Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: EUOL on February 18, 2008, 09:42:19 PM
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http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/mistbornpbnew.jpg
Tor is releasing a special 4.99 paperback of MISTBORN: THE FINAL EMPIRE this summer (in June) and they commissioned new cover art for it. New art is above. Thoughts?
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I like the realistic-ness of it, less artsy. And ya, that's what I imagined she looks like, pretty much. Only skinnier.
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And younger... she looks a little old...
But that's ok... I like it muchly.
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I think I almost love it more than the hb cover. ALMOST! Like, the style of the hbs are fiting, but I love the feel of the cover. But I do agree than Vin looks a tich old. Still, love the cover!
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Wow... Vin looks vindictive. I wouldn't want to mess with her in her present state! I'm take a direction opposite the crowd and say that it's not my favorite cover; the hardback cover is my favorite. I dunno, she just looks like a vampire slayer or something. Also, her daggers remind of of Raphael and Ninja Turtles, but that's just me. However, I do like the mistcloak.
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Awesome! That cover is freaking BA! That is pretty close to how I imagined Vin would look. I also like how the art is more realistic.
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I like it a lot! Much, much better than any of the other covers, imho. The realism fits the novels better...the worlds are so realistic, that to have cover art that is so, "free-form", i guess, seems to clash. This picture, though, I like!
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I really really like the art on the cover.
However, there are a few things about it overall that I'm not to fond of.
I think the text describing the book really doesn't do it justice. Specifically, the last sentence in the second paragraph "Every revolt has failed miserably" just doesn't seem to fit. It seems badly worded, like the way I would say something if I couldn't come up with anything else (and I'm really bad at that kind of thing). Also, if you want to bring up the oppression of the Lord Ruler, it seems like there would be a more creative way to do it rather than mentioning the revolts.
The last paragraph isn't bad, but something about mentioning Allomancy bugs me. As a new reader, I would have no clue what that is. I don't think it helps or hurts the case. Simply saying master the powers of a Mistborn I think would be enough, since they at least know that's the name of the book.
The first part is good I think, though the two quick sentences in the larger font at the top really wouldn't affect me buying the book.
The only other issue I have with it is all the advertising on the book of the price. I understand their reason for releasing it in this way (from the other thread where this was talked about) but with the advertising so obvious on the cover, it gives me the impression of "Buy me because I'm cheap and we need to sell a lot of me" rather than "buy me because I'm an amazing book"
I guess in the end, that isn't such a bad thing, since once people read it, they would know the book is amazing, so if that style of cover contributes to more sales from that standpoint, then it works. Just personally, I would be much more tempted to buy a $4.99 book that had a normal cover, with an advertising display around it with that info, than I would be to buy a book where it's part of the cover.
That is all just my (often fairly uninformed) opinion. Keep in mind I'm just a reader, and don't have any real knowledge or experience in that kind of thing.
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Interesting that it doesn't say "The Final Empire" on the cover.
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I have to agree with Felastizairu in that the daggers look more like sais.
Otherwise, BA seems to sum it up nicely.
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nice. I'm pleased.
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Ah, now that's going to be much easier to lend out to my friends - and then I won't have to listen to them rant about how the cover didn't match the story.
Although I agree with Phaz, I really wish they didn't put $4.99 all over the cover and side - sorta takes away the coolness of it all.
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Tee hee! So pretty!
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Very interesting. Shying away from the "painting" look is good. However, that is not what Glass/Obsidian daggers look like... Sorry!
I am kidding of course. Very interesting interpretation. I like the Mistcloak in this version, and the background art is incredible.
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Now *that's* more like it! This do-over makes me quite excited. OK, so Vin looks a touch older that she probably should, and the black sais are a little "off" from what the obsidian daggers should be. Still, I love the more realistic touches and how she's dressed. The $4.99 at the top is annoying, but the bottom bar about the rebate even more so. Oh, well, the cover is still a commanding one at that. Leaps and bounds better than the old PB cover. ;D
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I definitely like it. Very eye-catching.
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What's going on between her legs? It looks like she has a tail.
It's better, but I don't love it.
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I am very glad that this one turned out well. I truly despised the last paperback cover. I have to agree that Vin is holding sais, but I'm ok with that. It's hard to say whether I like this or the hardcover art better. I would say that this one captures Vin better, but the hardcover portrays the essence of the story better. Anyway, I like it.
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I am very glad that this one turned out well. I truly despised the last paperback cover. I have to agree that Vin is holding sais, but I'm ok with that. It's hard to say whether I like this or the hardcover art better. I would say that this one captures Vin better, but the hardcover portrays the essence of the story better. Anyway, I like it.
