tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post721611602183250992..comments2024-02-24T01:09:24.894-08:00Comments on Sarmin's Corner: On Covers and Fantasy BooksAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11434208987678485290noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-52459624533364807812012-07-12T09:11:58.080-07:002012-07-12T09:11:58.080-07:00Belatedly, I agree.Belatedly, I agree.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434208987678485290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-86228827321001387072012-03-28T06:24:01.874-07:002012-03-28T06:24:01.874-07:00With the face revelation aspect of covers I think ...With the face revelation aspect of covers I think it depends a lot of time. With Prince of Thorns you don't see much, so it's not really giving too much away. Covers like the Carol Berg's above and Anne Bishop's for example (indeed it tends to be more paranormal/fantastical romance) ruin things for me sometimes.<br /><br />I was just discussing the influence of covers with my colleague, and it definitely varies. I'd say that if the reviews were good, I'd give a book with a rubbish cover a read - obviously. That being said, I probably wouldn't ever give the typical female-led urban fantasy/paranormal romance with a typical cover a go even if the reviews were good as I know it's not my thing. Whereas is the cover didn't so obviously pitch it as that and the reviews were good I would read it - so it has a lot of effect in that sense.<br /><br />I also think it's interesting looking at the covers released in different territories. I go over to France a few times each year and am always so impressed with their covers. They favour original fantasy artwork rather than the photoshop stuff. The French covers for Brent Weeks' 'The Black Prism' is gorgeous, America still seems to release a lot of their fantasy with older style artwork covers as well. It's interesting to see how each territory markets the books through the covers differently and I sometimes wonder if we all traded styles, the effect it would have on sales.Allynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-78924906598839807892012-03-28T05:18:05.040-07:002012-03-28T05:18:05.040-07:00Thanks, Ally.
I like what you said about not want...Thanks, Ally.<br /><br />I like what you said about not wanting to see the face. Someone else said that to me, too, and it's true that readers want to build the character's image from their own imaginations. Still, some of my favorite covers *do* show the face (Prince of Thorns, for example).<br /><br />I may be exaggerating when I say I "don't see the covers." The covers are after all displayed on amazon and may influence me more than I think. However, it's usually the ratings and the reader reviews that tip the scale for me. Interesting stuff.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434208987678485290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-80265860313391156972012-03-28T03:23:15.244-07:002012-03-28T03:23:15.244-07:00Hi Mazarkis,
Great blog entry. I think that cover...Hi Mazarkis,<br /><br />Great blog entry. I think that covers are integral to getting people to pick up a book and there's definitely a code interlaced in there. Perhaps regretfully, I still judge books (at least initially) by their covers. If I see leather-clad woman on the cover of book I run a mile, whereas if I see a cloaked figure I'm more likely read the back as I have an idea of what to expect. I have grown somewhat bored of the copious amount of cloaked figures on covers recently, though covers like Glenda Larke's Watergivers trilogy (UK) show that they can still be interesting (unlike the Dutch cover of Mark Lawrence's recent cover). <br /><br />I'm finding that more and more covers are using photo shoot images of models placed over CGI backgrounds. For me, seeing the face of the person on the cover too clearly puts me off as it places preconceptions in my mind of what the protagonist looks like, denying me my imagination. I also find that these covers often just don't look very good, looking flat and the protagonist seeming separated from their surroundings.<br /><br />The popularity of kindles and e-readers and the effect they may be having on covers an interesting question. I don't know the statistics of how many people use these now (I still read paper books) but would be interested to know. For me, the cover is a pretty important part of the book selection process (obviously partnered with recommendations, author history, plot etc) and I don't think I would feel all that comfortable reading a book from scratch without seeing the cover if someone hadn't suggested it.<br /><br />Just some thoughts!<br /><br />AllyAllynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-50903296535615659922012-03-20T17:25:44.179-07:002012-03-20T17:25:44.179-07:00Your article is very informative. Being fairly n...Your article is very informative. Being fairly new to the SFF genre, I consider it very helpful in making future choices. Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-15522192954355775852012-03-20T06:39:38.186-07:002012-03-20T06:39:38.186-07:00@Lisa Cover copy is a whole other issue I could bl...@Lisa Cover copy is a whole other issue I could blog about! I have issues with cover copy . . .<br /><br />@Bryce I avoid dragon covers myself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434208987678485290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-19127577109330910562012-03-20T06:34:37.128-07:002012-03-20T06:34:37.128-07:00I hadn't really thought much about covers as t...I hadn't really thought much about covers as telling me that a book is one I DON'T want to read, but it's totally true. I can tell you that I immediately avoid any book that has a dragon on the cover, and it still takes some convincing from others to get me to give it a read. Very nice post! Although, I am rather partial to any post that mentions me by name :PBryce Daytonhttp://myawfulreviews.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-60406551858033489272012-03-20T04:15:31.368-07:002012-03-20T04:15:31.368-07:00Covers are definitely a code for the reader, and n...Covers are definitely a code for the reader, and not just in Speculative Fiction. <br /><br />A huge proportion of cozy mysteries have a cute almost cartoonish cover that clearly identifies their sub(or sub-sub)genre - culinary, vacation, any number of crafts, etc. With so many mystery novels all shelved by author's last name, this makes it much easier for readers to choose which books to investigate further.<br /><br />As much as I love a good cover illustration, it is the back cover that will sell me on a book or convince me to put the book back on the shelf.Lisahttp://lisabouchard.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-5160433795711606572012-03-19T12:08:42.121-07:002012-03-19T12:08:42.121-07:00I do think that covers ARE a code.
This is UF wi...I do think that covers ARE a code. <br /><br />This is UF with a kick-ass heroine.<br />This is Epic fantasy<br />This is Science Fiction<br /><br />Lisanne Norman insisted her covers, although with her two characters front and center on them, always include a spaceship.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />So it would be identified as SF instead of fantasy (one of the characters was a feline humanoid) <br /><br />But covers can be more than that, if done well.Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766795677685297358.post-68070068420566131942012-03-19T12:03:26.701-07:002012-03-19T12:03:26.701-07:00As far as the blue and red, orange and teal is a p...As far as the blue and red, orange and teal is a pretty common color combination lately in movies...Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.com