@Phil — It looks like something I could make if I booted up an old, creaky version of 3D Studio Max. Not up to the professional level of the covers (even the crappy ones) produced by the other major publishers.
I’ve seen a helluva lot worse. For instance, the art on most of Mark Charan Newton’s novels since Villjamur has been absolutely terrible. The city on the cover of Book of Transformations looks like it was rendered on an Amiga somewhere around 1994. And at least there’s no brooding photorealistic figures (AAARGH), hooded assassins or leather-clad strippers on this one.
Yeah, true. The city looks like something my games console could draw on the fly, though!
The only criticism I’d give for this Hobb cover is the dragon: it’s basically as though they thought: “Aside from swordsmen or warrior-women, what’s can we put on here to attract the least discerning Fantasy readers possible? I know: a great big dragon”.
First off, i thought this was just a duo (randomly) so am very pleased.
Secondly I am *actually* looking forward to the British cover! The new mettalic look is far superior to this 80’s dungeons and dragons vibe going on here!
This was, but is no longer, the US cover for City of Dragons. The publishers have instead chosen to go with the Jackie Morris UK cover for both the UK/Australia AND US versions, and the same will be for Blood of Dragons (Book Four of RWC). I don’t bother too much about cover art (it’s the contents that truly count for me!) but I imagine there will be many who will be happy with this news?
Good thing I get the (British?) paperback.
I couldn’t possibly have said it better. My first reaction was “what the hell??!”
Why, oh WHY they have to belittle such a wonderful author with this cover is beyond me…
Things like this make me miss Michael Whelan.
It strikes me as an average cover, not an abomination. What’s so wrong with it?
Oh my god! It’s Donkey’s lover the dragon from Shrek! That is so cool. Not that I’d buy it, mind.
@Phil — It looks like something I could make if I booted up an old, creaky version of 3D Studio Max. Not up to the professional level of the covers (even the crappy ones) produced by the other major publishers.
They could have published my Dragon; so Stop complaining!
Don’t judge the …….
I’ve seen a helluva lot worse. For instance, the art on most of Mark Charan Newton’s novels since Villjamur has been absolutely terrible. The city on the cover of Book of Transformations looks like it was rendered on an Amiga somewhere around 1994. And at least there’s no brooding photorealistic figures (AAARGH), hooded assassins or leather-clad strippers on this one.
To be fair, they did remove the photorealistic ninja from the cover of The Book of Transformations.
Yeah, true. The city looks like something my games console could draw on the fly, though!
The only criticism I’d give for this Hobb cover is the dragon: it’s basically as though they thought: “Aside from swordsmen or warrior-women, what’s can we put on here to attract the least discerning Fantasy readers possible? I know: a great big dragon”.
Thankfully, the UK edition is bound to be much better, if a little bland, going by the recent covers of Hobb’s work.
First off, i thought this was just a duo (randomly) so am very pleased.
Secondly I am *actually* looking forward to the British cover! The new mettalic look is far superior to this 80’s dungeons and dragons vibe going on here!
This was, but is no longer, the US cover for City of Dragons. The publishers have instead chosen to go with the Jackie Morris UK cover for both the UK/Australia AND US versions, and the same will be for Blood of Dragons (Book Four of RWC). I don’t bother too much about cover art (it’s the contents that truly count for me!) but I imagine there will be many who will be happy with this news?
Very, very good news, Farseer!