Well, this new cover art for Robin Hobb's The Inheritance (Europe) is not much to look at. It's been the case for the last couple of years, so it was probably stupid that it would be otherwise with this new collection of short stories. . .
I guess that Robin Hobb has become popular enough in the UK that her publisher doesn't feel the need to grace her books with decent covers anymore. Voyager has done the same with Raymond E. Feist and a number of other authors in recent years. Doubtless, it is a good business decision, for the cover clearly doesn't help or hinder sales in any shape or form.
Yet I'd prefer no cover art at all instead of half-hassed stuff like this. . . =(
I guess that Robin Hobb has become popular enough in the UK that her publisher doesn't feel the need to grace her books with decent covers anymore. Voyager has done the same with Raymond E. Feist and a number of other authors in recent years. Doubtless, it is a good business decision, for the cover clearly doesn't help or hinder sales in any shape or form.
Yet I'd prefer no cover art at all instead of half-hassed stuff like this. . . =(
11 commentaires:
Does the orange cat have a tumor on its butt? What is that?
Blame LOTR. Back when the films came out as part of the marketing they did a range of new jackets, the most popular of which was a minimialist black background with a simple coloured ring design on the front.
Since then most of the 'big' fantasy authors have had their UK editions relased with varying flavours of this style.
Some work, some don't but part I have to agree that it does render some of them a tad bland....
Vehemently disagree. The Jackie Morris covers on Robin Hobb books are utterly gorgeous.
If only they'd print the books to look like the original (the background is really gold leaf).
I've stopped buying Hobb books since they stopped using John Howe covers, if the publishers don't care enough about the readers to put good covers on them then they can go f**k themselves.
I agree with HellsBells. I love Jackie Morris art, if I hadn't my books signed by Robin I'd sell them and rebuy with Morris' covers.
Well, de gustibus!
Tintaglia
As long as the content is still Robin Hobb I really don't care what the outside is. Book covers are there to attract new readers...they already know they have the fans' money regardless. These new covers definitely look non-threatening and won't get you called a nerd, so they went with something more mainstream. And I'm quite fine with that, actually.
Too be fair though, a lot of these covers don't look that great when posted as an image online.
The actual editions usual use interesting mixes of paper stock, embossing, and inks to create an appealing whole.
The quality of the content does help as well though.
I speculate that these covers appeal to women - Hobb's primary audience.
I quite like it. At least it doesn't embarrass me to be seen reading this in public.
Hey, Tree Frog!
is it that you imagine Robin Hobbs primary appeal is to women, or do you have some sort of proof? All the readers of her's that I know are men!
And BTW, those cats are wild and dragony...
Haha, i dont mind it, but if i was a new reader, i would want something more exciting. I cant say that this book appeals to men only, because of all the shounen - ai and yaoi references. (google it if you don't know what it means!) Which are usually aimed more for females. Not to say that there isn't anything in there for males, theres heaps for everyone, but the cover is kind of disillusioning of the content. its too bland for the work within.
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