2.28.2008

What I'm Reading

So right at the moment I'm reading the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow (surely a pseudonym, too fortuitous a name for someone who writes urban fantasy). It's a very good urban fantasy series and I enjoy it a lot. But I notice that after the first two books the publisher changed from Warner to Orbit (actually I've just discovered that it's still the same "Hatchett Book Group" so someone must have bought someone else out in the vast conspiracy to make sure there's only one book publisher on the planet, dammit!). Anyway, they also seem to have changed cover artists in the interim, so while the first two covers are scorching hot and rock:








Okay, the man in the flames is kinda cheesy and stupid, but can you go wrong with hot chick plus tattoo plus katana? NO!






My favorite aspect of this cover is that fact that the artist obviously read the book because this exact outfit was described in loving detail. Plus she's got a gun plus a whip plus a sword plus stilettos in her hair so she obviously kicks ass. I think the rendition is perfect, although I do wish the publisher hadn't included a blurb about the PREVIOUS book on the cover of this one, that's just bad form.










The last three simply suck. And that pisses me off. What the fuck happened? When did Danny turn into a transvestite? With some sort of creepy Rambo sword instead of a katana?? Someone really likes faux woodblock art. Blech. I wouldn't pick this book up if it were the first book. Bad artist! Bad! And so it continues:














The worst part of it is that they've re-published the first two books with the same artist who did the last three. Someone needs to get fired over this. Which would you pick up in the store?



9 comments:

Erik said...

*Hello*, 1973! Jeez...

Susanna said...

Honestly? I actually like the wood-block print stuff better, and I'd be more likely to pick it up. I'd look at the other covers and say, "yet another cheesy fantasy book with an annoying pseudo-post-feminist heroine."

But, that's just me. I do read lots of fantasy and sci-fi, but I don't do much horror, so maybe these weren't meant to appeal to me anyway.

Miss Maggie said...

C'mon, Susanna, don't you know I'm the only one allowed a valid opinion on this blog? *grin*

Actually, don't tell anyone, but the woodblock stuff kinda grew on me as I was writing this post. Ooops!

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with Susanna. I hadn't even noticed the series until the new covers.

Anonymous said...

I definitely like the wood block a million times more.

writtenwyrdd said...

Yes, I hated the cover art change. From scorching and sexy to drab and a bad film-noir reference.

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who thinks the cover of "Working for the Devil" is a ripoff of the Million Dollar Baby poster?

*crickets chirp*

Okay, just me then.

Anonymous said...

i like that last three better even though they were still in horrid taste, and though the first two covers are the more common covers for the first two books, there are also woodblocks of them. however, though i found the author's name pretty darn obvious, apparently it is her real name... or else she legally changed it. who knows.
ooh, i love how these spamblock words are like, one letter away from actual words, which makes "scait" interesting
and ps, i kinda find it sad that that is the only outfit she wears in the ENTIRE SERIES that's campy, ands ends up on the cover. poor publishers, trying to do somewhat realistic urban fantasy covers with a reasonably dressed heroine.

Justin Gustainis said...

Lili Saintcrow (who, like most authors, has no say in the covers that grace --or don't-- her books) is a friend of mine. Yes, that's her real name.