Ethel the Aardvark is a Monty Python original then acquired as a mascot by the Melbourne Science Fiction Club so Ian has LOTS of Ethel illos. This is a bit meta: Ethel pointing to a picture of herself and smiling. It could only be more meta if, in the picture, she was pointing to a picture of herself…
Ian Gunn, creator of these silly illos (illustrations), was a beloved award-winning artist based in Melbourne. Cancer took him from us too soon.
Ian left a legacy including lots of great illustrations. Many of these illustrations are available for sale.
Victoria’s science fiction convention, Continuum, occasionally presents the Ian Gunn Memorial Award recognising the ‘unsung heroes’ of fandom: people consistently working in the background who never expect any recognition of their efforts. This commemorates Ian’s selfless efforts to reach out to others, encouraging others and thereby building the science fiction community.
K’rin Pender-Gunn, Ian’s widow, gave Dark Matter Zine permission to republish Ian’s artwork. Thanks, K’rin!
