I've always been disappointed with the Ender's Game paperback book covers. IMHO, I see the original as being too complex, without a good visual focus.
I am equally disappointed with the Young Adult paperback book cover of Ender's Game. I believe Ender's Game is a perfect first introduction to the rich world of Science Fiction for Young Adults, but the book cover is "too" childish and bordering on insulting to teens. I think a teen would be immediately "turned off," by this juvenile cover.
Is it possible for TOR or Starscape to reevaluate these covers? Or are they locked into the cover by some binding agreement?
The parallel "Shadow" novels, on the other hand, are good examples of a well designed and appealing cover. Ender's Shadow, in particular, I would rate as a very well designed cover.
While I don't believe that Ender's Game "needs" a perfect cover to gain new readers, since anyone who reads Ender's Game for the first time is most likely doing so as a result of a recommendation, I do believe that there is something to be said for an enticing cover.
For example, I read my first Dragonrider of Pern and Elric novels as a direct result of an enthralling cover. There is something to be said for the power of the visual.
Not sure why I'm writing this, not that I expect any tangible results from the post, but I've been researching one of my favorite authors, OSC, for a class and I just needed to get that off my chest. I was wondering if anyone else sees the Ender's Game cover as a liability?
Kirk
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Value them now. In a couple of years we'll be stuck with the "movie poster" covers (on the books, that is).
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I think they should let me design the book covers. I mean, since Thor gets to write the movie script, it's only fair.
The first thing I would do is get rid of that awful sci-fi font. Who invented that font? Asimov? Well, his books were ugly too.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I've actually been searching the web trying to find a place where that font can be downloaded or purchased. Not sure if it's even commercially available. I know I'd like to have it in my font library...
Posted by Kirk (Member # 5664) on :
I think I'd prefer the movie cover to the traditional. Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Very few of the covers are any good. What's up with Xenocide?? What does that weird tower have to do with anything?
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
(in the art director's office at Tor books, 2:35 a.m.)
Art Director: Where's Schneider? Where are those OSC book covers he's been working on?
Brown: Well, sir, I didn't want to tell you this, but... he hasn't been to work in three days.
Art Director: What?!? Three days? Where on earth could he possibly be? Did he disable the block we put on his computer after he discovered homestarrunner.com and couldn't work for a week?
Brown: I don't think so, sir. I haven't heard the strains of "Trogdor" coming from his speakers in months.
Art Director: Well, has anyone tried to get ahold of him? Is he answering his cell phone?
Brown: You know artists don't answer their cell phones, sir.
Art Director: Well, do we know where he lives?
Brown: I've just sent Bergman over to check it out.
(enter BERGMAN, out of breath)
Bergman: I found him, Natalie.
Brown: And?
Bergman: He's in his studio.
Art Director: And you didn't bring him here?
Bergman: Sorry, sir - he won't come.
Art Director: (turning red) He won't WHAT?
Bergman: It's a little strange,
Brown: I'll say!
Bergman: But he's on his hands and knees, tracing wood grain lines and muttering under his breath. He's got the manuscripts all laid out over the floor and refuses to finish the project until he's clean.
Art Director: I knew it. He's popped a circuit. Brown?
Brown: Yes sir?
Art Director: Do you have access to any of the illustrations Schneider was doing?
Brown: No sir.
Art Director: Do you have any illustrations at ALL?
Brown: We'll, I've... I've got these reject cover illustrations from the re-issue of the Foundation series.
Bergman: You can't use those, that was just random space trash!
Art Director: This story is about space, right?
Bergman: (indignantly) Well... nominally, I suppose...
Art Director: Then space trash it is. We go to press in 3 hours.
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
This is completely almost related.
For my only published science fiction story, something similar to this happened.
My story is called, "You'll See It When It's Finished," and it was in the March 99 issue of The Leading Edge magazine. It's a satirical story about the constant construction that seems to plauge universities and freeways and just about every other big public thing.
So when the deadline for the story came up, and the guy who was supposed to do the artwork was out skiing, they were stuck.
So they just slapped a big, "The artwork for this story is under construction!" logo across the page where the picture was supposed to go, and put it out anyway.
I actually found the gag hilariously appropriate.
[ September 15, 2003, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: docmagik ]
Posted by Kirk (Member # 5664) on :
>> Bergman: But he's on his hands and knees, tracing wood grain lines and muttering under his breath.
Annie, you got a yelp of laughter outta me on that one.
Doc, I think the picture was perfect for your story!
I say we hold a protest outside of TOR for a book cover change!
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
That's awesome, doc.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
That's what I aim for: yelps of laughter.
And welcome aboard, Kirk!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:Art Director: Well, has anyone tried to get ahold of him? Is he answering his cell phone?
Brown: You know artists don't answer their cell phones, sir.
Oh my stars, this made me laugh. Is that why I refuse to answer mine? I feel so connected in a deliberately-remote kind of way!
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