Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Omelethead on March 02, 2010, 05:40:45 AM
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A lot of you have probably seen this, but for everyone else, the Way of Kings Cover Art has been posted.
The Tor.com post about it: http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=58815
(http://www.tor.com/images/stories/blogs/10_02/TheWayOfKings.png)
Pretty good. I was kind of disappointed when I first saw the cover, but the final picture in the article (the full print) is awesome, and the cover is growing on me.
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It's growing on me too
At first I thought, what? What's the ridiculous outfit he's got on? Then I looked at the preliminary drawings and realized - wow wait a minute, that's one of those giant storms we've been hearing about! I really like the sense of scale
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At first glance it looked like he was holding an umbrella.... which would make more sense than a sword, really, with that big ol' storm brewin'.
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I really like this cover, and when I saw the full wrap-around photo I loved it. It looks awesome!
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It's very fitting. I very much like it.
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it's michael whelan's art! i love his stuff, it's always more than first glance.
/geeking out
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I can't wait to see this sitting on my bookshelf. But that will have to wait until after it's been in my hands for several hours.
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Amazing work. Love the wrap around. As an artist, I love seeing another artist's thought process so it's quite inspiring.
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So, I don't much care for the way the front cover looks. The entire picture including the wrap-around is awesome. But just the front cover? Not so much.
And question: Was I the only to think, "That's one freaking long sword that dude has," before realizing that somewhere behind the title, the line of the sword turned to the bright blue line on the storm's edge? Was this done on purpose? I've seen so many people freak out about stuff like this when it comes to book cover art. Granted, there may be a legitimate reason for it (something cool from Brandon's brain that we don't know about), but if not, why? Totally threw me for a loop the first time I saw it.
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I agree with you WriterDan about the wrap around being much better than the front side. I personally feel that the typography obscures what is going on in the picture.
And just in the way of info, the sword is supposed to be long. In fact, I think it actually looks a tad shorter than how I imagined it in the novel.
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Yeah. Once I really squinted at the picture, I could tell that the actual sword was pretty long. It just looked like the thing extended all of the way off the left hand side of the cover. :) Now THAT'S a long sword.
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I like it. :D But, the writing is covering the sword and the flag. That's irritating me. :P
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The front cover is already impressive enough, but the wrap around gives a huge sense of scale. I can't wait to experience one of these giants storms!
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What do you guys think about the size of Brandon's name in that layout? I know Marketing 101 says it's his name that sells more than the title or the cover, but does it need to be THAT huge? Would it not work just as well at 80% of that size, allowing the title to rise and cease obscuring the sword and flag so much?
The wraparound is going to make a beautiful poster someday, I bet.
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Mailed off a print of this to a friend on his mission... gonna drive him INSANE!!!
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honestly, i think the cover is uninspiring and plain. Now, maybe the whole wrap around thing is better, i dunno, haven't seen it, but just the front cover is boring, there isn't enough to it to make it unique.
not that it matters, though, i always take the book covers off of my books as soon as i own them. i HATE bookcovers, and i generally get hardback books.
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When I first saw the cover I had to get over myself freaking at the fact that this was the cover of Way of Kings before I could really SEE it. At first glance it looks like "just another epic fantasy cover" but it's really growing on me I enjoy it a lot. Can't wait to read it and stare at it once I buy it.
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What do you guys think about the size of Brandon's name in that layout? I know Marketing 101 says it's his name that sells more than the title or the cover, but does it need to be THAT huge? Would it not work just as well at 80% of that size, allowing the title to rise and cease obscuring the sword and flag so much?
The wraparound is going to make a beautiful poster someday, I bet.
I agree with you, Ink. I think the size of the name is overkill. The sky/storm is a big feature of the art, yet it won't be seen at all, front or back (the back will be obscured by random bits of praise of brandon's work). So, with the name left this way, we are left with a painting of a dude...holding a sword. They may as well just do a solid monochrome cover with Brandon's name on it a little bigger (yes, i'm exaggerating). And really, imagine how this will be in mass market paperback: absurdly cramped, and even more obscured.
