What exactly is the cover image of the new book?

Exactly what you find inside the record guide! The vinyl record grooves on the book’s cover are from the Jethro Tull album Minstrel In The Gallery (Chrysalis CHR 1082). The image was taken on a Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope SM-300 by Steven D. Price.

"One thing that I absolutely loved was the cover concept. Thank God no dragons, elves or sky wizards or Roger Dean copycat artwork." -- Kepler62 from Progarchives.com