Good Show Sir

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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Art Direction: A lizard… with a codpiece… fighting in World War 2 may seem like a crazy idea. But just put him in a work out vest and give him a laser gun. It will all work itself out!
Published 1995

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Jose Comments: Everything about this cover is perfect (in a very wrong way); a spangly shirt, a sentient cactus and a lizard with its ‘hands’ on its hips.
Published 1984

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Adam Comments: We have everything you could want with this cover. Giant space-squids, intense aborigonies, rocket ships and WWI German soldiers. Everything, that is, except a clock.
Published 1972

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Jen Comments: All I can say is, anyone who actually bought this for the cover is going to be VERY disappointed.
Published 2010

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Submitted by Frank through our facebook fan page! Fans, who are worthy of respect! Well… when they’re not getting drunk and having a big ole facebook party! Those crazy kids!
Published 1979

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

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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

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Richard P Comments: Gary was beginning to regret that he’d neglected his garden.
Published 1966

And on the other side -

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Dalton Comments: Found this book in my high school library. It’s dragons, a creepy forest, bows and arrows, and an attractive blond all in one PERMA-BOUND cover. Also, I started cracking up at the, “One of the Best SF Novels of All Time” caption. Did I mention there’s dragon’s? Sorry your covers get hated on Robert A. Heinlein!
Published 1996

Fantastic start to the new year!
Many thanks to Dalton!