tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post4134117188399104696..comments2023-07-08T08:33:50.710+01:00Comments on Speculative Horizons: A quick thought on cover artJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-22288744780767919782010-09-07T16:17:12.840+01:002010-09-07T16:17:12.840+01:00"so the character on the cover, ... ends up m..."so the character on the cover, ... ends up monopolising how you imagine the character--it influences your preconceptions."<br /><br />That's exactly my problem with depicting characters on the cover. I want to content of the book to let me build my mental image of the character(s), not the cover. <br /><br />On a related note, when I eventually have kids, I'm going to do my best to have them read LOTR before they see the movies.Ryanhttp://www.starcraftscience.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-72124580179517660692010-09-06T19:43:55.799+01:002010-09-06T19:43:55.799+01:00Problem is that you usually haven't read the b...Problem is that you usually haven't read the book when you buy it---so the character on the cover, who's often a dolled-up reworking of the main character designed with commercial appeal in mind (and hence usually generic looks) ends up monopolising how you imagine the character--it influences your preconceptions.<br /><br />THAT'S why I don't like main characters on covers--at least as long as their face is showing.Lukehttp://nostalgicfordreams.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-3268076623496469082010-09-06T18:24:47.077+01:002010-09-06T18:24:47.077+01:00I've no problem with people slating the art or...I've no problem with people slating the art or design - that's fair enough. Just don't understand people who slate a cover because the character's hair is too long, or whatever - who cares?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-44182839147882788202010-09-06T15:27:09.540+01:002010-09-06T15:27:09.540+01:00I don't think that particularly commenter is s...I don't think that particularly commenter is saying that it doesn't jive with his/her personal vision of the character, but that the cover takes away his/her option of imagining the character for him-/her-self. That's something I don't personally have an issue with, but also something I completely understand.<br /><br />And I agree with redhead. I don't liken it to a cheap Photoshop job, but it does look like those awful CG characters you see on ebooks and the like. Very fake looking in all the wrong ways. It absolutely looks cheap. Where's Martiniere when you need him?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13571452656553970472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-90634164809029719032010-09-06T15:15:50.075+01:002010-09-06T15:15:50.075+01:00I guess the point I'm trying to make here, is ...<i>I guess the point I'm trying to make here, is that I think it's unfair to slate a cover just because you don't like the depiction of the character.</i><br /><br />couldn't agree more. <br /><br />but on the otherhand, I'll often have a knee jerk reaction to artwork of anykind, be it cover art on oa $8.99 paperback, or a Monet original at a museum.<br /><br />There are plenty of times i skipped over a book because I didn't care for the cover art or even the title. And I can't tell you how many times I've gotten burned, because I've missed out on excellent novels. For the most part I don't mind if the character is on the front and looks or doesn't look like why I imagined. Although please, if the author insists over and over again that the main character has dark hair, please don't put on a blonde on the cover (this recently happened, and I was annoyed)!<br /><br />But this City of Ruin cover art? Beyond the harlequin looking guy and the urban fantasy attack pose, It just looks like a cheap photoshop job to me.redheadhttp://littleredreviewer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-53808291031764316872010-09-06T14:03:29.387+01:002010-09-06T14:03:29.387+01:00I'm not saying anything.
Burt.I'm not saying anything.<br /><br /> Burt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com