Welcome to the March 2014 Edition of Cover Story, the monthly feature showcasing genre cover art for works scheduled for publication within said month. I do judge books (and magazines, and comics, and…) by their covers, at least on the first pass. It was the art on science fiction book covers that drew me in as a young reader, and I believe it is important to promote the artists and designers, and the book companies that employ them, for the efforts made to keep alive the grand tradition of eye-catching genre cover art.
(Monthly Disclaimer: I am not an art critic and have no formal artistic training. “Eye-catching” means exactly what it says, these images caught my eye and drew my attention to the works they grace, compelling me to search out more information about the book. Opinions contrary to mine, and suggestions for works that I missed that caught your eye, are always welcome.)
This month’s featured image is by artist Matt Dixon. To see what publication sports this great image, come along with me.
Title: The Burning Dark
Author: Adam Christopher
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 25th, 2014
Artist: Will Staehle
Artist Will Staehle has made my favorites list before with covers for novels written by Adam Christopher and he does so again with this simple, menacing cover. Adam Christopher described the cover as “spacey, and dark, and creepy as anything” and that sums it up quite well.
Staehle has used a familiar science fiction design with the darkened corridor to give a sense of the story’s setting and has then lit the scene, so to speak, to maximum effectiveness. The figure silhouetted against the bright light at the end of the corridor could be anyone, and his/her presence could mean anything. It is all a bit eerie and mysterious, which is perfect for a novel described as being a “a gripping far-future thriller“.
I was drawn to the image the first time I saw it on Christopher’s site and, after reading Hang Wire, was interested in seeing what Adam Christopher would do in this science fictional setting. I pre-ordered a copy for the Kindle last month. Irene Gallo speaks about the decision to use Will Staehle and the evolution of the cover design on the Tor.com website here.
Title: Doppel
Author: Lindsay Smith
Publisher: Tor.com
Release Date: March 18th, 2014
Artist: Jeffrey Alan Love
Artist Jeffrey Alan Love was featured in the inaugural edition of Cover Story with his illustration for the Simon Ings novel, Wolves. In reading his blog at the time I was struck by much of his work, in particular this image which was commissioned to go along with a short story to be released this month on the Tor.com website.
I admire the way that Love uses the dominant figure in the image (I am so intrigued…who/what is that?) as a backdrop for additional artistic details–the city, the moon, the lanky, mysterious smaller figure.
Once again Jeffrey Alan Love utilizes minimal colors to such great effect. In contrasting it with Will Staehle’s image above, the illustration for Doppel has a photographic negative feel, with its bright white negative space.
I have a hankering to own every book with a Jeffrey Alan Love cover, and cannot wait to read this short on March 18th.
Title: Mars Evacuees
Author: Sophia McDougall
Publisher: Edgmont Books Ltd.
Release Date: March 27th, 2014
Artist: Andy Potts
This cover by Andy Potts is eye-catching in the extreme with its vivid color scheme. Given the Mars setting, the emphasis on orange/red is perfect and I like the way that the silhouettes represent the young cast of characters.
I think McDougall conveys it best in her own reaction to seeing the cover: “The British cover for Mars Evacuees is so orange, and so shiny, and so very very pretty, and so much like a really cool band poster, and yet it still has that little bit of retro B-movie something-or-other that I wanted, I just want to rub it on my face and it is possible that I have.”
I like the loose design of the cover, especially when seen in its entirety.
Sophia McDougall gets candid about author fears about book covers and her own excitement with Potts’ work on Mars Evacuees on her blog. It is well worth reading not only for her thoughts but also for insights on Andy Potts’ creative process.
Title: Night Broken
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Artist: Dan Dos Santos
Every time I see a new Patricia Briggs release here in the U.S., I am thankful for the consistency shown by Ace Books in their commissioning of work by artist Dan Dos Santos.
Over the course of eight novels Dos Santos has created an iconic version of Mercy Thompson that draws my attention every time I walk into a bookstore.
There is something about the way in which Dan Dos Santos renders light reflecting off of skin that is uniquely his own and the characters he creates just pop. His paintings of Mercy Thompson also make me want to increase my weekly ab work!
I have said this before and I will say it again, I give kudos to Ace for making sure the cover text doesn’t interfere with the artwork, allowing the artwork to sell the book.
Title: Memory of Sky
Author: Robert Reed
Publisher: Prime Books
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Artist: Benoit Penaud
Heavenly bodies dominate artist Benoit Penaud’s cover for this Great Ship novel by author Robert Reed. I have mentioned in other Cover Story posts that I am drawn to covers with planets in close proximity, regardless of how unrealistic this situation might be in real life.