Yes, saw the last paperback cover yesterday actually... fuggly would be a kind way to describe the anatomical nonsense of the face in profile of that one...
This is a good/decent cover, Uh, could maybe have had a bit cooler bells and whisteles (you know, the layout and stuff going around the central illustration) but it's still compeling I suppose and will also appeal to another audience, which is a good thing of course.
I don't know, I think I'd like it better if they didn't feature that almost-electric-blue in the rest of the cover design that appears in the illustration - by matching it in the bar beneath it I think it makes the illustration less vibrant and has less of a "pop" than it could have... I think it might've looked more dashing maybe if the other layout elements were a touch more desaturated than the main illustration.
Again, the huge amount of detailing of the price is irksome...
But the mistcloak does look very cool and tres chic! :-*
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Yes, saw the last paperback cover yesterday actually... fuggly would be a kind way to describe the anatomical nonsense of the face in profile of that one...
I think that the anatomy works for the action being depicted on the first PB cover. There has to be tension and motion in a face in the midst of action. People don't fly through the air killing other people passively...unless maybe you're the Lord Ruler. Also, I was always under the impression that it was Kelsier on the first PB cover... if it's supposed to be Vin, then I deem "fuggly" an appropriate description. :)
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http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/igallo/Mistborn.jpg
Yeah, here's the first PB art, and yes it is Vin, and yes the anatomy of the face is
A) fuggly, and
B) makes no anatomical sense (actually, scratch that, even taking liscence with perspective *none* of Vin's anatomy makes sense in this cover).
Which is rather unfortunate.
Plus, Vin apparently has a receding hairline - and dresses ugly.
Needless to say, the hardback one's my personal favourite (actually, I shelled out for it based pretty much purely on my liking of the cover - and justified it someone that 'at least robin hobb liked it...' also bought another book by that illustrator for same reason...), although the new paperback one is also fairly nifterifous, but I like that one for completely different reasons.
Also, I was always under the impression that it was Kelsier on the first PB cover... if it's supposed to be Vin, then I deem "fuggly" an appropriate description. :)
... the fact that you recalled it as being Kelsier on the front - oh, it speaks words.
so many, many words.
T_T.
(I would pay $7.99 just for them to *take* the first paperback away from me).
Oddly enough, I should mention I think Jon Foster did the covers for the paperback, harback *and* the other book I bought so it boogles the mind why the first PB's cover's so *go----sh darn ugly*. If that is the case then I am annoyed because I hate people who are inconsistant. -_-
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I like. Much better than the first cover. I'll snap this one up for sure!
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This is pretty much what I expected being familiar with this guy's art before hand. I like the hazy quality of it. To be honest, I actually like the blueish tint that the back has over the picture more.
As far as the 4.99 on the cover, bluntly, it doesn't matter. Most of the people who go into a store to buy a book go in being price sensitive. Especially with this supposed downturn in the economy. Understand, in this case the 4.99 supersedes the cover art. The whole purpose of selling this paperback with little to no profit (some even sold for a loss) is to entice the buyer into immediately purchasing the expensive, high-profit hardback of Mistborn 3 . Or, the purpose is to use this book as the gateway drug into Brandon's other books and to Tor's other authors. The price is temporary, and will probably be removed from the paperback after MB3 has been out for a bit, at which point the awesome cover art will work on its own.
Im actually very excited to see MB2's paperback cover. It could be even more awesome than this one.
As far as the knives go - meh. The 30 of us on the forums who know the difference can shrug and say 'oh well.' The other 30,000+ who read it will have no clue.
I'm really happy with this cover. It's light-years beyond the previous version.
Imagine the displays at the front of Borders where you have this new cover with an eye-catching price, Elantris, MB2's paperback...thats good stuff...and maybe an ad on it that says, "and, oh yeah, this guy is finishing the WoT series." The sum will be much larger than the parts.
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I like this cover about even with the other paperback which had lightning, ravens and a fuggly vin (none of which are in the book), but I like the hardcover the best.
I don't know if I would pick up a copy of this book if it was the first time looking at a Sanderson novel though. It doesn't show any action, has the "bargain bin" labeling and almost looks like it might be a love story as opposed to a heist to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Might as well have Vin putting her arm around Elend with his shirt half way off and wind blowing his hair. :P
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I like this cover about even with the other paperback which had lightning, ravens and a fuggly vin (none of which are in the book), but I like the hardcover the best.
