tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post2539038729069197990..comments2024-03-17T03:17:43.229-04:00Comments on David Anthony Durham: Attack of the Covers!David Anthony Durhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-23209006758239594262008-02-22T18:03:00.000-05:002008-02-22T18:03:00.000-05:00Larry,Yep. That can be a tough call with covers. O...Larry,<BR/><BR/>Yep. That can be a tough call with covers. On one hand I have to admit that the Swedish cover IS a depiction of a scene in the book. But is it a scene that reflects what the book is really about? Not exactly.<BR/><BR/>But who says the publisher's intention is to reflect what the book is really about? They've got other concerns...David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-60201930389866335452008-02-21T20:31:00.000-05:002008-02-21T20:31:00.000-05:00While the Swedish cover isn't as bad as a few I've...While the Swedish cover isn't as bad as a few I've received in the mail recently (Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy novels often have "teh suck" covers), I still think that they (especially the Swedish one) evokes something that I don't think the book really addresses - then again, violence didn't seem to be the point of the story rather than it being an unfortunate consequence.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-19652203766133698162008-02-21T16:24:00.000-05:002008-02-21T16:24:00.000-05:00TwilightandFire,"Did they provide any rationale be...TwilightandFire,<BR/><BR/>"Did they provide any rationale behind their concept?"<BR/><BR/>What a nice thought. Rationale. But, no, not that I'm aware of. I didn't ask. I guess I feel the layers of international translation involved are too complicated to get into - unless I've got some major problem. <BR/><BR/>I don't, so it makes more sense to me to keep smiling and, yes, be very happy that my books are on bookshelves in Stockholm. That's a rare thing to be able to say. The same publisher did Pride of Carthage, and they've said they'll be keen to take a look at Acacia 2. <BR/><BR/>So I'm smiling...David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-84453890122370571052008-02-21T15:13:00.000-05:002008-02-21T15:13:00.000-05:00The Transworld UK cover gives off such a different...The Transworld UK cover gives off such a different vibe than the US edition, but I like it a lot (creepy, foreboding, but in a very cool way). I think it’s a cover that will grab attention. <BR/><BR/>I’m not crazy about the Swedish cover, but maybe I just need more time with it. Did they provide any rationale behind their concept?<BR/><BR/>Still, I imagine it’s good to see your book published in different countries, no matter the cover!twilightandfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059886584160977472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-65368790820292211912008-02-21T11:49:00.000-05:002008-02-21T11:49:00.000-05:00Meghan, Glad you like them!Magnus,Money?... Well, ...Meghan, <BR/><BR/>Glad you like them!<BR/><BR/>Magnus,<BR/><BR/>Money?... Well, yes, but if a cheap cover hurts sales that's counter productive. They must feel they're getting their money's worth - and not hurting sales. Having said that, the Jordan cover is rather awful. Yikes. It's bad in so many ways. I don't get that. Meghan, click over and see if that one would have drawn you to Jordan's work...<BR/><BR/>Constance,<BR/><BR/>Drat! Those elves are hard to get rid of. They must have a strong union.David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-26458366571791307982008-02-21T09:33:00.000-05:002008-02-21T09:33:00.000-05:00Got to say, I much prefer "Soup's On" to "Give Us ...Got to say, I much prefer "Soup's On" to "Give Us Your Hair Care Products- Or Else!". And is that an <I>elf</I> on the far left of the Akacien cover?? *g* <BR/>Hey, they're colorful and different from the usual, then ought to stand out from the crowd. Still like the German cover best. :)Constance Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964121072645959593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-25847609721535052262008-02-21T06:19:00.000-05:002008-02-21T06:19:00.000-05:00David, I really have no idea. Money? Perhaps not-s...David, I really have no idea. Money? Perhaps not-so-good illustrators are cheaper than good ones? It's only recently that big publishing houses have begun translating sf/f. Earlier it was done by small, private, companies, often run by a fan. But even now most covers are awful. Just look at Jordan's <A HREF="http://sfbok.se/asp/artikel.asp?VolumeID=27367" REL="nofollow">The Great Hunt</A>.<BR/><BR/>Allthough,to be fair, the last couple of years the trend seems to be to use the orignal american or british covers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18166413525947784810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-61271493251049704672008-02-21T01:28:00.000-05:002008-02-21T01:28:00.000-05:00Those covers are AWESOME. It's the kind of thing t...Those covers are AWESOME. It's the kind of thing that would literally stop me in my tracks and pick up the book (that's how I originally got into Robert Jordan's WoT series-I liked the cover and picked up the first book to learn what it was about).Meghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375626649089998707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-21541098270733633452008-02-20T14:52:00.000-05:002008-02-20T14:52:00.000-05:00Magnus,Thanks for verifying the title.Do you have ...Magnus,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for verifying the title.<BR/><BR/>Do you have any perspective on WHY Swedish publishers seem to like "butt-ugly sf/f-covers"? They wouldn't keep at it if it wasn't working for them...<BR/><BR/>And I'm not exactly sure what the Numrek are doing with their swords drawn like that. I know what they did in the book, but it does look a little funny that they all have their swords out like that with no foe in sight. Presumably, the Acacian patrol they're about to meet is just off stage right...David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-45841937521574917012008-02-20T09:26:00.000-05:002008-02-20T09:26:00.000-05:00"Hotet från norr" means "The threat from the north..."Hotet från norr" means "The threat from the north".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18166413525947784810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-3274017059585783482008-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:002008-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:00As a swede, I am very proud to say that Sweden has...As a swede, I am very proud to say that Sweden has a long, long, long history of butt-ugly sf/f-covers. no.. wait, that's not pride I'm feeling ... it's loathing. :)<BR/><BR/>By the way, exactly what are all those people doing in the snow? Is that some kind of arctic bodypump-class?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18166413525947784810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-60049743605007830722008-02-19T23:35:00.000-05:002008-02-19T23:35:00.000-05:00Yeah, the UK cover has grown on me. I wasn't that ...Yeah, the UK cover has grown on me. I wasn't that keen on it early on, but now it seems pretty good. <BR/><BR/>The Swedish one... well, that's just a different take. I feel more distance from it than I do from anything published in English. On these sort of things, one has to trust (hope) that they know their market. It's just kinda fun to see what various publishers come up with...David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-292356860189238702008-02-19T19:31:00.000-05:002008-02-19T19:31:00.000-05:00Wow! That Swedish cover certainly is exciting-look...Wow! That Swedish cover certainly is exciting-looking. I do like the weightiness and solemnity of the UK cover, though. The ash-coloured sky and the dull red of the dress make it look sort of sombre, in a good and dramatic way. Perhaps it's just me. Amazing how two different artists can have two such different takes on the same material.<BR/><BR/>AndreaAndrea Eameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15304706719936895188noreply@blogger.com