I imagine it is that fascination with a universe full of planetary bodies that I have had since childhood that makes me think it would be amazing to sit here on Earth and see planets/moons that big rise in the night sky.
The image of the lone tree is particularly effective, providing a poetic image to go with the poetic story title. I have yet to read any of Reed’s longer fiction but have enjoyed several of his short stories in Asimov’s over the years. I have SF Signal‘s e-review copy waiting for me on my Kindle.
Title: The Pilgrims
Author: Will Elliott
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Artist: Kekai Kotaki
Kekai Kotaki’s cover for Will Elliott’s novel, The Pilgrims, is striking.
The castle in the background looms over what looks like an enormous, spire-filled city. The front of that structure calls to mind the head of a horse, giving it a strong, powerful feel.
The red door in the image draws the eye, especially given the more neutral palette. Given that this door, and its strange appearance on the cover, echoes an important story element, it is an effective visual representation of Elliott’s story.
Although the image shows the city in the bright light of day, there is something sharp and menacing about the city wall that fills me with curiosity and trepidation for what the people on their way to the city will find.
Title: Lockstep
Author: Karl Schroeder
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Artist: Chris McGrath
Artist Christian “Chris” McGrath has a distinct style that stands out when I am perusing the bookstore shelves. Without fail I will pick up a book with a Chris McGrath cover to read what the story is about. His is a realistic style with an artistic quality that I enjoy.
Author Karl Schroeder has described McGrath’s imagining of young adult protagonists Toby and Corva as “excellent”.
Right away I am drawn to the expressions on the characters’ faces and I wonder what has drawn their gaze. That is intriguing. The science fictional trappings in the background are also a draw for me.
Chris McGrath’s work is often characterized by an overall unifying hue that really sets the mood for the piece, and that is the case with the cover for Lockstep. This novel was first serialized in Analog magazine, and will be collected in novel form for the first time this month.
Title: Blood and Iron
Author: Jon Sprunk
Publisher: Pyr
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Artist: Jason Chan
Jason Chan’s cover for Jon Sprunk’s new The Book of the Black Earth series reflects the darkness hinted at in both the book’s and series’ titles. The blood red of the lower portion of the cover anchors the illustration nicely, setting off an image that might have been too dark otherwise.
Chan includes all three of the characters who will find themselves drawn together in Sprunk’s story. I am impressed by the way that Chan has rendered what little light is reflected in this cloudy, stormy image. The way it bounces off the character’s skin highlights their strength and I like the way the energy sparking between the central character’s hands provides a glimpse of his facial features.
I received a copy of Blood and Iron for review late last week and I can attest that the cover is much more impressive on the book itself. The colors are much richer than are reflected in this digital image.
Title: Words of Radiance
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Artist: Michael Whelan
I am so excited that we are days away from the release of Words of Radiance, Brandon Sanderson’s second novel in The Stormlight Archive. Sanderson’s first novel in this series, The Way of Kings, was a work of art in and of itself, with endpaper and interior images that made owning a print version of the book imperative…even if it was practically impossible to read unless one worked out regularly.
Michael Whelan returns to the series with another wrap-around cover (look closely for some minor changes he has worked since this was released) and an endpaper image that is so stunning that I frankly wish it was the cover, with no insult intended for the cover Whelan created.
The weather plays such an important part in this series and I enjoy the way the sky echoes that of the first novel.
I look forward to grabbing both a print and ebook copy on Tuesday and will be co-hosting/taking part in a group read of the book, stay tuned here on Stainless Steel Droppings for details.
Title: The Tropic of Serpents
Author: Marie Brennan
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Artist: Todd Lockwood
Todd Lockwood’s cover for Marie Brennan’s first Lady Trent memoir was one of my favorite covers of 2013 and I am happy to see him back on this second novel.
Lockwood’s work is generally more fleshed-out and filled with background detail and it is fascinating to see how effective these dragon images are rendered against a white background. His work couldn’t be more perfect for the kind of story Brennan has created.
I like the way that the cover for The Tropic of Serpents incorporates movement, which contrasts nicely with the more posed image of the dragon on the cover of A Natural History of Dragons. The image shown above is of the complete wrap-around cover.
Title: Clarkesworld, Issue 90
Author: edited by Neil Clarke
Publisher: Wyrm Publishing
Release Date: March 2014
Artist: Matt Dixon
And finally, as promised, the Matt Dixon image featured at the beginning of this post is shown with text included to be the cover illustration for the March 2014 issue of Clarkesworld. Issue 90 features one of my favorite covers to date, and Clarkesworld frequently features nice cover art.
