@Tag Wizard: I’m assuming that the trajectory takes it from the castle to the knoll. Nobody else in the picture could have chucked it. Perhaps the castle-dwellers and the lizard are playing quoits with the puny humans as the target-peg. (In which case VOYA might be a commentator, like Sid Waddell or Ted Lowe).
@Tat Wood—I think that the little guy could have frisbeed that ring over to the monitor, using a left-handed backward fling with a bit of english added to get just the right bend. With the stakes so high—lunch or be lunch—he’s giving it all he’s got. Not-Obi-Wan-at-all, on the other hand, seems pretty useless.
@B.Chiclitz: How big do we think this ring is? I’m seeing it as being about the size of a two-bedroom semi and (at the instant of the painted ‘photo’) approaching the two humans from slightly behind and to the right. Your account suggests something the size of a kid’s inflatable paddling-pool and travelling from the humans to the lizard. I was assuming that the glow behind them was part of the Ting.
I’m also assuming that “a left-handed backward fling with a bit of english added” means a Doosra.
“Impossible tasks” are a staple of traditional fairytales: Lift the world’s heaviest boulder, clean out the biggest stable in the world… wear the biggest ring in the world on your finger. Often with the aid of a Magical Helper…
“By the Gods, I shall wear the Spirit Ring! Tailor, I want you to make me one hundred gloves. One shall be just large enough for my hand. The second glove shall be a bit larger, so that I can wear it over the first glove. The third glove shall be a bit larger still… and so on until the hundredth and largest glove.”
@Tat Wood—egad! It’s an optical illusion. I had seen it the way you thought I saw it until I saw it the way you see it. I still think the ring is headed for the monitor from the hill guys, but I do now see it can be seen differently.
On this side of the big pond I think we’d call that a Scroogie.
At least the font is readable and not orange. Yay?
I think Not-Obi could have tossed it left-handed, with enough spin. Like a curveball. Or maybe sidearm, with spin.
The hardcover had an overly swirly/flouncy font, but just had the ring — no mystifying perspective of ring, lizard, people, castle. It wasn’t till I read the comments that I realized that was supposed to be the ring itself, I thought it was the spirit swooshing across the land and couldn’t figure out why Ting!
The current cover design is a charming Italian Renaissance town (book is set in alternate thereof) with hills behind it, with modest, inoffensive lettering. It is, naturally, the author’s idea/choice, instead of BAEN!
If you cover up the “Voya”, it becomes clear that “Don’t miss this one,” is a line of dialogue being spoken by one of the characters on the bluff to the other.
VOYA is short for Voice of Youth Advocates, who do a review magazine aimed at YA librarians.
I’m sure the book is fine, though I’m not sure I’d let my child look at this cover without a discussion of perspective and other such rules of visual art. Wouldn’t want the young’un to think this is good artwork.
@DS: that summary makes no mention at all of a giant lizard involved, or indeed any uncanny critters.
February 21st, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Is that a monitor in the lower left hand corner of my monitor?
Ha ha ha!
February 21st, 2017 at 1:44 pm
@DSWBT—(major groan) brilliant! 😉
February 21st, 2017 at 1:50 pm
@BC: Thank you! The last time I stooped so low, someone shot me twice and took my tin of beans. 😉
February 21st, 2017 at 1:51 pm
If the ring lands around the monitor’s neck, the guys up on the hill get a free lunch in the Magick Castle Food Court ®.
If they fail, they become lunch. They’ve been tossing for some time, and the clock is running down, hence the blurb.
February 21st, 2017 at 1:56 pm
So, if there is a ring with a ting, can we call it a tring?
February 21st, 2017 at 2:07 pm
“[ I ] don’t miss this one!” — VOYA
full quote
February 21st, 2017 at 2:38 pm
This trend for costume jewellery is getting out of hand – bling for Godzilla?
February 21st, 2017 at 2:41 pm
@THX: Tringblingzilla?
February 21st, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Finally a magic ring that is useful in everyday life. I’ll have a whisky.
February 21st, 2017 at 3:25 pm
@fred: Don’t miss this one! — Vodka
February 21st, 2017 at 3:58 pm
As not-Obi-Wan-at-all and his young padawan are staring at the monitor in disbelief, this must qualify for an almighty BEHIND YOU! tag.
February 21st, 2017 at 4:04 pm
@Tat Wood – It’s more like OFF TO THE SIDE!
February 21st, 2017 at 4:36 pm
@Tag Wizard: I’m assuming that the trajectory takes it from the castle to the knoll. Nobody else in the picture could have chucked it. Perhaps the castle-dwellers and the lizard are playing quoits with the puny humans as the target-peg. (In which case VOYA might be a commentator, like Sid Waddell or Ted Lowe).
It’s not in their field of vision, in any case.
