Good Show Sir

Feb 25

Art Direction: Look Moorcock’s covers are always strange. It’s like previous publishers took a handful of amphetamines before putting them to market. All we need is a big 80’s girls head floating in lots of clouds and some people on horses riding into war. No one will suspect any type of solvent abuse… well… until they read the thing!
Published 1987

(Average: 5.59 out of 10)

Tagged with: blimp • clouds • damsel • floating face • floating head • horses • Michael Moorcock • New English Library • once you see it • Unknown Artist Institute • WTF

Jan 26

A Call to Arms

25 Comments »

With jeans this high and a t-shirt this tucked in, how couldn't the pack accept me? Click for full image

E’s Art Direction: I want it to look like West Side Story in space, only make most of the Jets werewolf people with absurdly large guns.
Published 1992

Many thanks to E!

(Average: 6.77 out of 10)

Tagged with: Alan Dean Foster • anthropomorphism • Ballantine Books • Barclay Shaw • cat people • Del Rey Books • dude • frickin laser beams • gun • handguns • jeans and a t-shirt • once you see it • space

Jan 21

The Western Wizard (vs The Western Wizard)

28 Comments »

I'll just put this Z&A here... there we go! See, it spells wizard! Click for full image

Tally ho! Well good chap I’ll have the one with swords and those smashing old wizards praising a big wolf in the clouds!
Published 2000

Hold on, we'll save the princess in a bit. I have a chance to look... awesome! Click for full image

Good show old bean, I’ll go for the one with double swords, a buxom beauty and a mighty cape. Spiffing!
Published 1993

(Average: 6.50 out of 10)

Tagged with: baldness • beard-wielding • bladed weapons • booties • bracers • capes • cleavage • clouds • daggers • damsel • DAW Books • dude • floating head • forest • Fred Gambino • headband • inadequate armor • Jody Lee • long haired men • magic • Mickey Zucker Reichert • Millennium Books • mountains • muscles • once you see it • Renshai Chronicles • robes • shields • shoulder pads • strange creature • sword • Wizaaaaaaaard! • wolf

Jan 11

Final War

27 Comments »

I didn't think giant eyes had their own jet propulsion... learn something new every year... Click for full image

Danielle Comments: For dry, red eyes…
Published Date Unknown

Turns out this book might be apocalyptic Christian literature by E G White.
We appologise, but the cover is still pretty epic!
Thanks to Phil for helping locate info!

(Average: 6.48 out of 10)

Tagged with: evil • explosions • metropolitan apocalypse • once you see it • planets • sky-eyes • Unknown Artist Institute • unknown author • unknown publisher • WTF

Jan 06

Recoil

34 Comments »

With so many choices, I understand its hard to decide who to fire that arrow at! Click for full image

Don Comments: If you were surrounded by a tribble with fangs, Dennis the Menace, the girl from Season 1 of THE TOMORROW PEOPLE, a corpse, a skeletal alien, a streaker, a horse and an off-panel Robin Hood, you’d be all “WTF?!” too.
Published 1971

Many thanks to Don!

(Average: 8.63 out of 10)

Tagged with: abstraction • Ace Books • bighanditis • Claude Nunes • evil children • font problems • Haircut 100 • horses • Kelly Freas • monsters • once you see it • people • Rhoda Nunes • shortbow • strange creature • WTF

Dec 01

Melancholy Elephants

26 Comments »

Elephants have the natural ability to survive in the vacuum of space. No? Well, draw it that anyway, bub. Click for full image

Greengerg’s Art Direction: Elephants have the natural ability to survive in the vacuum of space. No? Well, draw it that anyway, bub.
Published 1985

Many thanks to Greengerg!

(Average: 5.98 out of 10)

Tagged with: elephants • font problems • Jill Bauman • once you see it • planets • space • Spider Robinson • strange creature • Tor Books • WTF

Nov 22

Stories of Ghosts, Witches and Demons

20 Comments »

Ah the tragedy... if only they fitted all dragons with life-jackets. Click for full image

Knautwerks art direction:

Okay, so, its an anthology of stories on ghosts, witches and demons. Cover ideas anyone?
How about a brain damaged dragon frolicking in a lake?
GENIUS!

Published 1971 (maybe)

So it’s a children’s book, but is there a better way to start your Monday!?!
Many thanks to Knautwerk!

(Average: 7.00 out of 10)

Tagged with: Apple Paperbacks • Don't be silly - it's for children! • dragon • font problems • Freya Littledale • horns • magic • mountains • once you see it • Scholastic Books • tidal wave • Unknown Artist Institute

Nov 08

Clash of Star-Kings

47 Comments »

Ah the lizard peoples one fear.. their own hands. Click for full image

Don Comments: It’s so embarrassing when Mummy catches you playing dress-up in her things, even if you’re an alligator. Maybe PARTICULARLY if you’re an alligator.
Published 1966

(Average: 8.63 out of 10)

Tagged with: Ace Books • anthropomorphism • Avram Davidson • BEHIND YOU! • dress for success • Jack Gaughan • lizard people • lizards • once you see it • robes • strange creature

Nov 01

Well of Shiuan

37 Comments »

Cover yourself up man! Your tackle is scaring me horse! Click for full image

Jeweleya Comments: This cover is so off-putting to me that I can’t bring myself to read the book. A few highlights –

The sword dissolving into blue dust
The barbarian’s barely-decent rags (it’s refreshing that the woman is wearing more than the man, for once)
The utterly generic, swirly, rainbow-threw-up-on-it background
And my personal favorite: the horse that looks like it’s just been flung backwards from a giant slingshot

…Indeed, a cover for the ages.
Published 1978

Many thanks to Jeweleya!

(Average: 7.13 out of 10)

Tagged with: bladed weapons • booties • bracers • C.J. Cherryh • capes • damsel • DAW Books • dude • horses • horses with hairstyles • hunkbutt • loincloth • magic • Michael Whelan • muscles • once you see it • rope • surprised horse • sword • wall

Oct 15

Finnish Mega Post

43 Comments »

I have been enjoying the delights of Helsinki this week and I have had a wonderful time. Well, except for the price of beer! 7 Euros for a pint! It makes me want to cry!

In honour I decided to search through a couple of the book shops here for the Finnish versions of some popular Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Some of them are just a little odd and a couple do make me laugh.

I hope you all enjoy these wonderful covers!

Am I supposed to be missing a finger? Click for full image