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Feb 06

Wizards, well known for their harp riffs.Click for full image

Alessandra Comments: There’s a failure of perspective in the building. Where exactly is it supposed to be? Is it falling down? How big is it? Oh never mind, just keep your eyes on the guy in the bright purple Renaissance fair outfit.
Published 1978

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: 5.59 out of 10)
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Nov 10

Everyone else is wearing leggings here! Why can't hawks do it? eh!?Click for full image

Tam W’s Art Direction: This is a great work of fantasy, so naturally we want it to look as retro, cliched and formulaic as possible. I’m talking men in tights! If you do decide to depict a wizard turning into a bird, don’t forget to catch him in the act. And make it man-sized, never mind what the novel says!
Published 1975

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: 7.92 out of 10)
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Sep 30

Ouch ouch ouch! Don't cross the thumbsss!!!Click for full image

Muttley’s Art Direction: A Wizard, right? You know, caped, with magic sparks or something. Big Hair (TM) too.
Published 1986

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: 7.23 out of 10)
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Aug 29

Well today is a bank holiday and I completely forgot about it. Almost got up to go to work! Almost…

So for all your enjoyment here is a few covers that I believe make the Honourable Mentions standard! Have a good holiday for those who remembered!

No! I said lets go get tanked... not lets go make ourselves some tank hats that we can't see out of!Click for full image

DarkZlorf Comments: I’m sure I left my tank parked around here?
Published 1979

I'm going to use my magic globe to see how the battle is going, instead of turning around.Click for full image

Completely stolen from the wonderful Awful Library Books, but because the top left is clearly a copy of Keith Parkinson’s Dragons of War, I thought it too good not to mention! Thanks to John for letting me know about it!

Paper Dolls... more manly than just dolls. Or at least, that's what I told myself.Click for full image

So I found this is in a touristy shop in the wonderful San Diego… paper dolls… what’s with that? Anyway, I had hours of fun recreating all my covers that day!
Published 2010

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: 7.65 out of 10)
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May 03

Well that was one messed up orgy, I'm off to cut some wood!Click for full image

E Comments: The giant soda can in the background is the clincher.
Published 1989

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: 7.83 out of 10)
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Mar 03

Ah! The great wizard Merv.. usually found round the back of Tescos drinking Buckfast!Click for full image

Many thanks to E! You might remember this from here.

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: 5.58 out of 10)
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Feb 11

This covers have all been sent in by River and I thought they might all make an excellent mega post. Thanks very much to River who has also provided some information about each!

I'm way too happy to be jumping over a M!Click for full image

Contains 100 short stories by Hungarian authors.
Published 2003

My right arm is huge! My left... not so much.Click for full image

This third hardcover reissue contains two novels written by a Hungarian author under English pseudonym. Writing fantasy and science fiction stories under English pen names was very popular in the 90s. And many readers really thought that these writers are from abroad.
Published 1999

At least it doesn't feckin' sparkle!Click for full UNSHEEPED image

Translating the Hungarian title to English was also a strange tradition in these books just like the English pen names for Hungarian writers. You can read inside that, A szellemlt, means, The Spiritseer. Hardcover.
Published 2005

That's cheating! No hydraulics allowed!Click for full image

j Galaxis is a science fiction magazine published twice a year in Hungary. Guess which years product is this one. 1988? You slipped twenty years. This issue is only three years old.
Published 2008

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: 8.39 out of 10)
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Feb 09

Ah wedding rings.. always traps you into a bottle of purple smoke... wait.Click for full image

Many thanks to E for sending this in!
Published 1988

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: 7.53 out of 10)
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Jan 21

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

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: 6.50 out of 10)
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Jan 03

Happy New Year!

Well it’s 2011 and that means we have an entire year of quality book covers behind us. So here we will have a few of the best covers chosen by the Good Show Sir staff, helper monkeys or whatever.

Just want to say thanks to everyone who visits the site! I would have never have thought so many people would be interesting in joining us sharing these wonderful covers. Thanks to all the commenter’s out there, where would we be without your generous sarcastic undertones? Also want to say thanks to all the artists and writers we’ve had come along to the site, we love all these covers but sorry if we’ve caused any tears!

Finally, special thanks to the all those who have sent in and continue to email me covers! I apologise that I haven’t got back to everyone who has sent covers in and I do have quite the backlog but we’ll get through them all.. probably!

How could we not mention:

Steroids, side effects may vary.Click for original post

A personal favourite:

Unicorn: Not even that naked teleporting man could brighten up my day...Click for original post

Everyone loves cat people!

Ah cat people... you went on to make the internet famous!Click for original post

CSA chooses magic, wizards, unicorns and fairies:

Ah... I see the new year firework show is underway!Click for original post

Finally, well… maybe we should come back later:

Hairy palms.. silver hand... whatever you'll still go blind!Click for original post

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: 8.28 out of 10)
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