Judge a cover

montsnmags · 04-14-2008, 06:11 AM

Sure, they tell us not to judge a book by it's cover, but that's no reason not to judge the cover.

The following link to a post on the Smashing Magazine blog shows "some creative, expressive and appealing book covers". I think quite a few of you will like it and perhaps might have some links (Amazon?) to covers of books you've bought that you've really liked:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008...nd-paperbacks/

Personally, I like the Nick Strathopoulos covers for the Terry Dowling Rynosseros books. Some of the works in the following link are Nick's (see the info for each image):

http://www.terrydowling.com/?id=covers

Cheers,
Marc

zelda_pinwheel · 04-14-2008, 07:07 PM

excellent link ! a well-designed bookcover can be a work of art just as well as the text inside it. thanks for reminding us that sometimes form counts as much as function. (speaking as a graphic designer i'm biased of course, but still).

i love smashing magazine, it's just smashing isn't it ?

vivaldirules · 04-14-2008, 08:27 PM

Very cool to see, particularly for some older editions. I absolutely love the one for "Small Crimes in an Age of Abundance". I've frequently suffered from book cover envy. I was never the guy in line buying books with cool covers. The only one I ever bought that I gave much thought to is this one from 1970. It went perfectly with the novel but no attribution was given for the cover art.

zelda_pinwheel · 04-14-2008, 08:44 PM

my father frequently buys (used...) books he has never heard of, by authors he has never heard of, just because he likes the cover art.

TommyCooper · 04-14-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

my father frequently buys (used...) books he has never heard of, by authors he has never heard of, just because he likes the cover art.

Seems like a good reason to me - at least your dad has something nice to look at if he doesn't like the content. There are some seriously beautiful and thought enhancing pieces of graphics and artwork on those covers. I wonder if the artwork influences not just our intention to buy the book, but also our overall perception of the content? Some of my favourite titles and authors there. Thanks for the links.

Tommy

RWood · 04-14-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

my father frequently buys (used...) books he has never heard of, by authors he has never heard of, just because he likes the cover art.

Back in the 60s and 70s a lot of people I knew bought music albums because they liked the cover -- even from groups that they had never heard about. Not that I ever did such a thing you understand.

TallMomof2 · 04-15-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Back in the 60s and 70s a lot of people I knew bought music albums because they liked the cover -- even from groups that they had never heard about. Not that I ever did such a thing you understand.

I had the same thought when I read this thread! The one thing I've sorely missed with CDs (and even more with MP3s) is album cover art. CDs are just too danged small.

Back on topic:

A good cover always grabs my attention, may not but the book but I'll at least look at it.

nekokami · 04-15-2008, 09:43 AM

Interesting that none of these are "illustration" covers, i.e. where something is portrayed which appears within the text. Then again, most seem to be non-fiction.

I should round up my collection of early SF covers.

Lobolover · 04-20-2008, 05:44 PM

I like old style,hardcover covers.Like that eerie one for Machen's "Novel of the white powder".

Lobolover · 04-21-2008, 07:38 PM

here it is!

montsnmags · 04-21-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

here it is!

I don't know what he's drinking, but it's playing havoc with his complexion. I suggest an apricot facial scrub and a good quality moisturiser.

Cheers,
Marc

Lobolover · 04-22-2008, 08:49 AM

Its the cover for "The novel of the white powder and other stories".You'd have to read the story itself to get it.

DaleDe · 04-22-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobolover

Its the cover for "The novel of the white powder and other stories".You'd have to read the story itself to get it.

What? A cover that actually relates to the contents? What a novel idea.

Dale

Lobolover · 04-22-2008, 03:12 PM

ive seen covers relating the oposite (liek Wordsworth clasics cover of Frankenstein)

04-14-2008, 06:11 AM	#1
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Judge a cover Sure, they tell us not to judge a book by it's cover, but that's no reason not to judge the cover. The following link to a post on the Smashing Magazine blog shows "some creative, expressive and appealing book covers". I think quite a few of you will like it and perhaps might have some links (Amazon?) to covers of books you've bought that you've really liked: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008...nd-paperbacks/ Personally, I like the Nick Strathopoulos covers for the Terry Dowling Rynosseros books. Some of the works in the following link are Nick's (see the info for each image): http://www.terrydowling.com/?id=covers Cheers, Marc

04-14-2008, 08:27 PM	#3
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Very cool to see, particularly for some older editions. I absolutely love the one for "Small Crimes in an Age of Abundance". I've frequently suffered from book cover envy. I was never the guy in line buying books with cool covers. The only one I ever bought that I gave much thought to is this one from 1970. It went perfectly with the novel but no attribution was given for the cover art. Attached Thumbnails

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04-14-2008, 07:07 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	excellent link ! a well-designed bookcover can be a work of art just as well as the text inside it. thanks for reminding us that sometimes form counts as much as function. (speaking as a graphic designer i'm biased of course, but still). i love smashing magazine, it's just smashing isn't it ?

04-14-2008, 08:44 PM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	my father frequently buys (used...) books he has never heard of, by authors he has never heard of, just because he likes the cover art.

04-15-2008, 09:43 AM	#8
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Interesting that none of these are "illustration" covers, i.e. where something is portrayed which appears within the text. Then again, most seem to be non-fiction. I should round up my collection of early SF covers.

04-20-2008, 05:44 PM	#9
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	I like old style,hardcover covers.Like that eerie one for Machen's "Novel of the white powder".

04-21-2008, 07:38 PM	#10
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	here it is!

04-22-2008, 08:49 AM	#12
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	Its the cover for "The novel of the white powder and other stories".You'd have to read the story itself to get it.

04-22-2008, 03:12 PM	#14
Lobolover Gorosei Posts: 421 Karma: 334 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Microsoft Word	ive seen covers relating the oposite (liek Wordsworth clasics cover of Frankenstein)