I have not been shy about my affection for robots and their presence on the cover of genre fiction is sure to make me sit up and take notice.
Dixon’s robot looks sad, with his downcast posture and empty chamber where one would expect the heart to be. That melancholy feeling is echoed in the autumnal elements/colors.
I cannot help but want to take this little guy home.
What a great image. Kudos to Clarkesworld for their artistic eye.
There you have it, a small selection of genre art covers that caught my eye for publications that will hit digital and physical shelves here in March…and will no doubt work their magic in conjuring money from our wallets.
Thanks as always to John DeNardo for his tireless work bringing monthly genre publication goodness to our eyes over on SF Signal.
In case you missed them, here are the links to the January Edition of Cover Story and the February Edition of Cover Story.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts on the above images, let me know what I might have missed that has attracted your attention and feel free to disagree with my choices.
Oh I do like that Doppel cover, it is very intriguing. And the Clarkesworld one as well, such a sad looking robot 🙂
It was the cover of Marie Brennan’s A Natural History that got me interested in that book so I also love the cover to the sequel.
Me too, it is one of the books I am actually reading now (I’ve got far too many going at once and really need to settle down and focus).
Gah, want to comment on each and every one of them! But I love the Pilgrims, first noticed that a few days ago and it still looks awesome. Not a fan of the Sanderson one, but didn’t really like the first either. But Jeffrey Alan Love may quickly become a favorite, his work is just so good.
Comment away!
Love is great, isn’t he? I want to buy all the Simon Ings books that they’ve reprinted with his covers. I should actually read Wolves soon to see what I feel about his writing, lol!
The Sanderson covers aren’t my favorite of Whelan’s work, but I do like them. The color scheme for Way of Kings makes me feel more strongly about it than this one, although the endpaper images for Words of Radiance may tip that one over the edge. Can’t wait to see it printed in the actual book.
Pilgrims is a stunner, isn’t it? And the story sounds really interesting.
Re: pilgrims. Said it before, I am a sucker for architecture in covers, no matter how many times it is done.
You did, and I’m with you 100%.
I actually read Wolves, mainly because of the cover, but also because it sounded sort of cool. I’m not sure if the cover entirely fits, although you could easily argue that yes it does 🙂
It is a good book but it took me a while to get in.
I’m very curious about it. I will review it when I get to it and will let you know if I have that same experience.
Really great cover artwork! I have Robert Reed’s THE MEMORY OF SKY (I’m a big Reed fan) and the Brandon Sanderson on order. You tastes in SF artwork are right on the money!
Thanks George. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by a Robert Reed short story, and I just recently heard about the Great Ships stories when they released a collected version of the stories (which I need to snag an ebook copy of). I like generational ship stories anyway, and I cannot imagine not enjoy Reed’s longer fiction.
I’ll be picking up the new Sanderson brick..er, book…tomorrow. Can’t wait for a return visit to those characters.
Matt Dixon makes me want to give a robot a hug.
Mars Evacuees is seriously a great cover. Sitting on a shelf with all the others, that’s the book that’s I’d have to pick up.
So true! What a forlorn little fellow.
I feel the same way about Mars Evacuees. If I walked into a store and saw that cover I couldn’t resist going right over to it to pick it up.
Too much good stuff. The Brennan! The Sanderson! The Pilgrims! (shiny!). The Reed is new school space goodness!
Great way to describe the Reed.
And yes, there is too much good stuff. As my budget will be attesting to as the month rolls on. Ugh!
hm. Some of those I am thinking “I want to look up” and it is so because of the cover… BUT, since I have the Briggs and the Sanderson pre-ordered… I will resist! (Are you hosting a group read of the Sanderson? Because, I actually managed to do the one for Way of Kings….)
I am going to host, or co-host, a group read for Words of Radiance. Details will be up soon. I do want to give a bit of time for folks to snag the book, but I may end up putting up a post first thing in the morning just to gauge interest. Can’t wait to pick up a copy tomorrow, even though my plans are to first dive into the James S.A. Corey Star Wars book, which I will also be picking up tomorrow.
That’s a group read that will take months! But then not everyone trudges through those doorstop books like slow ol’ me.
Yes it will, and I plan on spreading it out over a long period of time, otherwise it gets to be too hard to keep up with the reading any everything else going on.
Love that cover of Doppel, closely followed by Mars Evacuee.
You have a good eye for cover art!
Thanks, Leslie. At the very least I know what I like. I know we all have different tastes, which is why I enjoy knowing what others like, and don’t like.