The painting/art itself is fine--not awe-inspiring, but fine. Yeah it will make a good poster without all of the typography on it, but how does that help the novel sell? Right now, the cover says, "I'm a traditional epic fantasy." The stationary man holding a sword says, "There isn't much movement in this novel," or "The pacing of this novel is typical epic fantasy: slow. " I'm not speaking of the quality of the art (it's pretty, and far better than most can do, and eons better than D.K. Sweet), but of the feelings the cover may tend to evoke in the casual fantasy reader. I understand that people are excited that this is a Whelan cover (and it IS a big deal in several important regards), but I personally don't feel this cover is striking enough. I also (having read the novel) don't think it adds to the total quality of the presentation of Brandon's excellent work. I think WAY OF KINGS deserves higher quality art and cover design.
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Yes Ink, I think shrinking it a bit to get at least the whole sword on there would be good.
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Atleast the art is better than the art on Baen Books. There covers are terrible. Makes the books look B grade.
When will there be a blurb or something giving an idea of what the book is about?
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Atleast the art is better than the art on Baen Books. There covers are terrible. Makes the books look B grade.
When will there be a blurb or something giving an idea of what the book is about?
Baen goes for that kind of look. It works well for them.
As for what Way of Kings is about? Brandon has been talking about that for a while. I'm pretty sure people have been linking all over the place here. Someone help this guy out, as that would take my time away from my spreadsheets at work.
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Here (http://aidanmoher.com/blog/2009/11/asides/an-aside-synopsis-for-the-way-of-kings-by-brandon-sanderson/)'s a little. NOTE: Merrin's name has been changed to (not sure if I'm allowed to say, Peter?)
Here (http://aidanmoher.com/blog/2009/07/asides/an-aside-details-on-the-way-of-kings-by-brandon-sanderson/)'s some more info.
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I'd like to throw my two cents in and say I agree that EUOL's name could stand to be smaller. However, I freaking love the cover. I mean, yes, it does look like a classic high fantasy novel, but at the same time it just. . . um, yeah. It's awesome.
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Yeah, Merin's name changed to Kaladin. The new marketing copy is up over at http://www.facebook.com/TheStormlightArchive
Oh, never mind, no it's not. It's here: http://us.macmillan.com/thewayofkings
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I didn't even notice how big his name was until I read firstRainbowRoses post.
It has to be big....your eyes are immediate drawn to the figure below the Title....excellent cover.
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I do have to agree with all of youthat the name could be made a tad bit smaller but overall I think the cover is amazing even if the "Shardblade" is covered slightly.
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not that it matters, though, i always take the book covers off of my books as soon as i own them. i HATE bookcovers, and i generally get hardback books.
I aways take the covers off. I think the books look more sophisticated with a plain cover with the name and author on the spine.
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I do feel like there's some awesome action moments that might have made a better cover. It's not a slow-paced book by any means.
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I hope some foreign covers have a bridge crew on them.
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I hope some foreign covers have a bridge crew on them.
That would be really cool.
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I hope some foreign covers have a bridge crew on them.
That would be really cool.
Oh yes. Very yes.
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They might have to rate the cover for blood though.
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This cover has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB for "Graphic Bloody Violence"
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I don't know. I think a bridge crew would be way awesome, but at the same time, why use them as a focus point?
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Because they're a focal part of the book, and one of the more unique aspects of this particular series. While I like the Whelan cover, it doesn't exactly showcase how this fantasy is different from others.
And perhaps it shouldn't, I don't know... that's really a marketing question. Is it better to attract people with a sense of the familiar, or showcase how this is different?
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Mi'ch - Why would you ask why use the bridgemen? It makes perfect sense.
I think it's close to a tie Ink.
