I'm not impressed with the recent trend of book covers from Del Rey
(paperback version of Nimisha's Ship, Pegasus in Space and new covers for
the other Pegasus books, and now this one). They've gotten away from
"scenes" and instead gone with more representational art instead. This
new Pern cover looks more like a Danielle Steele cover!
___________________________________________
Sariel the Master Archivist (aka Cheryl in 'real life')
reply to: cheryl at srellim.org
http://www.srellim.org/pern
> http://www.annemccaffrey.org/BookPages/SkiesofPernUSbc.html
Eh.
How...mainstream-fiction looking. Boring, in other words.
-Jim
--
Jim Doolittle CornWuff Press
dool...@tbcnet.com http://www.cornwuff.com
Art Show Director, Midwest FurFest
http://www.furfest.org
Jim Doolittle wrote:
Ditto from this corner. But I wonder if maybe it isn't cheaper for them
to get something like this compared to a full-blown Whelan painting...
Ick!
Ick ick ick ick ick!!!
>I'm not impressed with the recent trend of book covers from Del Rey
>(paperback version of Nimisha's Ship, Pegasus in Space and new covers for
>the other Pegasus books, and now this one). They've gotten away from
>"scenes" and instead gone with more representational art instead. This
>new Pern cover looks more like a Danielle Steele cover!
Where's Michael Whelan when we need him? ;-)
This bodes not well for McCaffrey in my eyes. The last time an author
I was fond of had cover art go from 'scene' to 'abstract', it was
Feist's serpentwar series, which pretty much ended my interest in his
future work. :-/
Gym "Muttering under his breath about which of his favorite authors
will next fall victim to abstract cover art..." Quirk
--
Capt. Gym Z. Quirk | "I'll get a life when someone
(Known to some as Taki Kogoma) | demonstrates that it would be
quirk @ swcp.com | superior to what I have now."
Veteran of the '91 sf-lovers re-org. | -- Gym Quirk
>
> Ditto from this corner. But I wonder if maybe it isn't cheaper for them
> to get something like this compared to a full-blown Whelan painting...
Undoubtedly. That cover is but a moments work for a decent designer, as
opposed to a lot of work for a serious painter.
While I don't know if this has anything to do with it, Michael Whelan
was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, earlier this year. He was operated
on in May, and evidently hasn't done much painting since. Recovering
well, though. http://www.glassonion.com/info/getwellsoon.htm
> > How...mainstream-fiction looking. Boring, in other words.
> >
> > -Jim
>
> Ditto from this corner. But I wonder if maybe it isn't cheaper for them
> to get something like this compared to a full-blown Whelan painting...
It's downright ugly compared to *all* of the current covers. I wonder
if they're trying to drive potential new readers away - the kind that
get interested by the cover, then find out just how good the story
really is?
Just a monkey(whistling innocently),
Scott
I was just pondering, and in the midst of my ponders I pondered the
ponder that pondering can be good for the preponderance of the
metaphorical pond of our souls.
How do you ponder this ponderable ponderment of ponders?
My (new) dragon code:
DC2.~H"Monkey"/Df^M"Tribble" Gm L-/-- T+ Sku/s Crb\,wrb_\ Ben Fr- M++ H+
$- Foj+ Ac U* M+++![chaos] Q++[prec] Tc++[sw] Df+++
Provisionally Dc2.Hm and Nd applied
My Better Half's Code: DC2.D Gf L+++! W++ Sks Cau Bfl Ar+++ Fr Na M- H+++! $
F+o R+++!
Ac+ J++ U++ I# V- Q- Tc+++(sw)
(she got a little carried away with the age tag)
Email me at scott644(at)home.com
: This bodes not well for McCaffrey in my eyes. The last time an author
: I was fond of had cover art go from 'scene' to 'abstract', it was
: Feist's serpentwar series, which pretty much ended my interest in his
: future work. :-/
: Gym "Muttering under his breath about which of his favorite authors
: will next fall victim to abstract cover art..." Quirk
--> As much as I love Michael Whelan's art and woould always prefer
his work on books I'm about to read; one perhaps should remember
the `judging-book-by-cover' ol' saw and hope the crappy art (to
save money, undoubtedly) does not reflect a crappy story. I'll
read whatever she puts out, if I find a quick overview of the
story line interests me and/or if it's a continuation of a
`universe' I've come to enjoy and damn the cover art. One can
always pick-up the book, gingerly, holding one's nose against
the stench of poor (or poorly presented) cover art. T'is the
meat inside that draws me in - the chance to spend some time
in a fondly remembered and appreciated universe . . .
