Official Art Website of Niko Zinovii
“What if belief in god is centered in a spot in one’s brain? And what if a pill can erase that belief, while boosting one’s intelligence? This is the stuff of Niko Zinovii’s The God Antenna – part science fiction, part philosophical speculation, totally interesting.”
—Ben Bova Campbell & 6 time Hugo Award winning author and editor
"THE GOD ANTENNA deals with some fascinating and serious questions about a subject that science fiction rarely deals with. Recommended."
—Mike Resnick Nebula & 5 time Hugo Award winning author and all-time leading award winning author for short fiction
"Art can challenge, inspire, and uplift the human mind, as well as motivate positive change in the human condition."
Niko Zinovii
Publisher, novelist, screenwriter, artist
BA anthropology, MA economics
Niko Zinovii hails from Connecticut, where he spent time training as a natural bodybuilder and strongman while he studied human evolution, genetics, and archaeology, obtaining his bachelor degree in Anthropology, in the process obtaining what he describes as a unique and insightful worldview.
Later in life, in California, after writing a number of screenplays on spec, Niko earned his MA in Economics to expand his understanding of man and politics.
Although Niko professes that his great interest lies in science, his passion in political and philosophical ideology, he finds himself, at times, an artist at heart, a writer, finding fulfillment in the realm of creativity. Thus on most weekends Niko writes and indulges in poetry and art.
In addition to the creative works found on this website, Niko had contributed the original illustrative artwork for the Upside Down Animals (UDA) children's picture book series.
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Future projects
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
This Studio is planning the publication of a high quality, hard cover edition of Jules Verne's 1869 classic, accompanied by new original artwork, new designs of Verne's Nautilus, annotations, and commentary chapters authored by recognized authorities. The goal being to publish the ultimate French and English (both languages in the one book) edition of this work to date.
Lost Horizon
Zinovii Art Studio is interested in publishing James Hilton's classic work of utopian speculative fiction. (Hilton's 1933 Lost Horizon is a good example of a literary story that contains the fantastic but presented in a possible manner.) This would be published as a high quality, hardcover edition with new original artwork and commentary.
At the Mountains of Madness
This Studio is exploring the possibility of publishing H. P. Lovecraft's unique 1931 novella of speculative fiction. (Lovecraft made a great effort to present this horror tale in a manner consistent with the science and knowledge of the early 20th Century, especially in his depiction of extraterrestrials.)
Collection of Haiku Poetry
An anthology of haiku poetry selected from the works of the masters Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa, and other notable haiku poets, with new original watercolor artwork accompanying each poem. Poems will be presented in the original Japanese with new English transaltions
Collection of Khayyam Poetry
New translations of selected poems by thirteenth-century Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet Omar Khayyam, featuring new original artwork for each poem. Poems will be presented in the original Farsi (Persian) language with new English translations.
Studio
This studio primarily features literary art written by Niko Zinovii, although the publication of new editions of classic examples of speculative fiction are planned as well as works of fantasy and poetry. The studio is also pursuing the production of film projects.
Vision
Art is at its finest when it is optimistic and life asserting, when it expresses faith in the mind of man, expanding perceptions and inspiring the soul, celebrating wonderment by imagining the possibilities of what humanity and science can produce. It is at its strongest when even tragedy is faced with strength and a sense of hope and wonder, when it is shown that we carry the torch for much more than we are aware.
Theme
More than science fiction.
We primarily promote Speculative Fiction, in the spirit of Robert A. Heinlein's original use of the term, i.e., as a synonym for science fiction that specifically excludes fantasy. We believe this complements Arthur C. Clarke defining the difference between science fiction and fantasy as the former being what is possible and can be, the latter being what is inherently impossible and thus cannot be.
Along these lines, we have elected to further recognize literary stories that contain fantastic but possible elements as falling under the rubric of speculative fiction. Thus we do not limit speculative fiction to the science fiction genre alone.
We embrace the improbable made possible and the remarkable sense of wonder that it instills.
ARt + SCIENCE
This studio promotes the artistic celebration of the imagination and the human condition while simultaneously embracing knowledge.
Speculative fiction, as we have defined it (see our Theme) does not require its reader to suspend his belief in reality. It does not request the reader to accept what is inherently impossible. The aim here is scientific adherence. This studio does recognize, however, the gray area illustrated by Arthur C. Clarke's 3rd Law—"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"—and thus new works will be considerate of this, and careful as to how the fantastic is presented.
This studio's new works, yet to be created, may fall under the heading of hard science fiction, soft science fiction, or even general fiction—when they imaginatively incorporate the fantastic in accordance to science.
This studio has a special interest in creating new speculative fiction that falls under the rubrics of :
1. Extraterrestrial (alien contact)
2. Mythos (religion/mythology)
3. Utopian
4. Genetic redesigning
These works will often recognize the sea, biology, and artificial intelligence as man’s next frontiers, and the tales may involve an exploration of non-human intelligence and possibly extraterrestrial archaeology.
The Story
A good story well told.
This studio promotes imagination and a genuine return to the story and character. Imaginative stories often require special effects when depicted in film. This studio promotes emphasizing the story and its characters, with special effects being utilized to complete the story, not dominate it.
This studio is presently pursuing the production of screenplays of speculative fiction, imaginative yet simple stories, well told, unique and emotionally touching.
Prior to pursuing funding, we are seeking the right directors for these projects, as we believe that story and director are the first two vital elements in producing a unique film of high quality and special vision.
“Art makes you think. It makes you feel. It makes you look more deeply. Art passes beyond human mortality. It can speak into the future. To other minds and hearts. It says… ‘I was here, and here is something I want you to consider.’”
Niko Zinovii
Hidden Worlds
Things That Never Were
BayLock