Marisha Pessl – Special Topics in Calamity Physics

Book cover design and artwork for the novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics. The story follows Blue van Meer, a brilliant teenager who begins her senior year in a small town after years of traveling with her eccentric father. She becomes entangled with a secretive group led by the enigmatic film teacher, Hannah Schneider. When Hannah is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Blue embarks on a complex investigation filled with literary references and unexpected twists.

For the cover design of Marisha Pessl’s novel, subtle references to the book’s intricate narrative are embedded throughout, aimed at intriguing readers and revealing deeper layers as they progress through the story. Notably, many characters are named after butterflies, reflecting their intricate and elusive natures and mirroring Blue’s own transformative journey.

Each butterfly featured on the cover was carefully selected from the Zoological Museum’s collection in Copenhagen, where we were kindly permitted to photograph these beautiful, delicate creatures.