he spends 20 years and all of his money  to build a tower to the sun. Using the largest rock in the world as the foundation, workers pile stone upon stone, beam over beam, building atop building, until the old man sits on top of the tower with his great grandson and feels the warmth of the sun shine on his face. Though now penniless, he is indeed, a rich man. Lush with the intricate detail that has become his hallmark, Colin Thompson's art invites repeated examination and yields its secrets subtly. His tower is an extraordinary pastiche of architectural prototypes from Stonehenge, Greek temples and the leaning tower of Pisa to the Chrysler Building and the Guggenheim Museum. This is Thompson's most provocative pictorial fantasy to date--and a moving fable for the environmentally conscious of all ages.  

Colin Thompson is fast becoming a cult.  His incredibly detailed pictures, packed with bizarre touches, worlds within worlds, and wondrous visual jokes, are addictive.  Colin's book Ruby , an international hit, was linked to a contest with a real vintage automobile as the prize.  His earlier titles include The Paper Bag Prince and Looking for Atlantis .  After leaving art school, and subsequently, the London School of Film Technique, Colin worked for a time at the BBC before moving to the Outer Herbrides, where he began twenty years of self-employment in ceramics.  Colin now works full time as an author and illustrator.