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Jan 19

Yep, the book confirms it. Our union would be an abomination... but what the hell.Click for full image

Eyelashes! We’ll have a dragon with eyelashes, peering over at some wizard reading his dragon magical book. It won’t just be any mage, he’ll have a magical staff! Unheard of I know. And a side parting to make the king of side partings proud. As for the title, make it silver. We have to stand out somehow.

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: 6.32 out of 10)
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32 Responses to “The Falcon Rises”

  1. SI Says:

    Haha this cover defiantly cheered me up this morning!

    Think it’s a perfect caption cover. Just have to decide what’s being said:

    ‘Nope it’s right here in the book, my side parting beats your fire breath’

  2. little mi Says:

    I love a bit of shiny silver title in the morning! particularly at a funny angle with some shadowing. Yum!

    Of course the dragon has eyelashes. It’s a lady dragon and everyone knows lady dragons have great eyelashes, that’s why he loves her. Their deep and oh so special relationship is clearly expressed through the medium of matching scales and trousers.

  3. CSA Says:

    Wizard: Has anyone ever told you its REALLY annoying when you read over their shoulder?
    Ms Dragon: No
    Wizard: Well go make yourself beautiful … or make me a sandwich!
    Ms Dragon: Son of a bitch!

    I like how the artist squeezed a little castle into the picture on the left, as if there wasnt enough already…

  4. Simon Says:

    You know I actually quite like this cover. Strictly in the ‘historical curio’ manner of course.

    But I’m also quite tempted to at least read the first page – is the cover’s air of quiet contemplation and (homo?)sexual whimsy carried over into the book itself?

    Alas ‘quite tempted to at least read the first page’ in the hope of being rewarded with airs of quiet contemplation and (homo?)sexual whimsy clearly not a strong enough reader reaction to sustain a writer”s career – Michael C. Staudinger, where are you now?

  5. SI Says:

    Yea I don’t think it’s awful. But as aways, would you be seen with it in a public place?

    “What shall we watch tonight dragon? Lets see in the TV Times… Strictly come Sorcery… Mordor’s got talent… OH here we go Dragons Den.”

    Sometimes I sicken myself…

  6. Adam Roberts Says:

    Is that a splash of cover-flare, or is that giant bubble-blowing hoop behind his right shoulder in mid magic bubble blow?

  7. James Lovegrove Says:

    It’s hard to tell for sure but it looks as if Side Parting Guy has his left leg hooked over the arm of the chair. For that insouciant, reclining-at-the-beach-with-some-light-reading look. Or maybe that behold-my-mighty-crotch look.

  8. CSA Says:

    I think he’s just letting his crotch get some air. Maybe see if the “falcon” rises….

    …ahem… sorry

  9. Roses Says:

    CSA you made me LOL. Bad man.

  10. SI Says:

    Wrong… just wrong…

    Didn’t need that image at…wow 1145… I should really do some work.

  11. CSA Says:

    well i could have went for a pun about his “staff” or “dragon” instead…

    I’ve actually been trying to find out if the author has written anything else, but cant find a single hit on the old interweb for anything other than this book.

    Stranglely the artist Ron Lakey ( http://www.locusmag.com/index/c39.htm#A1962 ) seems to have done nothing since either :'(

  12. Karl Says:

    All the cover needs is “Siegfried and Roy Present …” Plus a falcon.

  13. vicman Says:

    I don’t know, the dragon looks a little sad to me.

  14. Ilya Chentsov Says:

    Maybe the artist read “Falcon” and thought of Falcor?

  15. Sorcha Says:

    That has got to be the most interesting book ever, to keep that guy from looking over and going, “Holy s***, a dragon!”

