Terrible Covers for Great Books

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nirvana In Karma
  • Start date Start date
Upon reflection, I think Robin Davies has a good point.

Its just that I envisioned Vermillion Sands as near future science fiction, while the book's cover art struck me as more far future, even the setting seems un-earthly.
 
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More liberal than terrible like the aforementioned Vermillion Sands cover.
 
Actually I like the cover of the Dick book. That's 'classic' SF art typical of the late 50's--early 60's.
 
R.P.Dwyer said:
Upon reflection, I think Robin Davies has a good point.

Its just that I envisioned Vermillion Sands as near future science fiction, while the book's cover art struck me as more far future, even the setting seems un-earthly.
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Yes, it doesn't really capture the mood of the book.
I think there's an even bigger mismatch with this cover:
9780722144411-us-300.jpg

It's a while since I read it but I think the novel is sword-and-sorcery with nary a spaceship in sight! Bruce Pennington did a much better cover.
 
Robin Davies said:
It's a while since I read it but I think the novel is sword-and-sorcery with nary a spaceship in sight! Bruce Pennington did a much better cover.
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too lazy to start a great covers for great books thread, but this can be a toxic scented balm for the disagreeable pastel city pic above

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Nirvana In Karma said:
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I worry about the person who approved this cover.
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This might be an ironic move on the publisher's part: there's no hero in our time, just wannabe hipster acting tough.

I don't think I've seen this one here yet. I can imagine someone picks this up in hope of some medieval erotica, and find...Edgar Allan Poe. :)

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miguel1984 said:
I did not read Tarzan and I do not know if it is any good, but it is indeed a classic.
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Tarzan of the Apes and Tarzan the Terrible, for example, are masterpieces!
E. R. Burroughs's books should not be neglected as mere boys' adventure fiction. He had a great mind, was philosophical. A very fertile, generous artist. Always passionate, never lukewarm, giving everything of himself.
The first three Barsoom books contain many glorious moments.



TRZNNDTHCS1967.jpg


Tarzan looks like an alcoholic, and the monkey on his back seems half deceased.
 
It has become unfashionable to enjoy adventure writers such as him and Robert E. Howard. Adventure fiction must instead be lathered in noxious ironic distance to impress critics. Wacky, zany and oh-so-marketable eccentricity beats any kind of sincerity.

I am feeling miserable today. More wine is in order, perhaps.
 
Nirvana In Karma said:
Posting covers of illiterate pulp and self-published novels is just picking low-hanging fruit, so I thought it would be interesting to make a thread dedicated to bad covers of "great" books.

This eldritch abomination is a slight collection of Poe stories and poems intended for secondary education students. The annotations are even more abysmal; will post if I can find some of them online as don't possess a copy.

4B0935_FRT.jpg
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Please tell me this is fake.
 
Knygathin said:
miguel1984 said:
I did not read Tarzan and I do not know if it is any good, but it is indeed a classic.
Click to expand...

Tarzan of the Apes and Tarzan the Terrible, for example, are masterpieces!
E. R. Burroughs's books should not be neglected as mere boys' adventure fiction. He had a great mind, was philosophical. A very fertile, generous artist. Always passionate, never lukewarm, giving everything of himself.
The first three Barsoom books contain many glorious moments.

TRZNNDTHCS1967.jpg


Tarzan looks like an alcoholic, and the monkey on his back seems half deceased.
Click to expand...

"NO MISTER JIMBLES, THERE BE NO MILK HERE! CEASE, OR I'LL MAKE A MERKIN OF YOU LIKE I DID YOUR PAPA!"
 
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