Well, I applaud Tor for putting an old(ish) guy on the cover, and leaving his face unobscured by a silly cloak/hood. Otherwise, it looks a lot like a Dresden Files novel, and not a whole lot like the awesome covers that the series originally debuted with. I don’t mind Chris McGrath’s art, but I think it’s a poor fit for Scholes’ series.

And, to meet my ‘obscure videogame culture reference of the day’ quota, the man’s a dead-ringer for Jeff Green (not this Jeff Green), formerly of Computer Gaming World Magazine, then Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, then Electronic Arts, then PopCap Games, then, by virtue of the universe’s perverse sense of irony, Electronic Arts, again, thanks to their acquisition of PopCap Games. *Phew*

Discussion
  • Stephan December 6, 2012 at 10:11 am

    That is so sad! Don’t get me wrong, Chris McGrath is among the best artists nowadays… Greg Manchess, however, is my second favorite artist ever.

  • Joel December 6, 2012 at 10:14 am

    it’s the dad from twin peaks!

  • neth December 6, 2012 at 10:58 am

    totally agree – these are good, but the original style was just better.

  • dakeyras December 6, 2012 at 11:09 am

    I was thinking he looked more like an older James Vanderbeek.

  • Scott December 6, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    I like it…but yeah you’re right the initial art for this series was FAR superior…..but MCgrath is a decent replacement. And I like this. Need to read the 3rd book still.

  • Stefan (Civilian-Reader) December 6, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    Looks like the lovechild of James Vanderbeek & Mandy Patinkin… Aged. Good, though. Like the contrast between red & grey

  • Scott December 7, 2012 at 8:09 am

    Gods, now I can’t unsee Vanderbeek. LOL. What are the odds that McGrath used a pic of him as model?

  • Widmerpool December 7, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Guy in a dress with a shiny staff is better than a guy in a hood? As a regular hood wearer I must disagree.

  • Aidan Moher December 7, 2012 at 10:58 am

    Guy in a dress with a shiny staff is better than a guy in a hood?

    More like, “Guy in a dress with a shiny staff is less overdone in Fantasy cover art than a guy in a hood? Yes.”