Are Current Fantasy Book Covers Tasteless?

Now, in the interests of balance, can anyone upload some truly horrifying examples that qualify as genuinely lacking in taste?
 
Gdoc, substitute "bland" for "tasteless"? Maybe that helps.


Randy M.
(or, alternately, I may just be slipping into old fogeydom)
 
Gdoc, substitute "bland" for "tasteless"? Maybe that helps.


Randy M.
(or, alternately, I may just be slipping into old fogeydom)

There is a difference between bland and tasteless. Publishers do publish boring covers, typically in the hope to mimic some other book to entice readers. When the DaVinci Code became a bestseller I remember dozens of books appearing with almost identical covers, all promising the same kind of thing - ancient prophesies, religious secrets, mysterious goings on etc. It is a sensible tactic really.

But some covers are more than bland. Some are downright awful. Indeed, it seems to be a common complaint with authors that publishers make all the decisions regarding cover art.
 
I'm pretty sure those are all YA titles. In which case the answer to you question would be: mostly (but not limited to) girls in their mid-teens.

Do you think covers for books aimed at boys in that same age range are any more tasteful and sophisticated?
Those are YA. I read YA but was put off these by the negative reviews on Goodreads.
 
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.

I think you've nailed it.
 
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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

Or, "it's been done". The Earthsea one, okay. The other two say "a ripoff of Gandalf on the bridge in Moria" and "an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Frodo-clone are looking at The Sword in the Stone".

Standard "realistic" views of dragons etc. tend to draw the reaction "oh, another one of those" (admittedly the YA covers seem the same)
 
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.

Just to add to Teresa's post, YA readership is definitely getting younger. My daughter's been reading YA since she turned 10. She's 11 now and most of her friends read YA too. So I can definitely see a cover like the Sarah Maas ones appealing to preteens/younger teens.
 
I have a thing about book covers I think. I love so many of the old ones and I am digging the new styles now too.

There is something just right and cozy about the art from the 70-80-90s that is lost now, but I understand why. It is a little cheesy and dated, but I will always have a soft spot for it.

Some of my favorite covers were done by Darrel K Sweet who did the original Thomas Covenant, Wheel of Time, Runelords, Recluce covers.

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Then there was Michael Whelan, who did so many covers that I love.

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I have his massive Memory of Light print in my office, signed by Mr Whelan and Brandon Sanderson

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