MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Fantasy book covers: darker, more serious than before?

Katsunami · 08-17-2014, 04:57 PM

I'm kicking this thread with the only reason of saying: "I think I'm right."

This can't be a coincidence. I've bought 15 books in the last few weeks, most of them fantasy and some science fiction, and they were all written in the 80's. While going through them to set the metadata and split omnibuses, I obviously also found the old covers.

1980's: Tacky, nerdy, cheesy
Current: Either dark and gritty, or modern and serious.

Every... single... one.

For example, Barbara Hambly's covers.

80's style
Current style

Patricia C. Wrede:

Shadow Magic: 80's (OMG, this one is tacky) vs. Current
The Raven Ring: 80's vs. Current

This change goes for ALL of her books, as well as the ones by Patricia C. Wrede. I've seen that even the Dungeons and Dragons e-books and new editions are getting new, non-nerdy covers.

There are some books that, going by the 80's cover, I wouldn't even have bought...

08-17-2014, 04:57 PM	#24
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	I'm kicking this thread with the only reason of saying: "I think I'm right." This can't be a coincidence. I've bought 15 books in the last few weeks, most of them fantasy and some science fiction, and they were all written in the 80's. While going through them to set the metadata and split omnibuses, I obviously also found the old covers. 1980's: Tacky, nerdy, cheesy Current: Either dark and gritty, or modern and serious. Every... single... one. For example, Barbara Hambly's covers. 80's style Current style Patricia C. Wrede: Shadow Magic: 80's (OMG, this one is tacky) vs. Current The Raven Ring: 80's vs. Current This change goes for ALL of her books, as well as the ones by Patricia C. Wrede. I've seen that even the Dungeons and Dragons e-books and new editions are getting new, non-nerdy covers. There are some books that, going by the 80's cover, I wouldn't even have bought... Last edited by Katsunami; 08-17-2014 at 05:14 PM.