I’ve talked a little bit about book covers before, and how important they are as both a preview of the content and as a tool to catch the eye. A comment by a recent reviewer has me mulling over the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—which makes the task of designing or choosing a book cover even more of a challenge. We’re all drawn to different colors, styles, and concepts, and we all draw our own assumptions from the things we see, whether right or wrong. What stands out to one person means little to the next. What we interpret one way, someone else perceives entirely differently. I truly admire those artists who can produce covers that delight and intrigue—and are true to the tale in detail and ambiance.
I plan to showcase covers often in the future, but today I want to share with you a few that meet the aforementioned criteria (as far as my own senses were concerned!):
Exile’s Gate, by C.J. Cherryh
(artwork by Michael Whelan)
The Legend of Nightfall, by C.J. Cherryh (artwork by Jody A. Lee)
The Shadow Within, by Karen Hancock (artwork by Bill Graff)
What are some of your favorite covers that appeal to the eye and deliver exactly what they advertise? Please share in the comments!