John Berkey - I dream of scifi like his paintings

I just ran into an article in the art magazine Juxtapoz on the works of John Berkey. His work was the greatest inspiration for my scifi selection process. I always loved his work and it showed up on books that had the elements that I favored.

His painting style has influenced the way that I paint as well. I seemed to capture an atmosphere with minimal brush strokes. I would have loved to watch him work. 


A day was even dedicated to him: Excelsior Declares JOHN BERKEY Day March 22, 2007.


Huge fan site: John Berkey Artwork.

His Obituary: excerpt: 

In 2005, he told the Star Tribune that he had never seen "Star Wars," nor was he a science-fiction fan, but he sold "Star Wars" creator George Lucas the painting credited with inspiring the Death Star.
"I have just never been into science fiction," Berkey said. "It isn't literature."
Skip Liepke, longtime New York artist, now of Minneapolis, said Berkey "was able to take the fantasy and make it real."

judged by the cover

I have codified my book selection system:

1. A space ship(s) or space ship with planet on the cover 
2. Cool digital look font, san serif or typewriter style font 
3. No foil letters in title, but I will let it slip if the description is good 
4. More than 300 pages is excellent. 
5. Wisecracking ex-military professional killer or infiltration specialist or tough but like-able character that may have been genetically or robotically altered to be super human as the protagonist, with penchant for killing bad guys. 
6. Main character that is suddenly dropped into a life or death struggle with a galactic/scientific/magic/intellectual mystery that they must solve using all their wits, skills and deadly arts 
7. Must Not be another Orson Scott Card Ender's Whatever 
8. Has AI or digital copy of human brain in large, sarcastic wise-cracking war robot (see Neal Asher, Yum!) with bad attitude. 
9. Hardboiled, postcyberpunk, fantasy 
10. Humor 
11. Random sample of 3 sentences from middle of book

Great book: Path of the Fury, by David Weber

My Synopsis: Rogue space commando on a private mission for revenge with symbiotic super ship, and Fury.

I recommend it. I generally prefer to read books that have a space ship or space ship with planet on the cover. I have read all of Neal Asher's current works and Alistair Reynolds. 

Do you have any suggestions on sci-fi books? I need more books.