Good Show Sir

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Frank Comments: Spotted in the Russian-language section at our Friends of the Library sale. The only English-language word was “fantasy” on the spine. I’m illiterate in Russian.
Published 1997 (maybe)

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Tom Noir’s Ari Direction: Right, it’s called, “Chess With A Dragon.” Here’s my cover idea: there’s a bloke playing chess… wait for it… with a dragon. Tell me what I’m paying you people for again?!
Published 1988

Happy New Year!

Well another year is here, I am just about over my hang over and of course back in work! So it’s time to start again and see what exciting covers we can find to brighten our days. Last year didn’t see a cover which had the power to beat, I Sing the Body Electric. But maybe this year… maybe…

Thanks to everyone who has sent in covers and comments! You all bring such entertainment to our lives. And of course thank you to all those amazing publishers, without you and your art direction where would Good Show Sir be?

Last year was very exciting now that I think about it. And my quest for terrible Sci-Fi/fantasy book covers also led to the best conversation ever in a second hand book store.

Shop Assistant: Wow.. that cover is so bad!!!
Me: Yeah isn’t it? That’s kinda why I am buying it actually.
Shop Assistant: Really? Awesome. You should start some sort of website to show covers like these.
Me: I have…
Shop Assistant: ……
And nothing more was said. Here is the book I bought.

The top rated cover of the year:

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A Personal Favourite:

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CSA Chooses dragon crotch!

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And of course, how could we not mention the cover that started a censoring legend:

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I’m sure there are a good few of you who have read a fine novel by Anne and if not, you really should. Thanks for the books and in our case here, especially the wonderful covers that graced them!

Madelyn Comments: She does appear to be teaching the dragon to play, “fetch.” I always thought, what I now realize is a red squeak-toy, was the satellite that periodically dropped lethal spoor over all of Pern.

Alessandra Comments: ‘Cause nothing says, “Lessa of Pern,” like a swingin’ naked chick in a flimsy, filmy fannabaroo riding a dragon sidesaddle with cutey goldy sandals.
Both Published in 1976

More great McCaffrey Covers Here

SteveAsat Comments: You know what robots need? Buttcheeks. You know what they don’t need? Backpacks. I like to imagine that the dragon thing flits around by gently flapping his headwings and he just lets the big ones dangle as he glides majestically overhead.
Published 1981

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Art Direction: The real question is, what can’t we put on the cover? I want everything, a dragon, a muscle bound man in tights, a wizard and even a dwarf. Oh and the standard 80′s teenager thrown into a world they don’t understand but slowly come to love. All emerging from a fine mist.
Published 1985

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Eleanor Comments: A book with the awesome title ‘Get Off the Unicorn’ features a . . . dragon?
Published 1977

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E Comments: The giant soda can in the background is the clincher.
Published 1989

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NGpm Comments: This is one busy cover. Why does the dragon-saurus have a blue and red aura?  Is the horse fireproof? You know this dragon’s dynamite: “look at the bones, man!” Overall the art isn’t bad, but the typography and that blurb about the Newberry is just so awkward.
Published 1986

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Scot B’s Art Direction: OK, I see a redheaded woman wearing overalls, but still half-naked, being gnawed on by ghost wolves while a dragon explodes from her crotch.  The dragon’s chasing a guy with a flaming orange on his jumpsuit.  And a purple polka-dotted gnome fortune-teller!  It’s a masterpiece I tell you!  What’s that, you say the name of the book is what?  Well, just throw a spiderweb around everything, that’ll work.
Published 1980