Nova T-shirt

£24,75

Nova T-shirt

Nova T-shirt painted by Bob in 1971 for the book by Samuel R Delany.

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Nova T-shirt

Nova T-shirt painted by Bob in 1971 for the book by Samuel R Delany.

Nova is a space-opera–infused literary novel that blends mythic structure, cyberpunk-anticipation, and class conflict within a far-future galactic economy.

The story centers on Lorin Dunbar Von Ray (Lorq Von Ray), a rebellious, charismatic starship captain from a wealthy trading family. Lorq is obsessed with accomplishing a dangerous, nearly impossible mission: flying his ship into the heart of an exploding nova to obtain Illyrion, an ultra-powerful, ultra-rare energy source that fuels interstellar travel and could reshape political power across the galaxy.

Lorq’s obsession is partly personal—he is driven by a fierce rivalry with the aristocratic, manipulative Red family, especially Prince Red, whose influence dominates the galaxy’s ruling class. Lorq believes that if he can secure a supply of Illyrion directly from a nova, he can break their power permanently.

To attempt this, Lorq assembles a diverse crew of outsiders, many with cybernetic or sensory augmentations, including:

  • Mouse, a young Roma musician whose “sensory syrynx,” an instrument that projects immersive audiovisual experiences, becomes central to the novel’s thematic core

  • Katin, a scholar determined to write a novel in an age where print books are obsolete

  • TyĂż, an elite woman fleeing the Red family’s control

  • Various misfit laborers, techs, and psychic-sensory specialists

As they journey through space, conflicts within the crew, memories of childhood trauma, economic and political tensions, and Mouse’s struggles for identity and creative expression intertwine. The Red family pursues them relentlessly, seeking to stop Lorq’s mission and maintain their control over Illyrion.

The climax occurs when Lorq executes his daring plunge into the nova—a moment of mythic transcendence, sensory overload, and personal catharsis. In the aftermath, power structures in the galaxy begin to shift, and the characters confront the consequences of Lorq’s obsession and sacrifice.

for more about Samuel R Delany.

If you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy art from the 60s, 70s and 80s, then Bob Haberfield’s retro art T‑shirt collection is a real treat. Now available at his website art shop, these designs are not just items of clothing, they showcase some of the most creative and provocative artwork from the 1960s through to the 1980s, a golden era of book cover art. Gods and demons, swords and sorcery, images from the iconic tales of Michael Moorcock and others, draw you into a universe of colour, rich symbolism and cosmic mythology.

The T-shirts: Iconic Cover Art Reimagined

The new range of T-shirts have been designed and reworked from the original paintings to integrate the imagery into the style and colour of the garment. In the case of images with a strong central figure the backgrounds have been removed so that the protagonist jumps out. Doing so involved Ben tracing the very lines his father drew 50 years earlier.

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Quality and Sustainability

Nova T-shirt is made on demand, which cuts down on over‑production. Unless specifically stated, the material is 100% cotton to give comfort and durability (the Ash Grey option is 99% cotton and 1% polyester). The printing technique is direct to garment printing so it has a natural feel, rather than a print onto a transfer which tends to have a plastic feel to it and be less durable. The T-shirts are created to the highest quality in order to preserve the artist’s legacy.

Because they are made specifically for each order, there is a slightly longer delivery time.

Care for Nova T-shirt

Nova T-shirt is perfect for…

How Nova T-shirt Fits into Haberfield’s Larger Legacy

Bob Haberfield was incredibly prolific. As well as book covers, record covers and product illustrations he painted thousands of works in many styles, from abstract to representational, the poetic to the wildly surreal. His visual imagination was expansive and his talent was boundless

The art shop makes part of that legacy visible, not only in posters but now in a wearable form. Posters or art prints live on walls, but a T‑shirt lets you carry the art so that every person becomes a walking gallery.

• 100% cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Heather colors are 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²)
• Open-end yarn
• Tubular fabric
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

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