How much does cover art influence you?

[Nuytsia]

Hehehe nice...
Do these covers say something about US audiences?

I believe US covers are usually regarded as not as good as their UK counterparts. Take any book in the English language and compare the two covers, chances are the UK version looks better.

Mmmmm yeah, though I meant that the US covers all seem to have to feature a woman in a short skirt or otherwise revealing clothing.

[Mervi]

Then again, some US cover are really nice, especially older ones. Think of the Megan Lindholm US covers for example - Cloven Hooves, Harpy's Flight come to mind.

[Albertosaurus Rex]

Oh sure, I wouldn't want to genralise too much. I have seen good US covers. But in more cases than not, the UK cover appears to be the better regarded of the two.

[Farseer]

Here's the (proposed?) cover art for the HBO/TV tie-in edition of A Game of Thrones, as featured within Pat's Fantasy Hotlist:

[Image: Game_of_Thrones_tie-in_edition.jpg]

It may suit viewers of the TV show well enough but, for me, I would walk past it, I must admit...

['thul]

its too bright...

[Albertosaurus Rex]

For some reason, the thing that bothers me most is that the title on this book cover is "Game of Thrones". I know that the show has dropped the "A", but that doesn't change the title of the original book!

But yeah, I probably would have walked right past this edition. Too bright indeed.

[redchild]

Brightness depends on it's context. Take George Orwell's 1984:

[Image: 1984-cover.jpg]
It's just an iris surrounded by white! But it's been designed with good sense and much thought.

I found this one posted on wikipedia and I want to post it just because I like it so much:
[Image: 403px-1984first.jpg]
Even though this doesn't feature a bright white scheme, this is a very simple but effective design. I can imagine the colors inverted so that the text features various shades of green, or any other color, against a white background, and it would still be effective. But I like it better as it is.

Perhaps being surrounded by colorful, dark color schemes used by other books would actually make this cover stand out. Besides, I have no doubt every bookstore will display this edition prominently at the entrance of their shops with signs hanging from the ceiling, directing your eyes to it if you haven't noticed it already.

I've always liked this shot of Dany/Emily Clarke. The photograph has got a great composition. It's got a very graphic quality to it, like a Lautrec designed poster or something.

I can't say the same about the cropping job for the book, though. The ears of the horse draw too much attention to the corners of the frame while its nose causes a tangent on the bottom of the frame. Clarke's face is dead center and that face that her features have a much darker contrast, especially being surrounded by lighter tones, making it stand out a bit too prominently. I don't like the way her shoulder blade has been cut off, either. The entire cropping job is much too cramped and by simply pulling out from the photograph, you can enhance the composition so much more.

I also have gripes against the typeface-- boring, and bland. Why do people always choose the most overused typefaces? There are so many other elegant typefaces that suit the design so much better. And the ugly seal that looks like a bird pooped on it. Why can't they ever put those things in the back of the book? Or maybe as a sticker instead being of printed right on there (so you can rip it off later)?

Sometimes I wonder who hires these cover designers. I've seen student work much better than many "professionally" designed book covers. Publishing companies should take a look at some students who do good work and need the money and exposure.

I'm just picky.

['thul]

The first of those 1984 covers was fairly bright, but not in the bad way...

Indeed there are many students that draw well, and often better than those that charge huge sums of money for it...

Its much the same with web sites... some organizations pay amounts with 6+ digits for a web site, and then a student just does a similar job better on the side, for free...

[Nuytsia]

Geees why do they make Dany look like Lady Godiva!!!!
I really dislike the 'look' of most of the characters in the HBO thing (nothing like I pictured, or indeed like any artwork I've seen)..... have I said that before?

As to the actual impression it makes on me as a book cover, well it looks a little cheesy.

Yeah why DID they drop the 'A' ?

[Farseer]

It's just an iris surrounded by white! But it's been designed with good sense and much thought.

I agree, it's certainly effective! It actually reminds me of a giant, blue eyeball featured in a Doctor Who clip I saw recently!!

Even though this doesn't feature a bright white scheme, this is a very simple but effective design.

Yes, if I were to pick from the two based on which cover I prefer, it would be this one covered with text....it's unusual and attention-grabbing.

I'm just picky.

I think you're amazing and you sure sound like you know your stuff!!!

I agree with AR. For me, the missing 'A' is verging on rant-worthy!