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GK’s Art Direction: I need this cover by 5 o’clock! Just go out and take a picture of something!
Published 1969

AHHH! Kill it! Kill it!
Many thanks to GK!

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Sarah Comments: This cover raises a lot of questions. Are those pointed shoes? What’s up with his hands? Do all “galactic Machiavellis” keep the souls of deceased dinosaurs in their cloaks? Why does he look as though a slight breeze would knock him over?
Published 1973

Leggings and a dinner suit. Good look!
Many thanks to Sarah!

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Borkworm Bas Comments: This is a pretty early Heinlein cover which I quite like. Heinlein has fairly precise descriptions of the characters in the book including Oscar, the spacesuit. These descriptions are as faithfully depicted as possible by Steele Savage who obviously read the book or at least the descriptions. The plot is a bit strained but the relationship between a boy and his space suit is choice.
Published 1958

Gah! More floating heads!
Many thanks to Bookworm!

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Jen Comments: A warlock and his robotic horse battle a carnivorous tree who collects stuffed animals and leprechauns, while farting evil smoke into the mouth of a nearby menacing castle.  Meanwhile, a knight and his lady ride past, oblivious. Sadly, a surprisingly accurate depiction of the book. And yes, I paid $5 for it.

Insane thanks to Jen!

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Hex Comments: There’s really not much I can say about this one, except that _someone_ in the design process for this book was taking the piss.

Thanks to Hex!

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Jessie Comments: This cover is so atrocious that every time I go to read it, I just can’t. It’s definitely among the top three worst covers I’ve ever seen.

Published 1995

That’s is epic. Simply epic! Thanks to Jessie!

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So when people escape from prison what usually happens to them? That’s right, their clothes rip. So the guy will be showing his well shaved muscle bound chest where as the women will show basically everything.  We’ll have that, but with Mechs too! Because what cover isn’t improved with the addition of Mechs?

Thanks to Christopher!

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Eron comments: This cover isn’t really funny. The art isn’t even particularly bad. But a warning to anyone who has ever even had the passing notion to take a graphic design class: do not look at this cover, you will get a rage-migrane for days. The layout is so shockingly poor and amateur that the thought that someone got paid for this, not beaten in a alley, just plain makes me want to drink whiskey and punch random objects!

My eyes…my eyes! Thanks to Eron!

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Hex Comments: The guy on the left is a sort of expert undercover first contact agent, whose job is to alter the course of developing cultures on newly-discovered worlds to suit the needs of Earth. How he manages to do it while being chafed by that jockstrap I will never understand. Sometimes I gaze at the Yeti in a jumper while I try to figure it out.

Incidentally, this book is spattered with grimly bad black and white illustrations that completely contradict the style of the cover. Nice work, Ace!

Excellent! Thanks Hex!

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Jen Comments: I have no words. Someday, I’m going to have to build up the courage to actually read this.

Amazing! Thanks Jen!