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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 11:18:18
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Poll Question:
We can't judge a book by its cover. But sometimes, we impulsively buy a book simply (or mainly) because we like the cover. And at times, after we read the novel, we found out that the story was as great as the cover art. Unfortunately, there are also instances when we wished that the story should have matched its cover's awesomeness (as what I thought of Lies of Light and a few others).
The asterisk (*) indicates its new cover, as some of the following titles have been reprinted with new covers. I also included links where you can see the cover art. If you choose “Others,” please indicate the title and a link.
It would be nice to also hear the reason for your choice.
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 11:36:55
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Nice work including the links. I can't think of others, from your list:
1. Windwalker has great details and stlye
2. The City of Splendors, looks epic and I love the colors
3. The Captive Flame
4. Lies of Light, not the guy, the nagas look cool and the font
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 11:44:48
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Thanks, Maruluthu! It actually took me a bit sometime to finish it because of the links.
Anyway, I find the covers of Frostfell, The Captive Flame, and Whisper of Venom almost equally cool. But since I have to pick just one, I'm choosing The Captive Flame. There's something about Jet's and Aoth's poses that grabs attention, and the background is fascinating. There's also enough detail on the two characters---from Jet's eyes and claws to Aoth's tatoos. And I must say the cover art is as great as the story.
I forgot to put an asterisk on Exile. I've no plan of editing it, though, because for some reason, when I clicked the edit button, all the links were gone, and what's left were [url" in all the options. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 24 Aug 2011 11:51:23 |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 13:02:47
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| Exile... |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 15:14:08
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| I really miss the older art of Easley, Brom, Caldwell...etc |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 15:33:13
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| Perhaps unsurprisingly, mine is Death of the Dragon. |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 16:22:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Thanks, Maruluthu! It actually took me a bit sometime to finish it because of the links.
Anyway, I find the covers of Frostfell, The Captive Flame, and Whisper of Venom almost equally cool. But since I have to pick just one, I'm choosing The Captive Flame.
The Captive Flame is the coolest representation of the Thayan flying legion. I could never imagine that one. Other covers have a better background tough.
Now looking at the other covers on the site you linked:
1. Lord of Stormweather - weird but that's how I picture Sembians
2. Realms of War - without that ridiculous letters
3. Streams of Silver - sentimental reasons, because of the dwarf who was on the first player card I got
The Viper's Kiss cover would be there, except the woman's face looks like it had 10 plastic surgeries. |
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Edited by - Marc on 24 Aug 2011 16:23:53 |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
731 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 18:04:49
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| Got to say that the cov er art for Gauntlgrym really picked up my curiosity and made me aquire it. |
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Sapientia sola libertas est |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1305 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 18:35:58
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
I really miss the older art of Easley, Brom, Caldwell...etc
Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, and Jeff Easley rule my world for cover art.
I loved the covers of the Avatar trilogy by Caldwell, the Hardcover first release of The Icewind Dale trilogy by Elmore, and well..everything by Easley.
The new covers don't look nearly as good to me, they seem cold and ugly. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36998 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 20:46:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, and Jeff Easley rule my world for cover art.
(snip)
The new covers don't look nearly as good to me, they seem cold and ugly.
I totally agree with the parts I quoted. I'm a huge Elmore fan.
Some of the recent art has been downright bad. There's been at least one Realms novel I never bothered to pick up because I hated the cover art that much. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 22:15:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, and Jeff Easley rule my world for cover art.
(snip)
The new covers don't look nearly as good to me, they seem cold and ugly.
I totally agree with the parts I quoted. I'm a huge Elmore fan.
Some of the recent art has been downright bad. There's been at least one Realms novel I never bothered to pick up because I hated the cover art that much.
Agreed. Although i always wondered why Elmore made Drizzt look like a black guy with white "jerry curls" on the original cover of The Crystal Shard :)
Much of the new cover art just doesn't feel original |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 22:23:12
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| Here is where I heartily disagree. I found a lot of the 90s-era covers very campy, and have much more enjoyed the covers from the past decade. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 23:01:06
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The only old cover art that I like is Red Magic. Everything else is just...well, old. I agree with Wooly, though, that some new cover art are horrendous. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1305 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 23:43:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Hawkins
Here is where I heartily disagree. I found a lot of the 90s-era covers very campy, and have much more enjoyed the covers from the past decade.
Heh...I have no problem admitting I enjoy campy!!
Elmore and Caldwell did the covers for the first ever Realms books, so that association is hard to break for me. Todd Lockwood is decent for Salvatore's books, however. Better than the other new cover artists' work. Ralph Horsley is good too. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 01:39:35
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I liked the cover of City of Splendors, but didn't like the novel at all.
Regarding others: I bought The Black Bouquet because of its cover and felt it totally fulfilled its promise. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 02:21:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, and Jeff Easley rule my world for cover art.
(snip)
The new covers don't look nearly as good to me, they seem cold and ugly.
I totally agree with the parts I quoted. I'm a huge Elmore fan.
Seconded. Though, I'm usually more of a combined Elmore/Easley fan.
Having said that, I've been remarkably impressed by Matt Stawicki's covers which have graced the majority of the covers for the reprinted editions of the classic DRAGONLANCE Chronicles and Legends, as well as some of the newer books, too, like Lost Chronicles.
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 11:59:13
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quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
I liked the cover of City of Splendors, but didn't like the novel at all.
My thoughts exactly. One of the reasons I bought it is because of the cover. [Conversely, we can say, “Don't judge the cover by its story.” ] |
Every beginning has an end. |
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe
USA
151 Posts |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 13:35:51
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Darkwalker on Moonshae (picture hosted right here in the keep's very own Gallery of Faerun-http://www.candlekeep.com/index.html)
This image is what greeted me one day in May 1987 I believe, in the front window of a Walden bookstore. 24 years later, still buying Realms novels...all because that cover caught my eye! |
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Gouf
Seeker
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 13:58:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
I really miss the older art of Easley, Brom, Caldwell...etc
Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, and Jeff Easley rule my world for cover art.
I loved the covers of the Avatar trilogy by Caldwell, the Hardcover first release of The Icewind Dale trilogy by Elmore, and well..everything by Easley.
The new covers don't look nearly as good to me, they seem cold and ugly.
I totally agree. I especially love the art work of Larry Elmore.
The only one of the covers in the poll that does anything for me at all is 'Sandstorm' for the detail on the displacer beast. the others leave me flat....
And for The Red Walker, 'Dark Walker on Moonshea' was my first realms novel as well. It also started the realms for me. I ran out(back in 1987-ish) and bought FR1 and FR2 before I even finished reading it.
Great minds must think alike.
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"Why is the torch burning blue?" |
Edited by - Gouf on 25 Aug 2011 13:59:03 |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 15:55:11
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| Except for the Savage Frontier and Bloodstone Lands cover, Strahd and Szass, and the one with a dragonrider sitting in snow, I'm not a fan of the old covers. City of Splendors, then Realms of the Deep and Soldiers of Ice, then the Gossamer Plain if looked from far away. |
Edited by - Quale on 25 Aug 2011 15:56:06 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 16:03:11
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The cover art of the omnibus of Threat from the Sea looks decent, too. I also like what the artist did to the font. Everything fits so well with the underwater motif. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Yoss
Learned Scribe
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2011 : 11:02:08
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| I guess I'll vote RotP, as it's currently doing time as my laptop's wallpaper. |
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Most Favorite Book Cover Art
