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May 30

Are those two dots? Or the nose?Click for full image

Rusty Comments: My eyes, they hurt. Now I sleepless.
Published 2010

Actually, that cover IS a classical work of art!I would touch it without protective gloves.I've seen worse. Far, far, worse.Interesting, but I would still read it in public.Middlng: Neither awful nor awfully goodWould not like to be seen reading that!Awful... just awful...That belongs in a gold-lame picture frame!Gah... my eyes are burning! Feels so good!Good Show Sir! (Average: 7.60 out of 10)
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19 Responses to “Sleepless”

  1. A.R.Yngve Says:

    It’s supposed to be “arty” and “cool.”
    You know, just like the way faded old comic-book pages are “arty” and “cool”.

  2. THX 1138 Says:

    This is one of those magic eye paintings, isn’t it? Yes… I can see… oh, an eye.

  3. Nephilim Says:

    The story must have been so full of holes that the publisher decided to screen the cover. The good news is that when you finish the book you’ll be able to connect all the dots and see what really is on the cover.

  4. Michael Toland Says:

    Huston’s a great writer and this is a strong novel…shame about the cover. The American edition’s cover isn’t all that exciting, but at least it won’t give you an eyestrain headache.

  5. Jaouad Says:

    Designed to be seen from a great distance. Smart marketing move!

  6. Phil Says:

    This loooks fine… when I take my glasses off.

    They must have misquoted Stephen King there. He obviously wasn’t talking about the noir tradition, but the moiré tradition.

  7. Alessandra Kelley Says:

    Ow. Ow. Ow.

    Look, the first rule about book covers, right? The very first rule, is that they be clear and readable.

    They are not supposed to induce migraines.

    Even if you squint so you can read it it’s awfully lacking in contrast. It’s like trying to read a Band-Aid.

    Poor Charlie Huston.

  8. Smith Says:

    Having looked at this cover, I have an inexplicable urge to assassinate the president.

  9. Smith Says:

    Look into my eye, not around the eye, look into my eye and you’re under.

  10. Jerk of all Trades Says:

    That can be an interesting effect for a design — but that they saw fit to do it to the cover text as well is just weird. Especially since it sounds like the dot-text effect is hurting pretty much everyone’s eyes.

    I wonder if the artist/designer for the cover had a beef with the publisher or the author.

  11. Jerk of all Trades Says:

    Er, I mean, that the title and author would be in that headache-inducing pattern. The blurbs had the good fortune to be in regular text, but I keep forgetting they’re they’re because I keep staring in disbelief at the rest of the cover.

  12. Jaouad Says:

    @Jerk of all Trades: Wait, there are blurbs?

  13. hep c Says:

    The secret is to never blink. Ever. Legend has it that the text inside the books is also hidden behind layers and layers of red dots.

  14. Alk Says:

    It could be that eye cancer is actually what the artist intended to induce in the reader. So is it a success or not?

  15. Adam Roberts Says:

    Is it a ‘before’ photo from a Clearasil ad?

  16. Tom Noir Says:

    If you allow your eyes to unfocus and stare at this cover for thirty seconds you will… get a headache.

  17. Anti-Sceptic Says:

    I see measles!

  18. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    Particle Man hates Person Man, too.

    They’re having a fight, and Particle’s winning.

  19. anon Says:

    The mystic erasing all signs of farts at health-food store G.E.Shitnlube
    Althose Urchin
    Less novel, please
    “Raises one of the hokiest pro-centrist arguments in the noble tradition of shitty tropes” — Gremmer Melnyk

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