--
E.A.G.L.E Librarian A3 BBS:403/481-3133 email:ttu...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
--
Elrhan; Master Archivist
www.hboom.demon.nl/Elrhan/
Home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines (genealogies)
DO NOT hit reply - it is spam trapped
Mail me at Elr...@NOSPAMhboom.demon.nl (remove NOSPAM)
Heh. You want to talk about enjoyable contents with horrid cover art,
just look at what Baen ddi to Bujold and Weber. ;-)
Again, I'm just noting that the last time I observed a publisher shift
an author from scene to abstract cover art, it was coincidental with
that author entering a decline in writing quality.
Gym "Actually, the cover art won't be that much of a problem for me if I
purchase the book in hardcover, as I tend to discard dust jackets
anyway." Quirk
--
"Usenet is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea -- massive,
difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-
boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it."
-- Gene "spaf" Spafford (1992)
Neva (ne...@neo.rr.com) wrote:
: Jim Doolittle wrote:
: > In article <HHul5.41490$eS6.7...@news1.rdc1.md.home.com>, "Sariel"
: > <che...@ihatespam.srellimdotorg> wrote:
: >
: > > http://www.annemccaffrey.org/BookPages/SkiesofPernUSbc.html
: >
: > Eh.
: >
: > How...mainstream-fiction looking. Boring, in other words.
: >
: > -Jim
: >
: > --
: > Jim Doolittle CornWuff Press
: > dool...@tbcnet.com http://www.cornwuff.com
: > Art Show Director, Midwest FurFest
: > http://www.furfest.org
: Ditto from this corner. But I wonder if maybe it isn't cheaper for them
Carolyne in TX
Sariel wrote:
>
> The US cover for Skies of Pern has been posted at Anne's new site now.
> http://www.annemccaffrey.org/BookPages/SkiesofPernUSbc.html
>
> I'm not impressed with the recent trend of book covers from Del Rey
> (paperback version of Nimisha's Ship, Pegasus in Space and new covers for
> the other Pegasus books, and now this one). They've gotten away from
> "scenes" and instead gone with more representational art instead. This
> new Pern cover looks more like a Danielle Steele cover!
>
As if the Pern series isn't making enough money that they could
afford whoever they wanted for a cover...
> While I don't know if this has anything to do with it, Michael Whelan
> was diagnosed with prostate cancer, earlier this year. He was operated
> on in May, and evidently hasn't done much painting since. Recovering
> well, though. http://www.glassonion.com/info/getwellsoon.htm
Sorry to hear it. If I'd read this before GenCon instead of just
after, I'd have checked whether he was there or if a booth of his
art was there, and passed on best wishes.
I'd also have looked more closely at who did good dragon paintings.
If Whelan can't do it, someone else should! Other than Robin Wood,
who is the Pern Painting Goddess, off the top of my head I could
picture Elmore doing one, as long as we didn't let him paint any
people. (Or let someone else put clothes on the women after he's
done. ;-)
Darn, there was some good stuff at the Art Show. Should have taken
notes!
-Janet <dorn...@prairienet.org>
The trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons movie looks fantastic!!!
Let's protest! Who shall we mail? the publisher? Anne?
What do you think?
Michelle
On Mon, 14 Aug 2000, Janet Dornhoff, DVM wrote:
> Jim Doolittle wrote:
> >
> > Undoubtedly. That cover is but a moments work for a decent designer, as
> > opposed to a lot of work for a serious painter.
>
Alec Johnson wrote me back after I asked him to make a poll about this US
cover and to send the results to Del Rey. He said I was not the first to
express concern, and that he would relay these concerns to the publisher.
That should be important enough to make the publisher think I guess :) What?
The author doesn't like it, the author's manager and son doesn't like it,
fans doesn't like it, and reader probably won't like it. If it is not enough
for them, what would be??? I just don't understand why they even thought
this cover would give justice to Anne's book...
Francois
The more of us who actually contact the publisher (Del Rey) ourselves, the
more likely they are to listen. It won't come through nearly as strong for
Alec to say he's heard from concerned fans. Likewise an actual letter would
carry more weight than an email. It just shows you're concerned enough to
take the time to let them know.
whodunit <pill...@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:A3B00744532AF457.817CE7F5...@lp.airnews.net...
> Ick, hate it.
>
> Carolyne in TX
>
> Sariel wrote:
> >
> > The US cover for Skies of Pern has been posted at Anne's new site now.
> > http://www.annemccaffrey.org/BookPages/SkiesofPernUSbc.html
> >
> > I'm not impressed with the recent trend of book covers from Del Rey
> > (paperback version of Nimisha's Ship, Pegasus in Space and new covers
for
> > the other Pegasus books, and now this one). They've gotten away from
> > "scenes" and instead gone with more representational art instead.