That Doppel cover is cool and The Memory of Sky cover is really beautiful.
Isn’t it? I’m so glad that story (Doppel) is coming out this month so I could share that cover image.
I’ll get back to my assessment of the cover art in a bit, but now I have a request. Could you please identify of the work is on a digest/magazine, short story, novella/novelette or novel? That would really help me understand what I’m looking at.
Thanks.
Yes indeed. Don’t mind adding that to my info before each picture in the coming posts.
I meant not in the text but in your heading information for each image.
I figured that is what you meant, which is why I wrote that I’ll start adding it to “my info before each picture”. 🙂
THANKS.
Now about likes on this end of the electro-text tube.
FAVORITE: Memory of Sky – simply stunning I’d put it on the wall in a second.
THEN:
2. The Pilgrims – it really pulls me in, I want to know where, what, why.
3. Clarkesworld cover – awww, poor little guy. It’s a sad picture, exquisitely done.
4. Tropic of Serpents – I liked the first cover, and this one with as you say, movement, is even, better.
It really is, isn’t it? Wish Reed could have gotten as nice a cover for the Great Ships collection.
Now I just have to get around to reading them! Ha!
Always appreciate knowing which of them caught your eye.
Oh, and while I’m hogging things here, Mars Evacuees would be a great cover with a different font for the text. I understand what they were trying to do, but it looks really clunky the way it’s used in that layout. Too bad.
I can see that. I wonder if the text was included as part of the artwork created by Potts or if it was included by the publishing company. Hmmm…
Love the Kekai Kotaki cover. I was trying to find a hi-res cover so I could zoom in. It almost looks like roiling water and those three in a boat (coracle) with paddles in their hands. The Michael Whelan cover art (and your end-paper link) is superb – the use of hot and cold mixing is amazing.
Thanks again. More covers have drawn me in and have those books added to my wish list.
It is great. Here is a link to a hi-res image:
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/the-pilgrims-by-will-elliott.jpg
You are welcome for the post, I enjoy doing them.
Most of it looks really good! I love the little sad robot. My other favorites are Lockwood, Kotaki, and Penaud (I’m a sucker for planetary bodies in paintings). I also like Mars Evacuees, probably because it reminds me of vintage sci-fi covers and Soviet posters from my childhood, haha.
I can’t decide if I like Love’s work. His stuff is definitely striking, though.
Love’s work certainly strikes me as the kind of art that would polarize opinions more than others. It is a distinct style and execution that works for some, but not others. It happens to push a lot of “like” buttons for me personally.
I’ve seen old Soviet posters that I really like, and I can see that comparison. There was something about that art that was attention grabbing…or IS attention grabbing, I should say.
I am drawn to books because of their covers most especially when I know absolutely nothing about the book – that’s when I pass up a book or not (based on if my eye is interested or not).
Of the books you featured, based on cover alone, The Pilgrims and The Burning Dark intrigue me. The Tropic of Serpents catches my eye too….I like dragons, but this cover really holds my attention.
I really like Dan Dos Santos work, but I’m not a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson covers maybe because I’ve no interest in the books.
Radiance of Words — cannot wait to have that book in my hands. With that said, I’m sort of disappointed in the cover. I LOVED The Way of Kings cover. This one doesn’t do it for me much BUT maybe my tune will change once I actually have the book and see it for myself up close.
I want that edition of Clarkesworld magazine because I love that cover so much. And then, I want to read the story associated with that cover (if there is a story). That’s my absolute favorite of these covers. I cannot remember….is Clarkesworld a physical magazine or only a digital one? (I am going to go look for that answer)
I am really liking the cover art posts.
I’m the same way when it comes to unknown books, Deanna. Cover art that appeals to me has caused me to take many a chance on an unknown, to me, author.
I imagine the Mercy Thompson covers are ones that could be a turn off to some in regards to the whole midriff-baring, sexy girl thing too. Not that you are saying anything about that. I happen to like them the same way I tend to like all of Dos Santos’ covers. I think his art is amazing and his execution is uniquely his own. I haven’t read any of the books myself, but do want to give them a try (beyond the little I’ve read of the first one) at some point. Maybe for Once Upon a Time.
Clarkesworld is a electronic magazine. I don’t think there are generally stories associated with the covers, but I too would love to read a story inspired by that image, or vice versa.
Thanks, I’m enjoying doing them.
I am long admirer of Todd Lockwood and Kekai Kotaki and once again I am in awe for their marvelous works. I loved not only what Todd Lockwood did with the cover of “A Natural History of Dragons”, but also his excellent interior illustrations. I am looking forward to see if “The Tropic of Serpents” fares the same.
