Movie covers....GRRRRR!

[Hari Seldon]

Know what I really hate? I hate when a novel is made into a movie and the cover of the book is now either the star of the movie or something movie related. I even hate when it states "now a major motion picture" or "soon to be a major motion picture". I don't need Will Smith on the cover of I, Robot.

I know it is a minor detail but I will go out of my way to avoid getting that cover. I will actually pay a little more for the same book depending on the cover. I love those old vintage covers from the 50's or 60's and the old Edgar Rice Burroughs covers.

Sorry, just venting a little.

 

[The Ace]

Second that one, HS.

 

[Scifi fan]

I agree, especially if the movie is not true to the original novel. But, if there are other, more traditional book covers, then that's all right.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Yep, got to agree as well. It really annoyed me that after the release of 1408, a newly published edition of Everything's Eventual had 1408 in big numbers on the front as if that was the title of the collection.

 

[kythe]

I completely agree. It makes it seem that a book's popularity and relevance is all about the movie, rather than the other way around.

A few years ago I bought a Chronicles of Narnia series with good illustrations on the cover, but the words "Now a major motion picture!" on the cover of each book. I have since regretted that because I don't want to read it to my kids and have them thinking about the movie every time they pick up the book.

My daughter is a good reader, but she recently asked me if all books are made into movies. She meant it as a serious question, so I tried to answer seriously. I explained that although many good books are made into movies, I really enjoy reading a book and imagining the characters and story for myself rather than just watching something that "tells" me how I should interpret the story. I think it is unfortunate that this generation expects every good story to be on screen, and the book industry is equally to blame for this type of marketing.

 

[Lucien21]

I agree and it is also potentially misleading esp if the novel is widely different from the film.

However if it encourages more people to read the novels is there any harm in it.

Obviously it's a great marketing tool and probably sells more books, not just for that one but for all sequels etc. I imagine that cheesy Twilight novel and it's brethern are winging off the shelves as we speak.

Did 2001:A Space Odyssey the movie start with a cover picture of the book and a logo "Now in Paperback at all good bookstores" at the bottom of the screen-- Probably not.

 

[Connavar]

I hate them to my core.

It took my years to buy I,Robot because i lost interest everytime i saw Will Smith and the movie cover....

Finally i ordered another with a boring but a non movie cover.

The Priestige by Priest is the only movie cover book i own. I just couldnt bother to order another version. I will mostly likely give away the book to get rid of the cover no matter if i like the book or not.....

 

[nixie]

Argh, film covers *shudders*

 

[Grimward]

Yeah, I'm not sure you'll get a dissenting opinion on this one, HS. Would much rather have the original cover, or even subsequent artwork unrelated to the movie, than the cover done with the movie in mind.

 

[The Ace]

Errr Lucian ? Maybe they should.

 

[Lith]

I'll dissent.

I don't mind them. Even own a few, even a couple of those particularly obnoxious ones with pictures from the movie inside of them. (And, embarrassing though it is, I did buy one of the Twilight paperbacks this month with the movie cover. Hey, it was the only readily available copy about (and no, it wasn't a very good book)) And judging from how many copies abound in used bookstores, they must sell pretty well, which is good for the publishers.

It mostly depends on whether I read the book after the movie's out, or before. If after, the movie's characters are burned into my mind no matter what, so it doesn't particularly matter. Otherwise, I buy my books only on quality of which edition it is (content-wise) and how pretty the covers are, and I'm not much for the classic SF illustrations, and I'm picky about color. There have been a few covers so ugly I have a hard time getting over them when I read the story...

 

[Pyan]

With the majority here - hate them with a vengeance, especially if the movie title is different to the book.
Worst one I ever saw said:

BLADE RUNNER

Philip K. Dick

Originally published as
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?​

 

[Hari Seldon]

I agree and it is also potentially misleading esp if the novel is widely different from the film.

However if it encourages more people to read the novels is there any harm in it.

Obviously it's a great marketing tool and probably sells more books, not just for that one but for all sequels etc. I imagine that cheesy Twilight novel and it's brethern are winging off the shelves as we speak.

Did 2001:A Space Odyssey the movie start with a cover picture of the book and a logo "Now in Paperback at all good bookstores" at the bottom of the screen-- Probably not.

I'll agree that it is good that when movies draw people to the books (Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings,for example) but me personally, I have trouble reading a book after watching the movie first. It just kills all imagination for me. The actor/actress is who I picture and the scenery is all ready imprinted in my brain. Then again the book will usually kill most movies for me because the movie will never live up to the book.

 

[mirinda]

Personally I just like to see the original artwork on the books. See what the author had in mind rather than some big movie company's idea.

 

[soulsinging]

Personally I just like to see the original artwork on the books. See what the author had in mind rather than some big movie company's idea.

I hate movie covers, but I have to wonder how much control an author has over the cover, as compared to the publisher. What about when a book is republished, like Martin's ASOIF? The new matching covers are nice, but is it a betrayal of the author's initial vision as shown by the original covers?

 

[Wiglaf]

Actually, I think my main objections are that I don't like bright colors, photos, or advertisements on my book covers, period. I like my books to look like books. That ancient library look; shelves and shelves of leather and cloth covered hardbound tomes simular to encyclopedias or family Bibles filled with magic. Big glossy pictures of actors with a movie banner across it on the cover just doesn't create the same feeling.
That said, I'm sure it helps sales. Hopefully, there are other options available for the rest of us.

 

[mirinda]

I'm not sure soulsinging but I'd like to think the author has some say in the original cover. Makes me feel better to think so. The cover is important for a book gives you a little feeling about what you'll find inside. A giant picture of an actor's face just doesn't give me anything.

 

[soulsinging]

I'm not sure soulsinging but I'd like to think the author has some say in the original cover. Makes me feel better to think so. The cover is important for a book gives you a little feeling about what you'll find inside. A giant picture of an actor's face just doesn't give me anything.

I agree completely! Just always a little curious about what goes on in the industry. I know they change titles from the UK to America, which I find weird.

 

[mirinda]

You me and the rest of the world is curious.

Ahhh all about catching us picky Americans. For instance "The Philosopher's Stone" Just doesn't sound as appealing to an American audience.

 

[Lith]

While I don't like the practice of retitling things for American audiences, I DO have to admit that I like the sound of "Sorcerer's Stone" and "The Golden Compass" better than the original titles...

Authors often have little say over the covers of their books. And publishing companies have large backlogs of just covers made by their artists, and I've run across a lot of books whose covers have little to do with the actual story- did they even read the story before assigning a cover to it? If it's a classic, it often gets slapped with a classic painting. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

edit: oops, thoughts wandered over from the other thread...whistles and walks off...