Jul 01
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Don Comments: OK, we’ve seen tons of perms and oodles of mullets on these covers – but I do believe this is the first permed mullet. (Pullet?) Assuming that’s the eponymous Bard whose Tale this is, he’s apparently not the brightest light in the harbor, since he a) agreed to accompany his hairdresser on a thieving expedition from an albino lizard-man (do such things EVER end well?) and b) misunderstood her when she said she wanted him along to carry the loot.
Published 1993
Many thanks to the Don!
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Tagged with: a picture within a picture • Baen Books • Bard's Tale Series • bladed weapons • damsel • dude • GOLD! • Larry Elmore • lizard people • lute • magic • Mercedes Lackey • music • once you see it • robes • Ru Emerson • shiny • strange creature • treasure
Jun 23
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Andy Comments: The art department obviously wanted to cram as much as possible in (even though this is apparently the second novel in a trilogy). I wouldn’t be surprised however if it was an image ripped from the text. I really like the bloke standing on the ear of dragon – it seems to go well with the tag line. The spaceship is supposed to be vivid purple (the first line of the book) but is obviously out-done in the purple stakes by the dragon.
Published 1995
Ah the days of… yellow jeans…
Many thanks to Andy!
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Tagged with: castle • damsel • Del Rey Books • dragon • dude • fire • horns • jeans and a t-shirt • Lawrence Watt-Evans • magic • magical weapon • Peter Peebles • planets • space ships • strange creature • Worlds of Shadow Trilogy
Jun 18
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Liz’s Art Direction: Draw some buxom witch types in tight revealing outfits having a tea party. Throw in a weird muscle bound werewolf creature for good measure and have them all sit / stand around drinking tea out of some china cups. That should do it. Everyone reads these for the stories anyway.
Published 2009
Thanks to Liz and Simon who both sent this in!
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Tagged with: Baen Books • Berry Kercheval • cleavage • damsel • Daniel M. Hoyt • Dave Freer • David D. Levine • Esther Friesner • Jim C. Hines • Jody Lynn Nye • K.D. Wentworth • Karen Everson • Kevin Andrew Murphy • Laura J. Underwood • Linda L. Donahue • Lucienne Diver • magic • Robert Hoyt • Robin Wayne • Sarah A. Hoyt • Selina Rosen • Steven Piziksm • strange creature • teatime • Tim Waggoner • Tracy S. Morris
Jun 07
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Don Comments: May the blessings of Saint Rubik be upon you.
John Melo for Baen Books, 1988
Heinlein Mondays? Might have to be.
Many thanks to Don!
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Tagged with: "a novel" • artist in the comments • Baen Books • font problems • John Melo • magic • monks • planets • Robert A. Heinlein • space • staff • Ting!
May 25
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Jen Comments: A warlock and his robotic horse battle a carnivorous tree who collects stuffed animals and leprechauns, while farting evil smoke into the mouth of a nearby menacing castle. Meanwhile, a knight and his lady ride past, oblivious. Sadly, a surprisingly accurate depiction of the book. And yes, I paid $5 for it.
Insane thanks to Jen!
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Tagged with: Ace Books • bladed weapons • bow-tie • call 555-orthodontic-emergency • captain's hat • castle • Christopher Stasheff • cloaks • dragon • dude • dwarf • evil • horses • knights • magic • once you see it • skulls a-poppin' • tasteful smoke • teddy people • waistcoat • Wizaaaaaaaard! • wraparound cover
May 05
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Jeff’s Art Direction: First off, what do you think of when I say “Dreams of Steel?” Did you immediately think of a partially leather-clad dagger wielding S&M addict conjuring a pig-dog-reptile thing from out of a rainbow? You did!? Oh, and I guess we better stick something on the cover relating to the story… like a Black Company shield on the pillar. Perfect!
Amazing! Thanks Jeff!
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Tagged with: bladed weapons • cleavage • daggers • damsel • evil • Glen Cook • Keith Berdak • leather • magic • shields • strange creature • The Black Company series • Tor Books
Apr 14
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Jen’s Art Direction: A book about telepaths, you say? You’re blowing my mind. In fact, that’s just what we need on the cover! A man with his head exploding! And if that doesn’t just scream sci-fi, we’ll put him in coveralls and put after-images of him all over the place. Oh, and emboss it. All of it. I want everything to stand out.
Thanks so much to Jen!
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Tagged with: Baen Books • David Mattingly • dude • font problems • magic • mind fountain • my head aplode • omnibus • once you see it • space • Timothy Zahn
Apr 01
And now for the real cover:
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You might remember seeing this previously on Good Show Sir: Sunrunner’s Fire
Stutzman comments: So here is the Australia cover for that very same book (found in a used bookstore in the US), which is hideous beyond words. Same general elements: dragon, wizardly dude in robes, rocks. The execution, however… oh, my eyes.
Thanks very much to Stutzman!
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Tagged with: dragon • Dragon Prince Trilogy • fingerbeams • magic • magical weapon • Melanie Rawn • once you see it • pouch • skeletons • skulls a-poppin' • The Epic Dragon Prince Series • Unknown Artist Institute • unknown publisher • Wizaaaaaaaard!
Mar 29
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Rex’s Art Direction: Okay, gaudy covers are out, minimalism is in! So let’s see, what shall we put on this cover… a fish! Yes, a fish, that’s right, I’m sure they live in forests, right?
Thanks to Albertosaurus Rex!
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Tagged with: HarperCollins Books • magic • Megan Lindholm • Robin Hobb • shiny oh so shiny • strange creature • The Soldier Son Trilogy • Unknown Artist Institute
Mar 25
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What if we go for something that’s kind of a cross between art and an eighties music video? We’ll have flaming eye balls and some women with retro make-up playing with her magical sticks. Then just pack any text at the top and if we can, make it like an ancient scroll banner. Classy.
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Tagged with: Ace Books • BEHIND YOU! • damsel • dude • eye-yi-yi • fire • font problems • Gary Ruddell • Janet Morris • magic • once you see it • scrolls • Thieves' World series
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