Clarkesworld has done a great job with its covers and this is yet another example to support my affirmation. 🙂
I too hope Tropic of Serpents has the same level of illustration that I’ve seen thus far in the first book (and reading it for the first time now).
Lockwood is an amazing talent, isn’t he? I’ve seen some of his paintings that have just blown me away with their detail.
Indeed Todd Lockwood’s paintings are wonderful. I had the chance to see some of them upfront at the World Fantasy Convention and I was thrilled by them. I wish I could see all his works displayed in an exhibition.
I just finished reading “A Natural History of Dragons”. I liked the novel, it is quite fun, and I have to admit that the interior illustrations made the experience even better. I’ve already added “The Tropic of Serpents” to my reading list of 2014. 🙂
Lucky you! He is one of the artists I wish they could get to one of the Spectrum shows. I would love to see his work in person, I’m sure it is amazing.
Happy to hear that about A Natural History of Dragons.
Long time admirer, that is. 🙂
And here I was imagining you as about 10 feet tall. Thanks for shattering my illusions. 🙂
1. The Burning Dark – good.
2. Doppel – interesting. But I fear that good cover hides a bad (weak) story by an author of ya. :/
3. Mars Evacuees – awful. For children, not for me.
4. Night Broken – awful and so unoriginal. Sexy bitch with evil look turns me off. Definitely not for me.
5. Memory of Sky – love it. I could consider reading the ship crews adventures which I usually ignore.
6. Pilgrims – could be great. The red door (which didn’t catch my eye until I read about them) broke the over all good cover. They just look like poorly added to a great cover, they just don’t fit. Too little details on them in a greatly detailed cover.
7. Lockstep – there is something that draws me away from this book. I’d label it as “not for me” based on the cover.
8. Blood and Iron – the lower part is better. The idea for the upper part is nice but the girl’s clothing set me off. I’m tired of sexy/impractical clothes only on ladies. I’m not gonna read it.
9. Word of Radiance – I thought that this kind of covers ended in 80s/90s. Not interesting at all. Where are those words? A cover with words would probably better catch my attention than something so ordinary and overused.
10. Tropic of Seprents. – Good. On first thoughts. But then the clash of “dragons” and “serpents” is rather putting me away.
11. Clarkesworld – I love it. It reminds me of Marvin, so I love it even more. 😀 I could even buy it for the cover only. 😀
It looks like the best for me are “Memory of Sky” and “Clarkesworld”.
Great breakdown, Kama, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I enjoy seeing where we agree and don’t, especially in the way some covers make me want to read books while the same ones make you want to turn away.
I like the way the red door breaks up the Pilgrims cover for much the same reasons it didn’t work for you…but that was after reading the synopsis of the book where the adventure starts with a red door that suddenly appears. I thought Kotaki did a nice job of representing that story element visually by having the door appear on the image as if it were something separate and unusual.
I so wish that issue of Clarkesworld was in print. I would hasten to buy a copy. As it is I enjoy having it on the Kindle.
I don’t mind the whole “sexy lady” thing if a) the art is good and b) it fits the story. There is way too much of it happening on the covers of genre fiction, to be sure.
Hehe.
The red door makes more sense after your explanation, tho I’d like it to look somewhat different than like a quick paste from a cheap clipart 😉
Ok, I would buy that Clarkesworld image as a poster. Who cares I dislike posters hanging on my wall. 😀 I’d make an exception. 😀
As a girl myself I’m tired of sexy girls in impractical clothing. I dislike the imbalance between portrayal of men and women (their clothing including). The Lockstep cover looks better in this case. Strange enough all the heroines are always young, sexy, beautiful and wear revealing clothing no matter the place and situation. :/ The girl’s clothes don’t give ANY protection and are a bad idea for a rogue.
Maybe we can petition Clarkesworld to make that the cover of their print edition when they collect the stories at the end of the year!
I completely understand, and I know my take is not quite as valid being a guy. The whole “sex sells” thing is still alive and well. I feel very conflicted about my feelings for this kind of art because I do appreciate the talent involved and appreciate a pretty girl, but I wouldn’t be sad to see this trend shift. Practicality is certainly not a factor in what we see characters wearing on book covers at times, that is for certain.
Oh yeah, definitely. Count me in! And remind me about that petition later on. 😉
Practicality is never a factor when it comes to female characters. Be it in films (the field female special agents wearing heels ;)), books or games (the less armour a woman has the more protection she has :P) I pay attention to the “probability” and clothes (especially on covers) are part of it.
