Book Covers

[ChrisCook]

Out of interest, which covers do most people prefer the UK or US ones?

Also, I understand the initial UK release of Necroscope sported a different cover and because of low sales this was changed - does anyone have anymore info on this.

Kind regards,

Chris

[Moth]

Hmmm well, I think I would go for the English covers. I have them all here and well not only is the art work top notch but they ALL match http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/wink.gif

They look well cool together on my shelves..

[Ehlana]

UK, definitely...

I had a moan about this on the old messageboard ages ago, when I couldn't find one of the trilogies in the UK version, just the US version, I was well chuffed... ah well more important to have the book at all!

http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Mike C]

Now I haven't seen all of the UK covers, so I really like the first five covers of the American versions, and they all match in my line of thinking. The cover of the first one got me started reading the series so I guess it did it's job. I also like the first three books in first edition because they all have an additional picture inside the front cover. Do the first edition of the UK versions have these pictures?

Vol1-Harry's mother breaking through the ice.
Vol2-A woman burning up (Dragosani's mother or cousin?)
Vol3-Chick in a dress.

Later editions don't have them as far as I know.

[Atwei]

The British versions most certainly. My favourite cover is the one for Lost Years vol II, it seems to capture the "spirit of the book. However they don't seem to fit with the others.

[Rashagoth]

Since when do book cover have to match? each book should evolve to the next alike but not that close!

[shaithis@rocketmail.com]

The U.K. ones are the best. Incidentally does anyone know a link or something to maybe purchase prints from the artist...George Underwood? I want...I need to get some cool prints of his artwork!

Also a cool guy that I met at EerieCon was Allen Koszowski and now he has a cool site to buy stuff!

(I kind of went off topic..) Yeah, I think the TOR covers are pretty ugly compared to the UK paperbacks. I have never seen a UK hardcover though aside from the Necro 4 issue.

[Garblin]

Well i havent saw any of the UK covers but here in Canada we have a couple of different publishersfor Brian's books. TOR books and Grafton. I prefer the TOR ones myself. I saw one book cover for Coven of Vampires i think it was published by New England Press. Is that a UK cover? I really like that one.

[shaithis@rocketmail.com]

Grafton is the UK publisher in Canada. TOR is the U.S. Canada is allowed by agreement to have both publishers around.

Erm, you serious about the TOR covers? http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

The Coven of vampires I see in the stores right now on PB is by the UK publisher as well, but you are right about that one not looking to sharp. I have the HC one from Fed & Brem. Much nicer.

[masinger]

A couple of things I can answer, I think . . .

The step-back or insert pages that you find in the first editions of the mass market paperbacks of the first three Necroscope titles in the US were done specifically for those books and commissioned by me directly from the artist. They appear only in the first printings of the books because they are expensive to produce, and therefore are not cost-effective to keep in reprints. This is true of nearly all step-back covers--almost all step-backs disappear in later printings, the exceptions being reprints of 50,000 or more.

As for who designs the covers, well, it depends. Some of the US covers I designed. Some, Brian and I designed. Some, Bob Eggleton and I designed. Some, Brian and Bob Eggleton and I designed. Some, Brian and Bob Eggleton designed without me. Some, our art director and the artist designed, sometimes with input from me and from Brian.

It depends on the series, the look we're trying for, whether the book in question is hardcover or softcover, etc.



------------------
Melissa Ann Singer

[Nathan]

Hmmmmmm...this couldn't be it...nothing upseting about that post, Moth. But still a very informative little bit there at the end.

It's gotta be here somewhere...off to look some more. http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Emaleth]

Like I had said in another thread of the same type, to me, it doesn't make a difference what the covers look like, I don't buy and read books just because they have a cover on it, couldn't care less.

Not saying that there aren't some great covers out there, but a book is meant to be read and re-read, not to look pretty.

[ShadoeWolfe]

Nathan,

Here's the one Moth was talking about: UK Defilers Cover (http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000113.html)

It makes an interesting read.... http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

Long live the Eggleton Covers!! http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Jason of Khem]

Oh Shadoe shame on you. I thought better of you, stooping to our level. ;-}

I recently bought some foreign editions and whilst the cover of Abominations des Cthulhu (French Clock of Dreams) looks like a 1950's Sci Fi book, the cover to Necromanticas (Spanish Necro #1) is outstanding.

At the end of the day, if you were outside a burning library and you could go in and save ONLY one book, it wouldn't matter if it had a US or UK cover, as long as it was one of Brian's.

[Nathan]

Man!! I see what you mean now!! That was nervewracking!! Now I gotta add my two cents worth...

I'm gonna have to go with the UK covers, (excluding Invaders of course) but that could be because they are new to me. I now have both sets, but have been buying and looking at the US covers for over ten years now. So maybe once the novelty wears off I can be more objective...

The funny and ironic thing about the whole argument is that they are both excellent!! How many authors out there have even one set of books that even compare to either one of Brian's? Cover and content!! We're lucky to be able to have this...discussion?

And, Moth? Your last post had me ROTFLMFAO!! A little controversy never hurt anyone...too much...IMHO... http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Pybob]

I've got to say that the Deutsch covers are truely outstanding...

I thought the Spanish one was pretty good too... Vive la difference!

[pinhead]

Hi Shaithis if you want prints of the books that George underwood has done you can e-mail him on underwoodgearge@hotmail.com I have triad but he has not got any for sale yet. let me know if you have any luck at getting any ok.

[Bloodshot]

Going off the pictures on the site, I prefer the UK ones in general.

The UK Vampire World covers are particularly good, whereas somewhat ironically the US ones for the trilogy seem particularly not.

[Ehlana]

No comment, no way no how!

I bet I'd be more loved too if it weren't for that discusssion

http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Moth]

The words "Book Covers" give me a horrid sick feeling...

umm http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Nathan]

How 'bout a Book Cover that never made it...yet?

I just aquired, through ebay, "ALIEN HORIZONS: The Fantastic Art of Bob Eggleton." Anyone else around here have this?

It's quite interesting for a couple of reasons...

The cover of Bloodbrothers was cut drastically for obvious reasons...there are quite a few standing stacks depicted in the background...not consistent with the story.

The original painting for Fruiting Bodies is quite disgusting...you say the one that did make the cover is disgusting? Well, you should see the original!

...and the one that hasn't made it...yet???

Its' called Crucified Vampire. It features, obviously, a crucified vampire, with what looks like a leech, trying to make it's escape from around behind...Ahhhh that would make an excellent cover for The Companion!

[ShadoeWolfe]

I'll have to pick that book up Nathan.....sounds sweet... http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Nathan]

Hmmmm...didn't see you there, Shadoe...

You really should pick it up. Anyone else (that likes Bob's work http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif) should too.

The pictures are great, but I did actually read the captions and the articles in it last night...it provides some pretty cool insight into the inspiration for each painting and also a little detail on how each one was created. Apparently, it's not that easy for him to come up with ideas.

Anyone know of a book like this by...what's his name...? George...?

[Ehlana]

Oh go on. Chance looking at both and stop bickering... http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/wink.gif

http://www.bobeggleton.com/

http://www.georgeunderwood.com/