Are Current Fantasy Book Covers Tasteless?

Well I think the Abercrombie recent covers are fantastic:

JA-Cover.JPG


I think there is a noticeable difference between the more well established authors and those less well known or just breaking into the traditional market - I expect a lot of this is to do with costs.

I don't think covers are any worse or any better than they ever have been - just the generic images are changed.

Although I must admit I do love some of the old gaudy SF covers!
 
Also ...
Is it true that as the author becomes better known / better seller that the name goes from 16pt (or less) to 48pt+ or even half the cover?

It's tricky to fit on the cover:
Title
Series & number (important if Trilogy etc closely linked)
Author
Publisher
Hype (NYT Bestseller!!!! or "I think this rocks" <insert more famous author>
I can see why the original Penguins (and hard backs excluding dust covers) mostly just had text!

Now though it's like selling Easter Eggs or boxes of Chocolates. Esp needing nice thumbnail too.

Ironic that the cover is more important to Online sales than libraries or bookshops? Though I see bookshops and libraries displaying many more books than they used to. I think even in late 1960s publishers started giving away the covers as promotional material.
 
For contrast, one might look at the cover art for the Ballantine Fantasy Series of 1969-1974.

I had posted a link to a place with a bunch of these, but I'm deleting that because I don't want this thread to get bogged down in topics other than the one indicated by the title.
 
Is "fantasy" (except for game-related stuff) largely aimed at girls, and "science fiction" at boys?

It is more a case that teenage girls read much more than teenage boys do, and the boys (as you say) are more attracted to game-related stuff when they do read SFF.

I believe that most SFF publishers have figured out that their primary readership is female and quite young, just as many decades ago it was male and quite young. The big name authors with big, big sales across the board are most of them male (prejudices against female writers still run deep) but those big name writers are only publishing a few books a year between them. The larger market is fantasy for girls, even if it is divided between many popular authors instead of only an elite few, which means covers that appeal to teenage girls who would like to be adventurous, mysterious, and powerful, rather than (as in the old days) covers that appeal to teenage boys who long for the company of scantily clad buxom women.

Those women in chainmail bikinis or lying passively at the feet of muscle-bound warriors are what I think of when I read the word "tasteless." Those Sarah Maas covers (though they don't appeal to me personally) don't even come close.
 
The trend these days seems to be towards an illustration of a single character. Maybe this is related to the move to close third-person being the favoured POV - the books promise a 'climb into the skin' experience. By contrast, fantasy books from earlier eras often presented multiple characters on the cover. Many also featured landscapes. This suggests that the books today are less about fantastic settings and realms than about close personal connection with a character.

Chroniclesofthomascovenant.jpg
Ursual-K-LeGuin-A-Wizard-of-Earthsea-Bantam-Cover-illustrated-by-Pauline-Ellison.jpg
Sword_of_shannara_hardcover.jpg

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
 
The trend these days seems to be towards an illustration of a single character. Maybe this is related to the move to close third-person being the favoured POV - the books promise a 'climb into the skin' experience. By contrast, fantasy books from earlier eras often presented multiple characters on the cover. Many also featured landscapes. This suggests that the books today are less about fantastic settings and realms than about close personal connection with a character.

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


Absolutely classic covers. (y)
 
The trend these days seems to be towards an illustration of a single character. Maybe this is related to the move to close third-person being the favoured POV - the books promise a 'climb into the skin' experience. By contrast, fantasy books from earlier eras often presented multiple characters on the cover. Many also featured landscapes. This suggests that the books today are less about fantastic settings and realms than about close personal connection with a character.



Hmm. The recent book art suggests that the reader is invited to fantasize about being that alluring, tough, mystical grrrl or that amoral, efficient assassin-guy, roving in a world of fantasy creatures.

The earlier covers are often not all about inviting the reader to fantasize about being someone. Think of Barbara Remington's designs for Ballantine's original Lord of the Rings books!
 
Hi,

Personally this is the cover of Lord Foul's Bane which was the first of Donaldson's books I saw and which blew me away.

11570667209.jpg


It's still damned awesome!

Cheers, Greg.
 
Hi,

Personally this is the cover of Lord Foul's Bane which was the first of Donaldson's books I saw and which blew me away.

11570667209.jpg


It's still damned awesome!

Cheers, Greg.


It's an impressive cover but , I still like the Red cover better.:)
 
I prefer the original covers of GoT to the modern, likewise with WoT, and a dozen others, but my daughter won't touch the YA from 30 years ago as it's not modern enough, regardless of the fact that I know the stories within are just as relevant then as they are now even if they are lacking mobiles.
We all know someone who "doesn't read/ do" SFF but has read Miniaturist or seen The Martian. They'll happily have these books on their shelves, but not if it's got a spaceship on it or an elf at war with a dragon featured. Yes that doesn't apply to anyone on this forum I'm sure, but the covers are there to sell the book. As a book moves from "genre" to acclaimed more people will pick it up, just as when an SF novel becomes a movie.
As a race we still judge books by covers, and always will, marketing departments know this.
 
Chainmail bikinis always make me wonder if they have chainmail gambesons too...
 
Personally this is the cover of Lord Foul's Bane which was the first of Donaldson's books I saw and which blew me away.

It did me too. But I wonder if it would have the same effect if I saw it now for the first time. Fantasy wasn't very common then, and there was no internet, so a cover like that was very new and different, and that made it interesting (the same with the "classic" Brooks and Donaldson covers, which now look very cheesy).

Agreed. They were about journeying to another world, not about becoming another person. And that, in my opinion, is the biggest change in fantasy over the last 20 years.

Interesting thought, and deserving of its own thread. Is it true, and if so, what has driven that change?
 
the other thing which I believe has been touched on earlier is that the covers of various novels are very different between here and the US - weirdly I used to prefer (on the whole) the US covers, thy just seemed to be far more interesting with embossed lettering.... <shallow? Moi?>
 
Just to show my taste in fantasy art (again), the cover for A Wizard of Earthsea appeals to me far more than the other two.

I'm not sure LOTR has ever had better covers than the watercolors Tolkien painted; they are what I think of when I think of LOTR.

Tolkien bookcover

My taste tends less toward Hildebrandt-like painting, more toward the less realist, even stylized work of Mel Odom, Thomas Canty, and Gervasio Gallardo.

Gervasio Gallardo

And while I like the vividness and energy of Frank Frazetta's work, the raft of imitators who came after don't appeal much.

I do like some more recent covers, which I think captures the feel of the novel, but I miss the kind of covers that didn't so much stress the reality of the world being built as stress the fantasy-ness of fantasy; for instance The Best of John Collier or these Gormanghast covers.


Randy M.
 
Interesting thought, and deserving of its own thread. Is it true, and if so, what has driven that change?
Might have something to do with exploring in general shifted from outer world to innerself, and than to your other-self? Like avatars, be it in games, novels or online
 

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