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Friday, April 11, 2008

An Un-Ugly Cover Can Be Hard to Find

posted by on April 11 at 13:04 PM

It’s weird that I was talking just this morning about how authors don’t often get to pick their book covers. On his LiveJournal, Matt Ruff posted some fan-produced covers of his books. Ruff has had some poor book covers, including this one and this one.

Of the three covers that Ruff posted, I like this one best:

sewer_gas_electric.jpg

RSS icon Comments

1

I think I prefer the Set This House in Order cover but they're all awesome.

I want to see these on a nicely-textured small-sized paperback...

Posted by Dawgson | April 11, 2008 1:09 PM
2

Paul Constant is the new reason to come to Slog, to read the Stranger, praise the Stranger, etc. I just wanted to say that.

Posted by Mr. Poe | April 11, 2008 1:23 PM
3

On of the somewhat recent favorite covers lately is the paperback edition of Eggers' How We Are Hungry.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1400095565.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

As a bonus, the book's at least ONE THIRD good, which is a decent finish for a collection of short stories, IMO.

Posted by Dougsf | April 11, 2008 1:37 PM
4

Seriously, Mr. Poe. I have a nonsexual gay crush on him.

Posted by Dawgson | April 11, 2008 1:41 PM
5

We should stalk him.

Posted by Mr. Poe | April 11, 2008 1:45 PM
6

Is stalking complimentary or creepy? I forget.

Posted by Dawgson | April 11, 2008 2:00 PM
7

@4 & @5, me too. Well except my crush is a hetero girl crush. Men who not only read, but also discuss intelligently what they read get me hot. And now that he's doing the lunch/book reviews posts, well let's just say that my "favorite stalker songs" playlist is dedicated to him.

Posted by PopTart | April 11, 2008 2:03 PM
8

There was a complete McSweeney's issue (4?) dedicated to this topic where each author designed the cover to their own booklet-like piece. I remember it being really good.

Apparently Nabokov had a HUGE problem with the art on his books so he eventually started contacting the designers and asking them to submit proofs to him. Milton Glaser was one of those designers.

I also

Posted by iwanttobealion | April 11, 2008 2:17 PM
9

Damn. That was supposed to say "I also heart Paul Constant."

Posted by iwanttobealion | April 11, 2008 2:59 PM
10

By the by, the book in questions is FUCKING GREAT.

Posted by stan | April 11, 2008 9:52 PM
11

That book was pretty fucking good and I recommend it to everyone. I like Ruff's style: he's like a more toned down, down to Earth version of Neal Stephenson. Haven't read his latest, though.

Posted by Gomez | April 12, 2008 1:14 AM
12

nice! weird coincidence, I was just planning posting Bad Monkeys on the Covers blog next week

Posted by Eric J | April 13, 2008 10:30 AM

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