Sep 30
Click for full imageI’m thinking book covers are normally so unrealistic. They have things that are so unbelievable it would make your mother cry. Not us! I propose, a photographic quality drawing of a military man placing his shined boot on the head of his latest kill: a giant ant insect alien creature. It will be just like they are back in the great war…. with aliens…
(Rating: 4.78 out of 10)
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September 30th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Loving this one, only possible improvement would be if the rifle butt was resting on the ant-monster’s head. It looks like the author, Toby Smith, has successfully managed to have his own face used as the model for the main character’s illustration – and even more so in the following books in the series. Well done that man!
September 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am
thats pretty awesome he used his own face!
I have to say though, a few of my friends have read this series and highly reccomend it, its aparently very funny, verging on a spoof but still has a good story.
I think the cover is quite accurate at getting across the awesomeness of him.
This one is actually on my to-read list after i get started on Edward Willet.
have i bad taste in this one? i think the cover isnt too bad
September 30th, 2009 at 11:46 am
It’s not that bad really. It’s a filler
trying to get rid of the bad but not terrible stuff.
That is awesome that he used himself on the cover. Luckily he obviously looked not to bad. I’d love to see all authors on the cover posing in fancy dress!!
September 30th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Well, I don’t know for sure, but there is a certain likeness…
That reminds me, I have some covers to send in, better get on that!
September 30th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Oh ok sorry I read it as if it was a fact
I found an amazing sci fi shop in Amsterdam yesterday. Couldn’t spend the many hours in there I wanted to but managed to get a few beauties.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Id like to think its him, even if its not…
we did have an author pose for one of my favourites so far:
http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/2009/03/holysiege/
Nigel posed for that one.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I do admit that I want it to be Toby himself on the cover, and this may be clouding my judgement somewhat.
Have a look at his profile over at Fantastic Fiction and see what you think. Toby’s close up at the top, series’ book covers further down the page.
Come on Toby, let it be you. Be a legend.
September 30th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I dunno…I think the font is pretty diabolical.
June 9th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Hello.
I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you: it isn’t me at all. In reality I look much less spiffing than that.
Otherwise, given that the book is a comedy about space Victorians fighting giant ant-people, it’s fairly accurate (there’s a good deal of parody of old Boy’s Own-type adventures, Dan Dare and the like). I think I would have made the laser gun a bit bigger though. And added some robots, but then there’s a reason they don’t let me do the cover art (and there’s a robot on the cover of the sequel anyway).
I think the artist did a worryingly good job of depicting the sort of thing that goes on in my brain, and looking at it as objectively as I can, I don’t think the cover is bad at all. For anyone with any remaining doubts, I’d suggest you buy a copy. Or three. Hell, buy five. I’m saving up for a yacht.
Regards,
Toby.
June 9th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Toby> Darn it! We have been wishing for a while now it was you!
Thanks for posting! It was a slow day when we posted this one and I had a few of my friends mock me for it, seeing as it is comedy! And it was clear how much they loved it. So a pleasure to see you. Also because it has a low rating and people generally enjoyed it we don’t have to defend ourselves too much!
Please tell me at some stage you have tried to grow a moustache like that!
June 12th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Hello again,
I’ve never tried to grow a moustache quite like that, for fear that my efforts would not be manly enough, thus letting the side down. A friend of mine once turned up at a book signing having grown an impressive moustache, but it did make him look as slightly if he’d changed his name to Sven and gone into the washing-machine repair business.
Perhaps I should grow a handlebar moustache. My author photo would look even more foolish than ever, but it might be good for marketing. Hmm, I see a plan taking shape…
June 16th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Exactly. Moustaches, smoking pipe, deer head, a burning fireplace and a glass full of brandy. If that was on the back of your book I’d buy it simply for that!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Its funny, i bought a copy just because it has the words “sex toy” and “hamster” in the same sentence on the back.
The handlebar moustache is due a comeback in fashion any day soon. Capes, canes, hats, pocket watches, robes and full length jackets are on the way back too. Sir Patrick Moore has been couragously single handedly fighting for the monocle for years now.
Thanks for posting Toby. For what its worth, i think the cover is jolly good. But I think Smiths quirky smile on the covers of the sequels makes them way more epic.
June 18th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Wow, a sale – I knew the rodent/sex toy crossover would pay off! (Ah, I’ll never quite forgive the publishers for that. I don’t get to write the back cover stuff!) Another tiny step closer to my yacht!
I hope you enjoy the book. In a disgraceful piece of shameless self-promotion, I should add that there is a facebook page and a SCS website, which are no more sensible than the novels. There’s also a film trailer for the second book somewhere, all about tea.
Anyway, it’s been a pleasure being here – keep up the good work!