Too bad “Dune”, Tolkien’s Trilogy or other major sf/fantasy don’t have covers with undressed or impractically clothed guys like the Polish version of Lynn Flewelling’s books (Luck in the Shadows) http://www.taniaksiazka.pl/images/popups/315/31528600192KS.jpg or http://www.taniaksiazka.pl/images/popups/319/31946200192KS.jpg The original covers doesn’t really appeal to me, and I’m quite sure it was the first book’s Polish cover that caught my eyes. For the originality of it. 😉
I’ll do it!
The second image you link to is actually Michael Whelan’s work for Michael Moorcock’s Elric series. I doubt the publisher had the rights to use it.
To be equal opportunity, I also like Frank Frazetta’s work on the Tarzan and Conan books, for example, and those gents aren’t exactly covered up nor wearing much that can be considered practical. I wouldn’t want to be sword fighting, or swinging through trees, with that little on. Yikes!
Ooops… Thanks for info. I don’t really like the earlier or the following cover: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Weird_of_the_white_wolf_daw_1977.jpg
http://www.americanartarchives.com/frazetta.htm That’s a lot of awful covers. :/ WTH is that? http://frankfrazetta.org/ I totally dislike his art.
Is that snow? http://www.paperbackfantasies.jjelmquist.com/images/frazetta/Conan02.JPG 😀
I’d agree it’s more equal, but on the other hand, his depictions of women are really grossing me out. :/
He was definitely a prolific artist, that is for sure. His work is in ways a product of his time. I like that many of his women are not the waif-thin depictions you see in a lot of art. They were often damsel-in-distress types but he also has some really strong women covers too (Cave Girl comes to mind).
I imagine now days his work is polarizing. I did a series of posts about him and his work several years ago:
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/the-artisan-series-frank-frazetta-part-one
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/painting-with-fireor-frank-frazetta-part-two
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/frank-frazetta-part-3
He had quite the impact both on fantastic art in general but also on creator’s rights (which were often non-existent before his time).
Sorry, I’m not interested in the history of art, graphics and I generally don’t care if somebody is world renown artist or had a great impact on something, I just care about what I think of the art. It’s true his works are detailed or the ladies aren’t waist-thin, but the showing off nakedness, sexual poses and lack of practicality and thinking put me off instantly. I don’t also care if it was something common back then, because I still don’t like it, no matter how many people did that. And I won’t like the other peoples art, for the same reasons.
I can’t support somebody who does things against my beliefs. I’ll also laugh at graphics like the Silver Warrior because it’s pure idiocy, no matter if the artwork itself is good. To appreciate it I have to put on suspense of disbelief. Not my thing.
I’m gonna read your posts in detail, but nothing I read will change my mind about how I perceive his art.
I’m not trying to change your mind, Kama. Just enjoying having the conversation about art. The beauty of art, classic or contemporary and anywhere in between, is the way we react to it and what emotions, or lack thereof, it elicits.
Some would be dismissive of book cover illustration as “art”, of course, but I think all of us who read passionately can probably point to at least one example of cover illustration that impacted us…at the very least to pick up the book it was advertising.
Believe me, I respect your opinion and certainly don’t expect anyone to agree with all, or any, of my tastes (hence the disclaimer before these posts).
There is a lot of art I don’t like for similar reasons to yours, art that may not be much different on the surface than the example of Frank Frazetta. For me there is just something about his art, particularly the Conan covers that I was first exposed to, that created an appreciation in me that remains even now.
On another note, I hate the way these comments keep getting thinner and thinner. Wish the WordPress set up for this theme did it differently. Pretty soon we will have just one word on every line!
UPDATED: Question, I notice you have a Luis Royo image for your Twitter avatar. Do you like Royo’s work?
“Reply” disappeared on your latest comment. :/ The comments suck for wp. 😀
I’m not writing you’re trying to change my mind. I just state my opinion (facts ;)).
I can name one arty cover that caught my eye and made me buy a book from the genre (ya) I don’t usually read. 😉 http://acatadesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Waktu-Aku-Sama-Mika.jpg i read the description so it’s kinda fitting. 😉
Did you think that you might like them because of sentiment? 😉
Before you asked me this, I didn’t even know his name. I just liked this one, just wondering if I ever saw a full image. I tried to look up his works. Too much unnecessary nudity etc. I’m not gonna stay with this avatar for a long time now.
There are only 2 artists whose work I usually like: http://leafofsteel.deviantart.com and Yoshitaka Amano. His way of painting is peculiar but I like it. Yoshitaka Amano & Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is one of my biggest literary treasures.
I’m not sure how I see Wociech Siudmak’s art.
