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Jan 21

I'll just put this Z&A here... there we go! See, it spells wizard!Click for full image

Tally ho! Well good chap I’ll have the one with swords and those smashing old wizards praising a big wolf in the clouds!
Published 2000

Hold on, we'll save the princess in a bit. I have a chance to look... awesome!Click for full image

Good show old bean, I’ll go for the one with double swords, a buxom beauty and a mighty cape. Spiffing!
Published 1993

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: 6.50 out of 10)
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Jan 05

I can't fight a war! I've got shells for legs!Click for full image

Amy Comments: Letters invoking Art Nouveau is an interesting choice for a book where a modern man travels back to ancient Rome. Speaking of which, those are Roman sandals he is wearing. I just wanted to point that out because you might think he has his feet jammed into slimy cornucopias. Also, he is -traveling- -back- -in- -time-, people, not being served for dinner. Note the collaged photograph of an ancient city, how it is juxtaposed against the crudely watercolored landscapes and forms in the foreground, making us question, which is the -real- world?
Published 1969

Many thanks to Amy!

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: 8.20 out of 10)
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Jan 03

Happy New Year!

Well it’s 2011 and that means we have an entire year of quality book covers behind us. So here we will have a few of the best covers chosen by the Good Show Sir staff, helper monkeys or whatever.

Just want to say thanks to everyone who visits the site! I would have never have thought so many people would be interesting in joining us sharing these wonderful covers. Thanks to all the commenter’s out there, where would we be without your generous sarcastic undertones? Also want to say thanks to all the artists and writers we’ve had come along to the site, we love all these covers but sorry if we’ve caused any tears!

Finally, special thanks to the all those who have sent in and continue to email me covers! I apologise that I haven’t got back to everyone who has sent covers in and I do have quite the backlog but we’ll get through them all.. probably!

How could we not mention:

Steroids, side effects may vary.Click for original post

A personal favourite:

Unicorn: Not even that naked teleporting man could brighten up my day...Click for original post

Everyone loves cat people!

Ah cat people... you went on to make the internet famous!Click for original post

CSA chooses magic, wizards, unicorns and fairies:

Ah... I see the new year firework show is underway!Click for original post

Finally, well… maybe we should come back later:

Hairy palms.. silver hand... whatever you'll still go blind!Click for original post

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: 8.28 out of 10)
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Nov 23

It maybe flashy, but they are the best interpretive dance group around.Click for full image

Libraryman comments: I love how it seems as if the characters are just randomly placed around this dead body. Kind of like a cluedo clue. “It was Sinbad with the scimitar in the dungeon!”
Published 1995

This cover… is perfect!
Libraryman, good show sir!

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: 7.59 out of 10)
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Nov 22

Ah the tragedy... if only they fitted all dragons with life-jackets.Click for full image

Knautwerks art direction:

Okay, so, its an anthology of stories on ghosts, witches and demons. Cover ideas anyone?
How about a brain damaged dragon frolicking in a lake?
GENIUS!

Published 1971 (maybe)

So it’s a children’s book, but is there a better way to start your Monday!?!
Many thanks to Knautwerk!
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: 7.00 out of 10)
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Nov 11

Of all the daemon summoning days to forget my satanic robes...Click for full image

Art Direction: Evil prophets go together with men wearing eyeliner like… Anyway that’s easy! Lets make any text on the cover like some sort of cryptic puzzle which will have to deciphered. What’s the book called? What’s the name the of author again? Ha! They’ll be stumped! The money will roll in!
Published Date Unknown

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: 8.33 out of 10)
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Nov 10

It looks like you are trying to write a letter. Would you like me to....Click for full image

John Comments: Sentient killer smog in Los Angeles of course requires occult defense. Only in the 80s.
Published 1985

Many thanks to John!

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: 6.63 out of 10)
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Nov 02

We're about to be drowned in milk!!!!!!Click for full image

Tom Noir’s Art Direction: That’s a really nice painting you did for the Le Guin cover, but you know what would really sell it? Incorporating this photograph of my nephew and I at the Ren Faire. Don’t be silly, my mod seventies mullet-ponytail combo looks COMPLETELY medieval.
Published 1981 (maybe)

Many thanks to Tom!

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: 4.21 out of 10)
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Nov 01

Cover yourself up man! Your tackle is scaring me horse!Click for full image

Jeweleya Comments: This cover is so off-putting to me that I can’t bring myself to read the book. A few highlights –

  • The sword dissolving into blue dust
  • The barbarian’s barely-decent rags (it’s refreshing that the woman is wearing more than the man, for once)
  • The utterly generic, swirly, rainbow-threw-up-on-it background
  • And my personal favorite: the horse that looks like it’s just been flung backwards from a giant slingshot

…Indeed, a cover for the ages.
Published 1978

Many thanks to Jeweleya!

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: 7.21 out of 10)
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Oct 22

No! Take my wallet.. anything! Anything but my horn!Click for full image

Art Direction: The London underground, Pink Floyd concerts and the queue for Return of the Jedi. Do you know what they all have in common? They’re all… busy!! We don’t just need a strange bird attacking a unicorn, we need a full on boarder! With as much busyness as possible. I’m sure that’s sound logic… well pretty sure.
Published 1983

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: 5.71 out of 10)
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