This
> > new Pern cover looks more like a Danielle Steele cover!
> >
I've finally gotten a chance to look at the covers, and the UK one is much
better than the US one. I agree, it does look like a Danielle Steele
cover. A good cover can pull in new readers while a crappy one makes
people throw it back. While the old adage is true, i know for one, a book
with an interesting cover makes me pick it up, and read the back. I
ignore a crappy one.
--
Michelle McGarrity
"It's a big beacon of what-the-fuck"
- Kelly refering to the `big apple'
"I just have to find a way to regulate the gas so it doesn't blow up"
- Bob talking about the bar-b-que he wants to build
Do we have any mailing adress we can use for that?
If someone has it, please post it.
Francois
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.166 / Virus Database: 79 - Release Date: 06/20/2000
The address on their website is:
Del Rey Books
201 East 50th St.
NY, NY 10022 USA
"Sariel" <che...@ihatespam.srellimdotorg> wrote in message
news:MoGm5.48194$eS6.8...@news1.rdc1.md.home.com...
But bear in mind that extra weight will be placed on paper letters, since they
show that you feel strongly enough about the subject to spend extra time
writing in.
Likewise, you should write in _individually_, not as part of a joint petition.
Paul Bolchover
>Other than Robin Wood,
>who is the Pern Painting Goddess, off the top of my head I could
>picture Elmore doing one, as long as we didn't let him paint any
>people. (Or let someone else put clothes on the women after he's
>done. ;-)
At DragonCon, Larry Elmore, giving advice to aspiring artists, noted that the
first portfolio should be full of complete works, not the "parts that are most
fun to draw." :-)
Todd Lockwood did a nice looking dragon for the Dragonlance 15th Anniversary
classics. I'd like to see his rendition of Mnementh.
>The trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons movie looks fantastic!!!
Do you know if you guys at Gen Con got an updated trailer? The one shown at
DragonCon had a rather rubbery looking beastie, with the background dragons in
flight looking like King Vultan's hawkmen.
Altarielle
_____________________________________
Evolutionary cycle of a newsgroup poster:
First gecko, then skink, next komodo dragon, and finally dino.
--- Steward Redmane Darkstone, Thorbardin Protocol Attache
He clearly thinks that applies only to the *first* portfolio! ;-)
> >The trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons movie looks fantastic!!!
>
> Do you know if you guys at Gen Con got an updated trailer? The one shown at
> DragonCon had a rather rubbery looking beastie, with the background dragons in
> flight looking like King Vultan's hawkmen.
The trailer we saw was the one from Cannes, which they repeatedly pointed
out was five months old now and they'd been working mostly on the effects
since then. Yeah, the dragons in the sky was the one the cast were most
sorry we couldn't see the finished version of.
-Janet <dorn...@prairienet.org>
"It was a bad call, Ripley, a bad call!"
> I'd also have looked more closely at who did good dragon paintings.
> If Whelan can't do it, someone else should! Other than Robin Wood,
> who is the Pern Painting Goddess, off the top of my head I could
> picture Elmore doing one, as long as we didn't let him paint any
> people. (Or let someone else put clothes on the women after he's
> done. ;-)
>
Unfortunately, Robin Wood has devolped Fybromynagia (sp?) and has been
unable to do much painting herself. She has instead started doing computer
graphics and writing.
--
Other
Does Consciousness
ring a bell?
My precise first reaction to seeing the cover was: "Eww, it's hideous!"
It's truly a step backward, in my mind, from the terrific Whelan covers, or
even the decent Rowena and pretty-good Brom cover. It wouldn't necessarily
be that bad, if it were at least a *good* abstract cover. But this one seems
like something the publisher's eight-year-old son came up with. (no offense
to the publishers eight-year-old son intended.)
I think I will write to the publisher, since I can just as easily get the
British edition. I'll simply threaten not to buy it from them (in gentle
terms, of course).
Anne should know as well as anyone the selling power of a good cover. Look
at The White Dragon, whose selling power she's often attributed to the
Whelan cover.
Tosus, Journeyman Who Hopes That Del Rey Will Have A Change Of Art, Er,
Heart.
--
Bax
drago...@yahoo.com
"Yeh yeh, we all know where you come from." -Nova Comm.
----------
In article <3998C1FC...@earthlink.net>, Anne <am...@earthlink.net>
wrote:
--
Bax
drago...@yahoo.com
"Yeh yeh, we all know where you come from." -Nova Comm.
----------
In article <MoGm5.48194$eS6.8...@news1.rdc1.md.home.com>, "Sariel"