Further cementing the fact that American published just don’t get it when it comes to cover art, Pat has unveiled the cover art for the US edition of Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold
Compare this with the UK edition and you just have to wonder what American Publishers think we want from Fantasy. Couldn’t possibly have a cover without an ass-kicking chick on it, now could we? I much prefer the classic look of the UK edition to the blood smattered mess of the US edition.
What do you think?
I totally agree with you, Aidan. I made a post a few minutes ago saying the exact same thing. I guess I will be importing this one.
I’m just glad that we get the UK edition here in Canada.
my favourite Uk vs US covers are the Kim Harrison ones. The UK designs are so unusual and cool, I would completely have missed the US ones among everything else on the shelves.
Plain. Ugly. American publishers must think the world of their readers or just have no taste, like a stale Coke.
I prefer the UK edition – but I recognize that this fits in with Orbit US’ branding.
I think this is not too bad, but I vastly prefer the UK version: that ona has personality.
Aidan, I couldn’t agree more that cover art is atrocious. The UK one is subtle and in my opinion much more tasteful in my opinion. I’ve given up all hope of ever seeing tasteful cover art in the states. (Granted there is some but they’re few and far between.)
And John, granted you’re right it does fit Orbits US Branding, I think they need to overhaul their marketing/branding strategy with covers like that.
Definitely would not want to run into that “chick” in a dark alley.
The most egregious error in cover judgement I’ve seen in a long time is the difference between the US and UK versions of the Erickson books. The US Hardcovers would be better suited in the Romance section of the bookstore based on the cover art. I’ll gladly pay the same price to get the UK paperbacks shipped to me.
I also find it interesting that they’re using a cover blurb from Junot Diaz. His latest novel won the Pulitzer for fiction so if you’re trying to pull in people who usually read more “literary fiction”, the blood-spattered cover makes even less sense. And people wonder why mainstream publishers are having issues…
I googled Junot Diaz. That’s a mighty weird person to have endorse Best Served Cold.
I’ve always thought American cover art has dumbed down the genre. For this reason I don’t like it; if I can get a book with only this artwork I’ll buy it.
You don’t half get a bit ticked off to be thought as the lowest common denomiator when what you are reading is of a high caliber.
The UK cover speaks to the fan, the US cover speaks to the casual observer.
Balls, I forgot; what is it with lefthanders on the covers of books.
http://www.jackofravens.com/2009/02/03/lord-of-silence-cover/#comments
This is the cover art for Marc Chadborn’s new book. More left handers.
Maybe it’s just me.
[…] completely panned Orbit’s first attempt at creating a cover for Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold. It was a disaster. A cover that […]
Honestly, I like both versions of this cover and I like the US one better! I don’t think it’s worth griping about either.
[…] less said about the American version the better but at least the paperback edition had character. Anyway, I know I’m very late to […]
[…] A hot girl in leather wielding a huge knife. How original. […]
[…] The UK releases of Joe Abercrombie’s novels are known for having some of the most iconic, beautiful covers in the genre, especially when put against the bland, lookalike covers pasted on the front of most novels being published today. So, kudos once again to the art team at Gollancz, for sticking to their guns and producing a fifth cover that’s just as lovely as the previous four. It fits Abercrombie’s style to a ‘T’, and looks like a book I’d be forced to pick up from store shelves (which I can’t say about the bloodtastic US cover, though it’s an improvement over Best Served Cold). […]