Cover Art Change
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Cover Art Change
Bad news for anyone who buys the UK editions of the books: They're redesigning them, starting with the mass market paperback of Bonehunters.
Said by the publishers, "we're reworking/refreshing Steve E's covers - making them less fussy, focusing on a single/iconic image (still using the brilliant Steve Stone) and, I hope, giving them a more contemporary/ mainstream feel."
And the result?
Generic art noone would give a second look to on the shelf.
Said by the publishers, "we're reworking/refreshing Steve E's covers - making them less fussy, focusing on a single/iconic image (still using the brilliant Steve Stone) and, I hope, giving them a more contemporary/ mainstream feel."
And the result?
Generic art noone would give a second look to on the shelf.
- [Syl]
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Yep. I'm underwhelmed.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
crap.
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
- Spiral Jacobs
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- variol son
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Now I'm going to have to buy the first five books again.
DAMN THEM ALL!
DAMN THEM ALL!
You do not hear, and so you cannot be redeemed.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
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- [Syl]
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Yeah, it's less of a 'read this book' blurb than a 'read these other books' blurb.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
Check out the new cover: fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2007/02/reapers-gale-cover-art.html
Cheers,
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Cheers,
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
- Sorus
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Meh. I liked the old cover art. I don't know much about the artist, but it appeared that he had actually read the books and knew how the characters were really supposed to look.
Also, having seven years of experience in visual merchandising in bookstores, books with 'interesting' covers are more likely to get 'faced out' in the section, books that are 'faced out' in the section are more likely to get picked up by a reader, and books that get picked up are more likely to be sold. 'Giving them a more contemporary/ mainstream feel' is going to make them blend in. Blending in is bad.
In the grand scheme of things it probably won't make much difference, but I personally find it a bit annoying.
Also, having seven years of experience in visual merchandising in bookstores, books with 'interesting' covers are more likely to get 'faced out' in the section, books that are 'faced out' in the section are more likely to get picked up by a reader, and books that get picked up are more likely to be sold. 'Giving them a more contemporary/ mainstream feel' is going to make them blend in. Blending in is bad.
In the grand scheme of things it probably won't make much difference, but I personally find it a bit annoying.
Oh, a change is coming, feel these doors now closing
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I believe the artist is still the same as on the original covers, Sorus. If you look (very, very) closely at the new RG cover, you can see that Rhulad looks a bit like the Tiste Edur on the cover of Midnight tides did. Not that they looked anything like the book described them (well, closer than the US edition, I suppose).
It's the publisher--the marketers and designers--that've enforced the new style, and the artist just has to go along with their wishes.
It's the publisher--the marketers and designers--that've enforced the new style, and the artist just has to go along with their wishes.
The change in covers makes them look more like George RR Martin's covers. A single image, almost like a logo. Quite different to the old covers which portrayed a scene from the book.
Note to self - when waiting for a series to finish before starting to read it, dont buy any of the books as they may change covers half way through.
Note to self - when waiting for a series to finish before starting to read it, dont buy any of the books as they may change covers half way through.
Just wanted to let you guys know that I've posted the cover art for THE LEES OF LAUGHTER'S END on the blog.
Cheers,
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Cheers,
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
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No sh*t.Darujhistan wrote:I like the new UK covers - there i said it.
And anyway anything is better than the covers they have to stomach in the US! The usual generic Conan picture!
I'm currently reading Memories of Ice, and the garish cover (I'm guessing featuring Gruntle and Stonny) is so downright embarrassing I don't want other people to see it, and I place it face down while not reading.
It really is hidious and screams "fantasy crap."
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Demondime-a-dozen-spawn wrote:No sh*t.Darujhistan wrote:I like the new UK covers - there i said it.
And anyway anything is better than the covers they have to stomach in the US! The usual generic Conan picture!
I'm currently reading Memories of Ice, and the garish cover (I'm guessing featuring Gruntle and Stonny) is so downright embarrassing I don't want other people to see it, and I place it face down while not reading.
It really is hidious and screams "fantasy crap."
I'm sorry to say US readers of Steven have really got the s***y end of the stick with the covers, the UK covers are pretty good IMO, i like them, both the old style, and the new ones.
I'd feel patronised and a tad humililated having the generic covers forced upon me.
Oh well, it doesn't spoil the reading of course, but i think it takes something away from the book as a 'possesion' in the same way CD's and those crappy plastic CD cases have no artistic value or pleasure in them at all, unlike the old Vinyl and their great sleeves.
A CD is throw away disposable crap, a Vinly album in a sleeve, is something to cllect and treasure.
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The soft covers of the two later books, HoC and MT are good IMO. HoC with a small warrior with blood covered sword kneeling before three or four hounds attacking a uniformed soldier, anf MT with a few warriors standing in the midst of a forest around the skull of some giant reptilian or draconic skull. But the colors have been muted and or scaled to these very drab and muddy tones. It looks deliberate and having seen the same images online looking great, that's a fair conclusion. The books are soft covered but they're larger than trade paperbacks. Not sure what that format is called.Darujhistan wrote:I'm sorry to say US readers of Steven have really got the s***y end of the stick with the covers, the UK covers are pretty good IMO, i like them, both the old style, and the new ones.
I'd feel patronised and a tad humililated having the generic covers forced upon me.
That is so true that the few exceptions to that rule really stand out. Tool's, for instance. But I'm certain that most bands have little or no say in the matter.Darujhistan wrote:Oh well, it doesn't spoil the reading of course, but i think it takes something away from the book as a 'possesion' in the same way CD's and those crappy plastic CD cases have no artistic value or pleasure in them at all, unlike the old Vinyl and their great sleeves.
A CD is throw away disposable crap, a Vinly album in a sleeve, is something to cllect and treasure.
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