[AndrewSFTSN]

Before I start the topic, let me just say that I think these are an excellent series. Time and time again I do some research on a new author I'd love to read, look up their "landmark" book, only to find out that it has been covered by this Gollancz imprint. The selection they have published include some true landmarks that in many cases had suffere from being out of print or difficult to hunt down. So hats off in that respect, I own many of these editions.

The coverart is frequently dire though.

Not long ago I finished the SF MAsterworks edition and was appalled by the ineptitude of the coverart, featuring a robotic dragonfly hovering onimously above a sea of blue mashed potato, across which stumbles a wearily generic "spaceman". This book was so strange and unsettling in places I can think of plenty of better design solutions. That Building is a creepy enough visual all by itself...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/AndrewW/51ZwMj8JQeL_SS500_.jpg

Some of these books covers seem like the sort of thing that would definitely cement genre stereotypes into the heads of those that would not consider science fiction or fantasy worthy of their time. Another example is the first of the Conan Volumes, or the Clark Ashton Smith collection (both full of excellent content).


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/AndrewW/ConanI.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/AndrewW/n30034.jpg


I think a lot of the issue is my inherent snobbery toward computer generated art, which I find hard to get that excited about unless it is something particularly original. Also, I generally prefer more abstract/overtly "designed" front covers, as in a blank slate for ones mind regarding a particular work is the best way to appreciate the images/atmosphere etc. within. It shows disrespect for the author in many cases to impose such a specific visual on their work.

What do you think? Am I being a petulant snob? Or could this series do with a bit of a brush up?

Ps Apologies if I insulted anyone with my critiques.

[icowdave]

What do you think? Am I being a petulant snob? Or could this series do with a bit of a brush up?

I've always thought that the Masterworks series, over all, has a very nice look to it, particularly the SF side of things. There are of course some that disappoint but I think that's inevitable with so many books to cover and our taste for such things being so subjective. (For reference, SF Site has all the books for you to look at: SF Masterworks (http://www.sfsite.com/lists/orion01.htm) and Fantasy Masterworks (http://www.sfsite.com/lists/orion05.htm).)

I'll agree with you whole heartedly on the covrs you included but somebody out there probably loves the cover for A Maze of Death. Hard to imagine, I know. I'm sure the ones in the series I like will leave some scratching their heads:

http://www.sfsite.com/grx/orion/tzlg.jpg http://www.sfsite.com/gif/0004/szlg.gif

http://www.sfsite.com/grx/orion/smillg.gif http://www.sfsite.com/gif/0104/elric2.jpg

I enjoy many different styles of cover art and actively seek out great design in books. There are many fine web sites that deal with cover design that I frequent like The Book Cover Archive (http://bookcoverarchive.com/tags/great-ideas) or Caustic Cover Critic (http://causticcovercritic.blogspot.com/) that you might enjoy. You'll find that most of the best, or at least most daring, design is being done outside SF/F. There are some exciting exceptions but they seem to be for small run specialty sets like the ones pictured below.

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2009/04/rendezvous-with-rama.jpg http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2009/04/eternal-light.jpg

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2009/04/century-rain.jpg http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2009/04/centauri-device.jpg

Most of what gets published is safe and familiar. Space ships sell SF and swords sell fantasy. Hard to argue with what works but a little more variety would be nice.

My 2 pennies.

[AndrewSFTSN]

Thanks a lot for those links, they are both great, I'd never seen them before. Some of the stuff on CCC is truly shocking!

Another of my favourites on a more specific theme is the War Of The Worlds coverart collection: http://drzeus.best.vwh.net/wotw/

http://drzeus.best.vwh.net/wotw/0066.jpg

Eerie.

The covers you posted are all pretty good- I don't really like the "blurring" effect on I Am Legend, I don't know, I think that sense of claustrophobia pervading it could have been dealt with in a way without even showing the vampires. The Elric one is magnificent, and this is coming from me that normally hates "Fantasy" covers, but that one drips atmosphere, and I love the colours.

The Rama cover, although I cannot stand the book, is an excellent example of the sort of approach I love. Very considered. While part of me loves pulpy front covers, if they don't have a sense of mystery or atmosphere to them I think they can dull my appreciation of a book entirely. I've even considered removing some of the worst ones in my collection, but I'm probably not (quite) hot headed enough for that.

[icowdave]

Another of my favourites on a more specific theme is the War Of The Worlds coverart collection: http://drzeus.best.vwh.net/wotw/

That's a great site. Thanks for the link. Here's another I forgot to add earlier. http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/ Some great old Penguin covers on that site.

There's a great book out that covers Penguin too called Penguin by Design: A Cover Story 1935-2005 (http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Design-Cover-Story-1935-2005/dp/0141024232/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252361591&sr=1-9). A nice retrospective of Penguin art.

[JunkMonkey]

Not just SF but all penguin covers welcome here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/penguinpaperbackspotters/

[icowdave]

Not just SF but all penguin covers welcome here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/penguinpaperbackspotters/

Another great link! Thanks.