Kevin's Watch

Maybe this has been brought up before, but on the cover of TWL (purple edition), TC is walking towards the KRILL on the lake, behind him, on the shore is Brinn (the only person with him at the time) - but Brinn has a sword across his back. I am assuming the Haruchai continuing not to use weapons.

This got me wondering how much SRD had a hand in the cover art for the books or if it was something left to the editor or publisher. I like Darrel K Sweets art a lot, but the 'confusion' between the text and image make me wonder who was in charge of the final image.

Ask Wayfriend to show you his old avatar pic...

I believe it says somewhere in the GI that SRD has no control over cover art...?

A bit of a digression from your question, but I have seen lots of different cover artworks for the books over the years and the ones that always do it for me best are still the original UK paperback covers. TC ic never depicted on them and the circular inset pictures always seem to get 'the feel' of the particular book just right. Also the work is vague enough that no 'spoilers' as such can really ever be drawn from the artwork. (Sorry guys - back to the main thread.)

Is it possible Brinn isn't carrying a sword, but something of Covenant's?

peter wrote:A bit of a digression from your question, but I have seen lots of different cover artworks for the books over the years and the ones that always do it for me best are still the original UK paperback covers. TC ic never depicted on them and the circular inset pictures always seem to get 'the feel' of the particular book just right. Also the work is vague enough that no 'spoilers' as such can really ever be drawn from the artwork. (Sorry guys - back to the main thread.)

agree Peter, best TC covers I've seen

If you have the recent reprints of the First Chrons, you will be so mortified over them, you will forget all about these. They all three depict a yellow gold ring. YELLOW. I think I threw up a little in my mouth standing in Barnes and Noble looking at them........

Could it have been Sunder or one of the freed prisoners instead of the Haruchai? Because the person in the background seemed to be in awe and shock which of course a Haruchai would not display. Also the cover done by Darrel K Sweet has done a great number of great cover art for Sci-fi and fantasy.

Rocksister wrote:They all three depict a yellow gold ring. YELLOW. I think I threw up a little in my mouth standing in Barnes and Noble looking at them........

I think SRD did as well. He said, "I think those covers are cheap--and deliberately misleading." Not to mention, "The fact that the ring depicted is *yellow* gold is a shameless attempt to cash in on "The Lord of the Rings" somehow." [GI]

tinhamodic wrote:Could it have been Sunder or one of the freed prisoners instead of the Haruchai? Because the person in the background seemed to be in awe and shock which of course a Haruchai would not display.

I've always assumed it was Sunder for that very reason.

Well, I looked at the book cover closely, and there's no doubt it's a sword.

I can't think of anyone who had a sword.

And only Brinn followed Covenant to the tarn. Sunder wasn't there.

And Brinn wouldn't let his jaw hang so low, I don't think.

I think we have to declare this one an art/story screwup.

Could it be a bo staff instead of a sword? I mean, metal wasn't very common in the Land.

I do think you are right though... it's probably artistic license.

I could not find a pic on line that shows enough detail. But inspection of an actual book makes it clear it cannot be anything but a sword.

Or a sword-shaped beacon.

Gotta be artistic license. Even though I favor Sweet's covers, I don't think any of them present an accurate representation of the respective scenes.

That cover really does Brinn injustice (if that really is Brinn). First, no self-respecting Haruchai would never be crouching in that position with an open-mouthed expression. Brinn would be standing with the usual dispassionate look on his face. Secondly, the Haruchai never felt the need for weapons. As they say, "we suffice".

I love the Haruchai - they are truly badass mofo's!

wayfriend wrote:I could not find a pic on line that shows enough detail. But inspection of an actual book makes it clear it cannot be anything but a sword.

Or a sword-shaped beacon.

Looks like a sword strapped on his back to me!

Morinmoss wrote:That cover really does Brinn injustice (if that really is Brinn). First, no self-respecting Haruchai would never be crouching in that position with an open-mouthed expression. Brinn would be standing with the usual dispassionate look on his face. Secondly, the Haruchai never felt the need for weapons. As they say, "we suffice".

I love the Haruchai - they are truly badass mofo's!

Could not agree more Morinmoss - this figure if it were meant to represent Brinn would not be artistic licence, it would be culpable misrepresentation! And to Brinn of all the Haruchai, who had to be the coolest of the cool. (Remember how his hand came out and gripped Covenants wrist and his flat expressionless face appeared through the cell door in the na-Morhams goal beneath Revelstone.)

Hell, all this time I thought it was Linden.

wayfriend wrote:Or a sword-shaped beacon.

I quite like the representation of Covenant (especially hi grubby white T shirt below the robe) , but does anyone else feel that the picture has a sort of almost 'biblical' feel to it, what with the robe and the light and the cross shaped sword and all......