Oct 01
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Andrea Comments: I get that the artist was trying to convey the strangeness of this world, but she didn’t have to shove so many characters awkwardly together on the page. The guy sitting up on the bed is seriously going to dislocate his shoulder. And on the back cover, there’s the world’s world 80s hair metal outfit (fur legwarmers and matching vest, with bare chest and sandals!)
Published 1982, aka ‘Geta’

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Tagged with: bladed weapons • booties • bracers • damsel • Donald Kingsbury • dude • furs • Haircut 100 • muscles • once you see it • Rowena Morrill • tattoo you • Timescape Books • turbans • waistcoat • weird pecs • wraparound cover
Sep 24
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Dead Stuff With Big Teeth comments: Theodore Sturgeon’s plan was to explain everything about the novel, except the cover. And no, that is not a huge obnoxious lens flare or an errant price tag.
Published 1983

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Tagged with: Bantam Books • catsuit • damsel • font problems • ghosts • John Rush • nonsensical shadows • planets • Sharon Webb • WTF
Aug 20
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Michelle G Comments: Why did you think a giant bubble would sell books?
Editor: Shut up! That’s why!
Published 1979
Thanks for sending this in, Michelle!

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Tagged with: aliens • cleavage • dude • Futura Publications • Larry Niven • once you see it • perspective problems • Peter Jones • robes • space ships • space suit • Ting! • utility belt • WTF
Apr 10
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Good Show Sir’s Art Direction: Ting! It’s genius, you see. As many tings as you can get on there – I want the cover covered in ting! Oh and maybe a women in a cat suit… but don’t you dare leave her un-tinged!
Published 1987
Thanks to Ethan for sending this in!

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Tagged with: Bridge Publications • catsuit • cleavage • damsel • dude • GOLD! • Haircut 100 • L. Ron Hubbard • Mission Earth series • once you see it • robes • space ships • Ting! • turban hat • Unknown Artist Institute
May 09
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Durbin Comments: This sequel to Make Way For Dragons takes place on a fantasy world. Once again, no blondes, Valley Girl fashions, giant dragons or skateboards occur in the novel.
Published 1990

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Tagged with: Ace Books • damsel • dragon • Jim Thiesen • lizards • nonsensical shadows • Thorarinn Gunnarsson • WTF
Mar 29
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MisterBOB’S Art Direction: Put an ad in a newsagent window for teenager model wanted for artist reference, do not scare him!
Published 1992

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Tagged with: BEHIND YOU! • castle • cave • damsel • George Smith • Red Fox Books • robes • Tamora Pierce • wizard's hat
Nov 23
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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

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Tagged with: Anne McCaffrey • Ballantine Books • damsel • dragon • Dragonriders of Pern Series • dude • Gino D'Achille • WTF
Jun 01
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MisterBOB’s Art Direction: OK, Girls like Horses! Lets just put two horse’s /unicorns in suggestive poses, with the usual purple colours and oh make one of them glow! And wings, gotta have wings!
Published 1987

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Tagged with: glow • John Lee • Orbit Books • Unicorns! • Unknown Artist Institute
Dec 22
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Danielle Comments: This is about brain-snatchers from another planet. That makes sense. Oh, who am I kidding?
Published 1970
Many thanks to Danielle!

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Tagged with: bladed weapons • Dell Books • dragon • dude • loincloth • monsters • moon • Robert Moore Williams • shields • sword • Unknown Artist Institute
Dec 21

Laura’s Art Direction: I want stars and planets! And… given the topic, there needs to be a christmas tree. No.. subtler. Just a single unadorned tree… maybe on some kind of moonscape? And we need the human element. Slap a brooding David Bowie up there. It’s missing something? Well give the title a science fiction font, and we should be good.
Published 1977
It’s almost Christmas!
Many thanks to Laura!

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Tagged with: Arthur C. Clarke • Brian W. Aldiss • david bowie • dude • Frank M. Robinson • Frederik Pohl • Gene Wolfe • Gordon R. Dickson • Isaac Asimov • James White • John Christopher • space • Terry Carr • Thomas Nelson Books • Unknown Artist Institute • WTF
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