February 21st, 2017 at 5:46 pm
@Tat Wood—I think that the little guy could have frisbeed that ring over to the monitor, using a left-handed backward fling with a bit of english added to get just the right bend. With the stakes so high—lunch or be lunch—he’s giving it all he’s got. Not-Obi-Wan-at-all, on the other hand, seems pretty useless.
February 21st, 2017 at 5:51 pm
I’ve got a different question: Why does the monitor lizard look like a starfield? Is that because it’s magic?
Probably. Maybe that’s why those two are throwing the ring at it.
February 21st, 2017 at 6:44 pm
@B.Chiclitz: How big do we think this ring is? I’m seeing it as being about the size of a two-bedroom semi and (at the instant of the painted ‘photo’) approaching the two humans from slightly behind and to the right. Your account suggests something the size of a kid’s inflatable paddling-pool and travelling from the humans to the lizard. I was assuming that the glow behind them was part of the Ting.
I’m also assuming that “a left-handed backward fling with a bit of english added” means a Doosra.
February 21st, 2017 at 7:27 pm
“Impossible tasks” are a staple of traditional fairytales: Lift the world’s heaviest boulder, clean out the biggest stable in the world… wear the biggest ring in the world on your finger. Often with the aid of a Magical Helper…
“By the Gods, I shall wear the Spirit Ring! Tailor, I want you to make me one hundred gloves. One shall be just large enough for my hand. The second glove shall be a bit larger, so that I can wear it over the first glove. The third glove shall be a bit larger still… and so on until the hundredth and largest glove.”
February 21st, 2017 at 8:21 pm
In all sincerity I do like the title font/design. Pretty solid.
February 21st, 2017 at 8:31 pm
The monitor reminds of the monsters from Pacific Rim. By the way, was anyone else cheering for the monsters in that movie?
February 21st, 2017 at 9:01 pm
@Tat Wood—egad! It’s an optical illusion. I had seen it the way you thought I saw it until I saw it the way you see it. I still think the ring is headed for the monitor from the hill guys, but I do now see it can be seen differently.
On this side of the big pond I think we’d call that a Scroogie.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Blinded by the ring
Revved up like a wizard who’s just gotta get some “ting”
Blinded by the ring
They’ll never make it
Through the night
February 21st, 2017 at 11:47 pm
@BC: then maybe they should take our friend fred’s advice and have a whisky.
/me is afk, sideboard
February 22nd, 2017 at 1:31 am
At least the font is readable and not orange. Yay?
I think Not-Obi could have tossed it left-handed, with enough spin. Like a curveball. Or maybe sidearm, with spin.
The hardcover had an overly swirly/flouncy font, but just had the ring — no mystifying perspective of ring, lizard, people, castle. It wasn’t till I read the comments that I realized that was supposed to be the ring itself, I thought it was the spirit swooshing across the land and couldn’t figure out why Ting!
The current cover design is a charming Italian Renaissance town (book is set in alternate thereof) with hills behind it, with modest, inoffensive lettering. It is, naturally, the author’s idea/choice, instead of BAEN!
February 22nd, 2017 at 11:48 am
*explosion*
February 22nd, 2017 at 11:42 pm
@DSWBT: thanks for finishing my sentence, pal.
Although I think as an alternative to *explosion* for this publisher’s name, it might be allowed to end with *RAARRR*.
Since nothing is blowing up in this cover, it might be BAEN! *RAARRR*
In the many cases of dinosaurs with guns, both are allowed.
We would sometimes accept *ting*.
Or *Inception noise* if all else fails.
All of these noises are required to describe the covers with The Masterful Lord Himself.
Like *Inception Noise* BAEN! *explosion* *RAARRR* *ting!*
February 26th, 2017 at 10:37 am
If you cover up the “Voya”, it becomes clear that “Don’t miss this one,” is a line of dialogue being spoken by one of the characters on the bluff to the other.
February 27th, 2017 at 8:00 am
@RachelJ: as in, “The last piece of jewelry that came flying past here, you dropped and the lizard ate it — don’t miss this one”?
February 28th, 2017 at 7:31 am
Heck, maybe one of the people there is named Voya!
February 28th, 2017 at 11:45 am
@GSS ex-noob. Of course, that explains everything!
March 15th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
It seems that the ring is just an ordinary-sized ring, not anything gargantuan. I suppose I would have to read the book to discover Tringblingzilla’s story…
November 20th, 2017 at 2:10 am
Aha!
VOYA is short for Voice of Youth Advocates, who do a review magazine aimed at YA librarians.
I’m sure the book is fine, though I’m not sure I’d let my child look at this cover without a discussion of perspective and other such rules of visual art. Wouldn’t want the young’un to think this is good artwork.
@DS: that summary makes no mention at all of a giant lizard involved, or indeed any uncanny critters.
November 20th, 2017 at 10:49 am
“Miss this one, don’t!” – YODA