Wociech Siudmak has some great stuff…and some stuff that is not to my taste. But very talented.
Was just curious about Royo because his work, though very different in style from Frazetta, has some of the same themes, for lack of a better way to put it.
I don’t think I like Frazetta’s art purely from sentiment. He was very talented and his style is unique (though it has been copied much since). I think he captures the raw energy of the kind of stories he was doing illustrations for in a way that few others have been able to do. Others have done great work for Conan and John Carter books, but nothing that captures the spirit of those stories like Frank Frazetta’s work does. Again, just my opinion.
For me the ‘outside of genre’ captures are usually covers for straight fiction books that are well done. It isn’t a section of the bookstore that I frequent. I generally hit the SFF and Mystery sections. But I’ve discovered some good fiction/literature books because of covers that made me stop and take a look.
Oh, and Amano’s work is great!
The Robert Reed cover is fantastic, and finding out that it is a generation ship book, I’m intrigued. Because I only have 18 books out from the library right now (it’s a sickness), I need more, obviously.
Only 18? You are really letting down the side, Joe. You must add a few more. 🙂
“Reply” disappeared on your latest comment. :/ The comments suck for wp. 😀
I’m not writing you’re trying to change my mind. I just state my opinion (facts ;)).
I can name one arty cover that caught my eye and made me buy a book from the genre (ya) I don’t usually read. 😉 http://acatadesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Waktu-Aku-Sama-Mika.jpg i read the description so it’s kinda fitting. 😉
Did you think that you might like them because of sentiment? 😉
Before you asked me this, I didn’t even know his name. I just liked this one, just wondering if I ever saw a full image. I tried to look up his works. Too much unnecessary nudity etc. I’m not gonna stay with this avatar for a long time now.
There are only 2 artists whose work I usually like: http://leafofsteel.deviantart.com and Yoshitaka Amano. His way of painting is peculiar but I like it. Yoshitaka Amano & Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is one of my biggest literary treasures.
I’m not sure how I see Wociech Siudmak’s art.
[Putting this here as well do get rid of the ever decreasing comment window issue]
Wociech Siudmak has some great stuff…and some stuff that is not to my taste. But very talented.
Was just curious about Royo because his work, though very different in style from Frazetta, has some of the same themes, for lack of a better way to put it.
I don’t think I like Frazetta’s art purely from sentiment. He was very talented and his style is unique (though it has been copied much since). I think he captures the raw energy of the kind of stories he was doing illustrations for in a way that few others have been able to do. Others have done great work for Conan and John Carter books, but nothing that captures the spirit of those stories like Frank Frazetta’s work does. Again, just my opinion.
For me the ‘outside of genre’ captures are usually covers for straight fiction books that are well done. It isn’t a section of the bookstore that I frequent. I generally hit the SFF and Mystery sections. But I’ve discovered some good fiction/literature books because of covers that made me stop and take a look.
Oh, and Amano’s work is great!
Haha, I didn’t really dig into Wojciech Siudmak’s works. Mostly I know him from his illustrations from “Dune” which was a great fuss back then in Poland. 😉
“The same themes” is a mild way of putting it. I head no idea earlier, I’m usually not looking through galleries of artists even if I know their names. Pretty ignorant of me. 😀
If you say so. 😀 I’m not into Conan nor John Carter.
I generally hit the SFF or comics sections. But usually I don’t bother too much about covers. 😛
And I’m definitely the opposite, it is nearly All about cover art for me. Nearly…I do still love to actually read entertaining stories.
I don’t know that it was ignorant, you found an image you liked for a specific reason. I figured you didn’t know much about the rest of his work, though, based on the things you were talking about not liking. But I didn’t want to assume that was the case.
I’ll admit I got interested in the Coldfire Trilogy (C.S. Friedman) because of the cover. It was finally a cover with a male mage (not warrior), no damsel in distress, etc. Hahaha, I just learned that Michael Whelan was responsible for the covers. But I prefer Polish covers http://harashiken.blogspot.com/2011/08/trylogia-zimnego-ognia.html It was the first volume’s cover that caught my eye.
I learned so much through a topic that I thought wasn’t really interesting me. 😀
So which artists can you recommend me?
Sometimes I can even read a book *despite* its cover, even when I’m repulsed by it. Tho I won’t probably buy it.