I don't know if I would pick up a copy of this book if it was the first time looking at a Sanderson novel though. It doesn't show any action, has the "bargain bin" labeling and almost looks like it might be a love story as opposed to a heist to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Might as well have Vin putting her arm around Elend with his shirt half way off and wind blowing his hair. :P
Hey, try not to get us all excited and flustered over here! :o
*rofl*
Not as bad as one cover of 'The Name of the Wind' which while, technically is a fairly well executed piece.... is completely inappopriate and looks *EXACTLY* like a Mills & Boon/Harlequin Romance book complete with shirtless buff guy
(Oh Kvothe, how they murdered your artistic soul... T_T )
Though I have come to regard that cover as a treasure, as it is truly amazing how it can tick so many boxes artistically, yet at the same time be *completely* diametrically opposed to its topic.
If I could find its illustrator and get them to autograph it, that would be so awesome...
Seriously, I love that cover, but it's a truly dirty twisted love... :D
[EDIT: Sorry, yes, did actually have to include a link to my Oh-so-blessfully innapropriate cover of my 'The Name of the Wind' Hardback.
http://www.sfsite.com/gra/0705/nwlg.jpg Isn't it just *precious* ! ? ]
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I don't know if I would pick up a copy of this book if it was the first time looking at a Sanderson novel though. It doesn't show any action, has the "bargain bin" labeling and almost looks like it might be a love story as opposed to a heist to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Might as well have Vin putting her arm around Elend with his shirt half way off and wind blowing his hair. :P
Spare us the image! It's like my eyes are burning!
At any rate, I think it's safe to say that both PB covers have their artistic merits. Let's be honest, can you create something like either of those artists, because I can't!
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At any rate, I think it's safe to say that both PB covers have their artistic merits. Let's be honest, can you create something like either of those artists, because I can't!
I've been known to be not-half-bad with the crayons once in a while. :D
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I think it's much much better than the last cover. I'm glad that the style of the title was kept in the design (that was probably the only thing I liked about the first paperback cover) and I much prefer this Vin to the other, more paintingy Vin. And the mistcloak is really neat; I never thought about it being that way but it works really well.
It's not perfect, but rarely any book covers are. It is interesting to see the artist's interpretation. :3
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and it's interesting to me who sticks more by Hardback Vin, and who goes over to the Paperback # 2 camp for which they think she looks like.
Personally, I'm more the harback person but it could easily be closer to pb # 2.
It's always fun to see new spins on your favourite characters (except for fuggly vin...)
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I liked it but Vin looked too old, and big. And a little too I'm-the-freaky-girl-in-your-history-class-that-wears-black-fishnets-on-my-arms-and-keeps-voodoo-dolls-of-you-in-my-backpack-that-i-enjoy-stabbing-with-safety-pins. Do you get what I'm saying?
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I understand. That's why I said I thought she looked like a vampire slayer. But I'll grant the artist artistic license and creativity, because that's what makes art so great. :)
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I liked it but Vin looked too old, and big. And a little too I'm-the-freaky-girl-in-your-history-class-that-wears-black-fishnets-on-my-arms-and-keeps-voodoo-dolls-of-you-in-my-backpack-that-i-enjoy-stabbing-with-safety-pins. Do you get what I'm saying?
Yes, I totally agree with that -
But I still really rather enjoy and like this cover - but I like seeing characters and such shown in new ways or maybe ways I didn't consider that they might look. - Kind of in the same way I think it's cool to see shakespeare performed kabuki style - it's interesting how people from different contexts imagine, say in this case - Vin, differently.
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Since my hard cover copy got destroyed *cough*notbitter*cough*, I've been meaning to pick up another. Of the many covers for the trilogy this is the best I've seen so far, definitely picking this one up.
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Doh. I guess this means I'll have to buy another copy with the new art, because that looks very good.
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Well... I will have two copies of this book on my shelf soon.
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Good enough to make me consider getting a 2nd copy :)
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Wow, I can't believe I missed this thread for so long. Well, it is on the second page and all, but still, I should have looked. I love the cover for the paperback, with the exception of the pricing on it. But, I understand the selling part of things. I would pick it up for friends and family, I own the hardback myself, and hubby gets a bit nuts when I buy duplicate books. ;)
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awe man that is sick
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Nice. I just got the Mistborn 2 pback, and it looks like the same artist did that too.
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I see that on Brandon's blog now :P. I can wholeheartedly say that I love these covers much better (not that MB2's hardcover was bad, but still, the new ones are great).
Sigh... more things to buy on Amazon. Of course, Mistborn makes a great gift for Christmas in June!
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I think these new covers are great. I wasn't a fan of the old art and that probably delayed me in purchasing Mistborn.