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Fun for the reader: Pick your favorite cover!
(See mine at the end of the post.)
(Close runners up include: Necroscope, The Shadow Pavilion and Shadow of the Scorpion.)
What's your favorite?
Comments (20)
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Posted by John DeNardo at Monday July 07, 2008 at 12:22 AM
© Monday July 07, 2008 at 12:22 AM SF Signal
The Affinity Bridge cover is indeed very cool, but honestly?
Arthur C. Clarke, Frederik Pohl: The Last Theorem
Although not the coolest cover in terms of style, the names of these two authors and the fact that this is the last Arthur C. Clarke book makes this cover stand out to me.
Posted by Dennis Sorensen on Monday July 07, 2008 at 2:40 AM at 2:40 AM
Agree on The Affinity Bridge(Mann). I'd definitely pull that off the shelf.
Although, it's hard to ignore the outstanding work of John Harris featured on Zoe's Tale(Scalzi).
Incandescence is also nice.
Posted by Weyland-Yutani on Monday July 07, 2008 at 5:21 AM at 5:21 AM
Of these, my vote for best cover is Incandescence. I'd likely pick it up and read the blurbs if I saw it in the bookstore. Isn't that what the cover is all about?
I'd probably pick up The Last Theorem, too, but mostly due to the Clarke and Pohl names hidden in the upper half of the cover.
I'll admit my prejudice: I like hard SF. Fantasy covers don't appeal to me (except, of course, Boris Vallejo covers).
Posted by Stephen D. Covey on Monday July 07, 2008 at 5:24 AM at 5:24 AM
The Last Plague. It looks like I've seen it before, but I like the dusty darkness of it.
Posted by Joe Sherry on Monday July 07, 2008 at 6:22 AM at 6:22 AM
Dennis: I was talking about aesthetic value only. if we start talking about the ones I want to read...well, don't get me started.
Posted by John on Monday July 07, 2008 at 8:04 AM at 8:04 AM
I have to say, the Necroscope cover gets the job done quite neatly, yes?
Posted by Karen Burnham on Monday July 07, 2008 at 8:43 AM at 8:43 AM
Clarke and Pohl. I have been waiting so long for this book...but it is now a sad wait as it is the last Clarke and Pohl ain't looking very spry, alas.
Posted by Fred Kiesche on Monday July 07, 2008 at 10:06 AM at 10:06 AM
John: Yeah, I knew I was cheating a bit. But I would definitely check out The Affinity Bridge if I saw it on the shelf based on the cover alone.
Posted by Dennis Sorensen on Monday July 07, 2008 at 11:48 AM at 11:48 AM
Incandescence by Greg Egan looks the best but I also like the Affinity Bridge cover too.
The cover's from A Wealth of Energy snd Same Planet Different World The Ashes of Worlds kond of remind me of Alastair Reynolds book covers. Don't they?
Jim
Posted by Jim Shannon on Monday July 07, 2008 at 1:57 PM at 1:57 PM
Definitely The Affinity Bridge because it's got a zeppelin on it and I am about 7 years old when it comes to zeppelins. I came very close to hating my grandmother when she told me about her youthful honeymoon trip about the Graf Zeppelin. Nasty old bag. The grandmother, not the zeppelin.
Posted by OldFan on Monday July 07, 2008 at 5:47 PM at 5:47 PM
Necroscope is the most direct and, I'd say, the most effect jacket design. But personally, I like the Egan cover the best.
No one's mentioned Hawkspar yet (probably because the illustration has very little spark), but the lack of clutter appeals to me. If I saw it at B&N I'd probably pick it up and read the C4 text.
Posted by Eric on Monday July 07, 2008 at 6:22 PM at 6:22 PM
A couple of those book covers look like the covers to -- gasp -- romance novels! (Holds up garlic necklace.)
And orange seems to be popular color choice...
I'm going to go with "The Last Plague."
Posted by Anonymous on Monday July 07, 2008 at 8:15 PM at 8:15 PM
Yes on Affinity Bridge. Love the pull quotes!
Other covers that would encourage me to thumb through the book: Outrageous Fortune, Same Planet, Different World, Incandescence.
Posted by Matte Lozenge on Monday July 07, 2008 at 8:23 PM at 8:23 PM
@Jim: That Anderson cover does look Reynolds-ish, yes. And the more I look at it, the more I like it.
@OldFan: LOL! 
@Eric and Anonymous and Matt: I think, too, that when comparing covers like this, it matters what company you keep. I like so many more (basically any one that isn't overtly fantasy, and even then, some of them look fairly cool.
ANyway, this is fun. Keep going!
For my part, I plan a post like this every week instead of every month -- the next one is coming tomorrow, then hopefully every Sunday of Monday after that.
Posted by John on Monday July 07, 2008 at 8:53 PM at 8:53 PM
I love The Affinity Bridge cover, but was annoyed when I clicked on it that it took me to amazon.co.uk and that I couldn't actually pick it up and look at it any time soon. Any word on when we can see it in the US?
Posted by Paul on Wednesday July 09, 2008 at 1:40 AM at 1:40 AM
I love The Affinity Bridge cover, but was annoyed when I clicked on it that it took me to amazon.co.uk and that I couldn't actually pick it up and look at it any time soon. Any word on when we can see it in the US?
And for those who like The Affinity Bridge cover, check out Chris Ware. Jimmy Corrigan may be the best comic ever.
Posted by Paul on Wednesday July 09, 2008 at 1:53 AM at 1:53 AM
Paul,
Plans to publish this in the U.S. should be announcing soon...
Posted by John on Wednesday July 09, 2008 at 2:03 AM at 2:03 AM