Ok, sorry, I change my opinion. 😉 I care about covers and the art on it. I don’t like if it’s spoiled with text on it. Like this one: http://www.tor.com/images/stories/blogs/14_03/ThreeBodyProblem1.jpg
Tho I’d like to read Chinese sf novel, the cover is actually repulsing me. All this text, the colours, the description and the way they put the author’s and translator’s names. The text-free image looks much better. “The Gospel of Loki” is much more pleasing to eye and based on the covers I’d choose yet another Norse mythology book despite being really hooked by the idea/chance of reading Chinese sf. 😉
Interesting covers on Tor: “The Ugly Woman of Castello Di Putti”, “The End of the End of Everything”, “Among the Thorns”.
Sorry, Kama. Yesterday was crammed with work and I didn’t get a chance to get back to this.
Those are Whelan’s images on the Polish covers and they look nice. I’m a big fan of his work. Not that I like everything he does equally, but when he gets it right his work is amazing. His personal works, not book projects, are some of his best but I have purchased SEVERAL books over the years because of his art.
That one you mention from Tor does take away a lot from the image with the text, which is one of the unfortunate things about book cover illustration at times.
As far as recommendations, if you like the image from that Tor book, Stephan Martiniere is the artist and his work is incredible. Similar artists to that style are Richard Anderson (although he does more fantasy work), Daniel Dociu, Sparth.
Those covers from those upcoming Tor shorts are all great. Those artists have all done multiple “covers” for Tor.com shorts and they are consistently good. I imagine some of those will crop up in my April Cover Story post next month.
I’m enjoying your opinions on SFF art and will of course welcome your commentary on those monthly post and any other art posts that crop up. There will be a BUNCH more with Spectrum posts on the way. Hopefully you’ll find some more artists through that whose work you like.
And thanks even more for sharing the images of foreign editions of books as I rarely come across them myself.
Np, Carl. 🙂
Wow, a dedicated fan. So which books you bought?
I’ll check those guys… one day ;)It’s a nice talk but don’t tempt me to spend any more times on cover/art. It’s too much of a time sink. 😀
If you’re interested in foreign covers, feel free to come to my blog. Tho lately I come out of the SFF shell so you probably don’t know most books. 😉
I have five Foundation novels by Asimov with Whelan covers. My favorite being Second Foundation. My first exposure the Michael Whelan’s work was the cover of Foundation’s Edge, which just blew my young mind away.
I have several of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter novels with Whelan covers, books by C.S. Friedmans (This Alien Shore…another favorite…and In Conquest Born).
I just recently bought the paperback omnibus of C.J. Cherryh’s Faded Sun Trilogy because I’ve been wanting to read her and I liked the Whelan cover. I have several of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books with Whelan covers.
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. A couple of short story anthologies with covers that are from his Personal Works collection. A couple of his art books.
And I’m sure there are several more I’m not thinking of right now.
Oh my god, Doppel is perfect. Like I’m unsure if I’ve ever seen a book cover so intriguing. I love everything about it and I’m so excited for the short to be released! I love this feature.
Isn’t it? I think it is so great. You should check out Jeffrey Alan Love’s website as it is chock full of great images.
And thank you, I hope you visit the feature often and share your thoughts.
So. Words of Radiance cover is not too my complete liking. It is doable. But what has been bothering me about it is its similarity to the Wheel of Time covers, and I do not like those covers one bit. I looked up the WoT time covers, and they were done by Darrel K. Sweet. He did all the covers except for the last one as he passed away. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/04/a-darrell-k-sweet-wheel-of-time-tribute-including-a-memory-of-light-sketch
The last cover – Memory of Light – was done by Michael Whelan. That cover is very similar in style to Sweet’s. I actually did not recognize that the artist was different just by comparing the covers.
http://www.michaelwhelan.com/into-shayol-ghul/
I am not fan of this style. It would not draw me to the book if I did not already know about the book. That is most especially true for the WoT books.
It isn’t my favorite of Whelan’s work, but I do appreciate that it has some uniformity with the previous novel, and I think taken as a whole, on the actual book, it looks much better.
Darrel K. Sweet is an artist I feel sad about. His was a very distinct style that was wildly popular for awhile, but it didn’t age well. As he got older his work wasn’t as solid, either, and that didn’t help. His last several WoT covers were not good. But I really like the one for The Eye of the World.
Sweet was one of the very first illustrators that I became consciously aware of and would notice his work on books when I was in the store or library. He did the covers for Patricia A. McKillip’s Riddle-master of Hed trilogy and I loved those covers, in particular this one:
http://www.patriciamckillip.com/Books/Covers/hed2.jpg
and also this cover:
http://aidanmoher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DarrellSweet7.jpg
I bought that book purely because of the cover back when I was about 20 and just loved the book.
Several of his older covers generate such fond memories because of the adventures I had in the books they were on.