  16. Michael C. Staudinger Says:

    Hated the cover when they sent it to me, but my first book, so didn’t have a choice in the matter. Wasn’t even accurate to the story. Incidentally, the book was written as a text book (I taught English in a school that had no textbooks), so each chapter was written to demonstrate grammar (chapter one, if I recall, had every kind of title in it: magazine, song from an album, newpaper). Of course, after the editors had their go, much of that was lost. But I diligently wrote for the kids I taught, who loved fantasy and needed to learn. So, hate the cover if it makes you happy. Even ugly, it holds some sweet memories for me.

  17. SI Says:

    Hey Michael!

    Welcome to GSS 🙂

    That’s actually really interesting! I wish you had taught me English because that sounds amazing! The closest I got to fantasy (until I forced the school library to order some during my final year) was the copy of Beowulf I ‘borrowed’ from the supply cupboard.

    We don’t hate any covers on here. It’s our big secret, don’t tell anyone because it will wreck our street-cred.

    Thanks for commenting! BTW.. did your dragon have eyelashes?

  18. Stevie T Says:

    The wizard looks like his hair has been plastered in place with a few weeks of unwashed head grease, and the dragon is going, “sniff, sniff, PHEEOW!”

  19. FearofMusic Says:

    Poor Michael Staudinger. To have that ‘art’ forced onto your work. Apetulant and pouting ‘sorcerer’ and a dragon giving every appearance of being severely mentally challenged. Brings unfairly to mind scenarios that certainly are not in the book..
    Dragon:”Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story!”
    Man:”No.”
    Dragon;”Whatcha readin’ huh? Whats that? Whatcha readin’?”
    Man:”A book.”
    Dragon:”It got pictures? Lotta pictures? Pictures huh? Whats it ’bout?”
    Man:”Leave me alone. Go away. Now.”
    Dragon:”Awwww. Don’ gotta be all mean ’bout it…”
    Dragon pouts, man sighs irritably. Dragon shuffles very large feet, becomes distracted by a passing bird.
    Dragon:”Hey, uhmmm….”
    Man:”WHAT?!”
    Dragon:”Willya tell me a…”
    Man:”If you say story I will beat you severely with this Great Staff of Ordinary Wood! Well? WELL?!”
    Dragon:”Oh..uh, nuthin'”

    Again, my condolences to the author. You truly deserve better.

  20. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    If I were Brylcream Elf and our dog were Pout the Magic Dragon, I can tell you the exchange:

    ‘Scratchies?’
    ‘I gave you scratches. You fell asleep. Now I’m reading.’
    ‘MORE SCRATCHIES?’
    ‘Oh, all right. Come closer…ah, Sakaki-san, what wacky hijinks are you up to this week?’

  21. Phil Says:

    Once again, I put in a bid for a “Behind you!!!” tag.

  22. Tom Noir Says:

    “Let’s put a dragon and a wizard on the cover and have them… READING!”

  23. Green Says:

    Ok, but why isn’t there a falcon on the cover if the story is about a falcon rising?

    Michael, welcome! An interesting story, now I will look for the book! Shiny purple covers have never put me off before.

    😉

  24. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    @TagWizard: I bring you another cover for the books on the covers of books tag!

  25. Tag Wizard Says:

    Thanks DS — and belated thanks to Phil, the Lorde of Noticing Behind You.

  26. A.R.Yngve Says:

    A guy reading a book on the cover of a book… whoa, that’s meta.
    (Would be even better if the book in the cover had a cover depicting another guy reading a book, and so on….)

  27. Kripslod Says:

    The Gorge Rises

  28. B. Chiclitz Says:

    @A.R.Yngve—
    Does that make the body of water in the background the Meta-terranean?

  29. Tom Noir Says:

    This should be called “The Third Eagle Rises,” if you know what I mean.

  30. Tat Wood Says:

    I’m sorry, neither of these is George Sanders.

    It’s not even Tom Conway.

  31. GSS noob Says:

    Even less are they Anthony Mackie.

  32. Calyx Says:

    “Godamnit! How can I memorise these spells with you lot burping and singing and generally crowding my space?” *Throws stick toward infinity* “Here! Fetch!”

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