tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post8365659384879622218..comments2024-03-28T14:45:19.843-05:00Comments on Stomping on Yeti: Covering Covers: The American RevolutionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-73654981266113273262011-01-02T15:11:59.357-06:002011-01-02T15:11:59.357-06:00REG,
The UK cover to Sleepless doesn't really...REG,<br /><br />The UK cover to <b>Sleepless</b> doesn't really have much going for it by photo alone. I was enamored with the US version when the images of the covers were released, but ended up buying the UK version (you can't really beat the discounts from The Book Depository) and I have to say, that UK cover is much more impressive in person and definitely beats out the US version.<br /><br />Yeti,<br /><br />I have to disagree with you on the Morgan covers. I hated the US cover so much that I spent extra to order it from the UK, back when it had <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t68ar0SFX54/SErg_01HgvI/AAAAAAAABZQ/D52ASj9oV0A/s400/The+Steel+Remains.jpg" rel="nofollow">this</a> far superior cover. When it comes to the two covers you have shown, though both are generic and boring and not at all impressive, I'd go with the US version if only because it at least shows something more than a glowy sword on a static background.Jameshttp://dazedrambling.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-12572518108381352962010-12-15T01:02:30.594-06:002010-12-15T01:02:30.594-06:00As an isolated year I think US = UK for 2010 (but ...As an isolated year I think US = UK for 2010 (but <b>The Blade Itself</b> on its own might be enough to qualify it as a win for the UK because the US version is beyond awful).<br /><br />A few UK covers that I preferred over their US counterparts are (other than your examples):<br /><br />Paul Hoffman's <b>The Left Hand of God</b> (not that I was interested in the book itself)<br /><br />Graham Joyce's <b>Memoirs of a Master Forger by William Heaney</b> (<b>How to Make Friends with Demons</b> in the US): The US version is embarrassingly bad. His <b>The Silent Land</b> UK cover is better than the US as well.<br /><br /><b>The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet</b> by David Mitchell is an <i>uncontested</i> win for the UK<br /><br />I like the UK cover for Charlie Huston's <b>Sleepless</b> better than the US version, but I think I'm in the minority on that one. <br /><br />I prefer the UK version for <b>The King of Crags</b> by Stephen Deas, but I can see why people would prefer the US version.RedEyedGhosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04598706473655396491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-64306954699973258912010-12-14T10:18:27.544-06:002010-12-14T10:18:27.544-06:00Hey thanks for the nod...I like giving people a lo...Hey thanks for the nod...I like giving people a look behind the curtain, as it were, so I'm glad youre enjoying seeing the process a bit. <br /><br />I think the whole UK vs US comparison has always been a flawed way of looking at it—in my experience as art directing covers for both the US and UK simultaneously these past 2 years at orbit, there's really not any difference. The place for comparison is really between houses (and their respective art directors) and I think it's only now that people are able to see deeper and deeper into more art departments that the fans will be able to get a better feel for house styles, whether the house is publishing in the US, UK, or both.<br /><br />That said, I will happily take the compliment that you feel the US art directors are kicking butt. it's appreciated.Lauren P.http://www.orbitbooks.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-38425409180101941342010-12-13T21:29:06.283-06:002010-12-13T21:29:06.283-06:00I dig the UK Quantum Thief and I think both Spellw...I dig the UK Quantum Thief and I think both Spellwrights are pretty bland. Even though the US Dervish House is better, it's not good. And clearly the US Out of the Dark is better but the book kinda stunk in my opinion so the cover is of no consequence.T.N. Tobiashttp://tnt-tek.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-10190158905957798982010-12-13T20:53:47.681-06:002010-12-13T20:53:47.681-06:00@TN - You like the UK cover back on the 2010 cover...@TN - You like the UK cover back on the 2010 covers? Black Lung Captain is a coin flip but the other 4 are pretty clear cut.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05546050685623369173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-62519922470946554532010-12-13T20:45:33.596-06:002010-12-13T20:45:33.596-06:00I like the UK version better on quite a few of the...I like the UK version better on quite a few of these. My favorite UK cover of the year is Jeff VanderMeer's Finch. I haven't seen the covers Adam has mentioned, so it may be a mixed bag. Or maybe the grass is always greener on the other side?T.N. Tobiashttp://tnt-tek.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-29280190740897008812010-12-13T15:21:29.916-06:002010-12-13T15:21:29.916-06:00Great post - you pipped my own, actually! I've...Great post - you pipped my own, actually! I've been saying this all year. Once, US covers were awful and UK covers were classy. Now the balance is swinging firmly towards US covers. In fact, some recent UK covers beggar belief - looking at your examples above, The UK version of The Quantum Thief is about the worst book cover I've ever seen. It's beyond awful, and is heading into some hitherto uncharted region of bizarre and peculiar.<br /><br />Some other great examples are:<br /><br />1. Under the Dome by Stephen King - US cover is a superb CG/art combo that King had input into. The cover reveal was a big deal, with bits of it being revealed as the countdown to publication ticked on. There's also a slightly rarer "copper-text" version, with the title and author line in a metallic embossed copper, representing the inside of the dome getting dirty. The UK version is a bland blue dome. I asked the UK publisher about this, and they didn't seem to know what I was talking about.<br /><br />2. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King. His latest collection of four novellas. Again the US cover is a smart black dustjacket with embossed text. The UK version is a washed-out, insipid blue picture of a field.<br /><br />3. The Passage by Justin Cronin. Speaking of washed-out, the insipid sepia UK cover is very poor in comparison to the US one, which features embossed silver text and a very cool "oilslick" effect of the rainbow in the middle of the forest.<br /><br />4. Spellbound by Blake Charlton. You've already mentioned his first book, but recently Blake revealed the art for the US cover of the sequel, featuring a stunning painting of a bronze dragon. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would never be used in the UK. And I was right.<br /><br />5. The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas. Stephen's UK covers a minimalistic and rather classy, but the painted dragon on the US edition of TAP is beautiful.<br /><br />6. Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shadows of the Apt series. Here it's more down to personal taste. The UK covers are pretty good and quite stylish, but they are a little cliched fantasy. The US covers from Pyr are much more energetic and engaging, I think (although I agree with your comment about The Scarab Path).<br /><br />I think mainstream/commercial fantasy/SF has an aversion to using painted covers in the UK, for some reason. Philippa Ballantine's Geist and Spectyr both feature lovely painted art in the US (Geist is out now, Spectyr is forthcoming). I was talking to her on Twitter about the covers and she confirmed that while the UK art had not been decided (and indeed the books are not yet scheduled for UK release), they would *not* be using the US art.<br /><br />It's a real shame, but in the last year I've found myself buying more and more books from the US, even books by UK authors, as the UK cover art is more often than not rather manky.Adam Christopherhttp://www.adamchristopher.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-22565849382813751102010-12-13T09:25:02.226-06:002010-12-13T09:25:02.226-06:00I went in with that impression too but I really co...I went in with that impression too but I really couldn't find that much to support the argument relying solely on 2010 covers.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05546050685623369173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478941067348817827.post-47297418232429382822010-12-13T03:19:28.126-06:002010-12-13T03:19:28.126-06:00The most pronounced example of US > UK cover ar...The most pronounced example of US > UK cover art is Under Heaven by GGKay. Although, on a whole I still think UK > US in the art department.RedEyedGhosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04598706473655396491noreply@blogger.com