In Magdalena Mountain, Robert Michael Pyle’s first and long-awaited novel, the award-winning naturalist proves he is as at home in an imagined landscape as he is in the natural one. At the center of this story of majesty and high mountain magic are three Magdalenas—Mary, a woman whose uncertain journey opens the book; Magdalena Mountain, shrouded in mystery and menace; and the all-black Magdalena alpine butterfly, the most elusive of several rare and beautiful species found on the mountain.
The typeface used on the book cover is Columbia Sans (Production Type, 2017). Initially started as a custom design with shapes that could be considered a “sans-serif version of Times New Roman”, Columbia Sans gets rid of much of its peculiarity when used in all caps. In this regard, it is not unlike its French forebear Peignot. The six lines are skillfully arranged in three blocks of different hues so that the type effortlessly blends with the mountain scenery.