Showing the bridgemen would be very different and unique. I feel it would a draw a lot of people, but I think it would scare a lot of people off.
The more traditional cover will draw a lot of normal fantasy readers who would then be awed and tell other people about it.
So it's more a this audience or that I think. But I think in the long run the story will get told enough the people looking for the new stuff would come around in the end.
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And of course the bridgemen would show action rather then standing still like someone else was complaining about.
And Ink, I do agree that the bridgemen are a unique aspect of the story.
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Showing what's different about this series on the cover may thwart what marketing is trying to do. As with most of Brandon's books, KINGS has wide appeal and a broad audience. It's a tough job as an illustrator/art director to pick just one thing to represent the whole book without alienating one audience or another. A war scene on the cover is going to draw in one kind of reader and put off another. While a huge part of KINGS deals with war, the individual character conflicts go way beyond that, for example. With this in mind, Whelan has captured the feel of the book without illustrating one scene in particular.
Having said that, there will always be critics ready to slam the book's cover when it comes out. But the majority of readers are going to hold the book in their hands and say, "This is one fine-looking novel." And in that regard, the cover will have done its job.
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The current cover only shows a few aspects of the book. Granted they are HUGE aspects. I think ti does well in covering them. Though you can't really fully understand what any of them are until you pick up and read the book.
So I think it does well after having read into the book, but I'm not sure about how well it encompasses the story for someone looking in from the outside.
It's like someone looking in on a game of Go. Sure it looks pretty, but until you take the time to learn its intricacies you really have no idea what's going on.
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Since when were covers supposed to show the most crucial aspects of a book/universe? If this series is gonna be 10 books long, there's plenty of chances for us to see a bridgecrew, whatever the heck that is.
And covers don't have to have lots of "movement," either. The cover is supposed to be an icon, not a freaking storyboard. I am totally fine with a dramatic figure pointing a sword over a giant rift in the land. Maybe that's cliche somehow, but I really don't think so. Obviously the "guy with a sword in dramatic pose" fantasy cover has been done once or twice before, uh, times a million, but the quality of the art itself is so good that I like to think that it's less of a cliche and more of a common fantasy cover art idea performed really, really well. It's the really, really well part that has me excited.
In the end, this cover is a million times better than any of the Mistborn ones, and especially that boring Warbreaker one. People who haven't read fantasy for years will see this book at the bookstore and think, "Woah, that book looks epic."
Hopefully, they'll be right.
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Yeah, Merin's name changed to Kaladin.
Doesn't that sound an awful lot like Kalad from Warbreaker? Is this intentional or just an accident?
EDIT: Sorry for being random. Anyway, for clarification Kalad is mentioned on page 88 of Warbreaker (hardcover). He might be mentioned somewhere else, but I'm not that far yet.
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In the end, this cover is a million times better than any of the Mistborn ones, and especially that boring Warbreaker one.
I loved the hardcover of The Hero of Ages. Vin atop Kredik Shaw surrounded by Inquisitors cloaked in mist was chilling. But I agree that Warbreaker has a boring cover, which doesn't bother me that much because I've actually read the free eBook version more than my hardcover. It's much easier to keep a PDF on a flash drive than lug a hardback around.
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Showing what's different about this series on the cover may thwart what marketing is trying to do. As with most of Brandon's books, KINGS has wide appeal and a broad audience. It's a tough job as an illustrator/art director to pick just one thing to represent the whole book without alienating one audience or another. A war scene on the cover is going to draw in one kind of reader and put off another. While a huge part of KINGS deals with war, the individual character conflicts go way beyond that, for example. With this in mind, Whelan has captured the feel of the book without illustrating one scene in particular.
Having said that, there will always be critics ready to slam the book's cover when it comes out. But the majority of readers are going to hold the book in their hands and say, "This is one fine-looking novel." And in that regard, the cover will have done its job.
I see your point (and I think we've discussed this before). Though I'd disagree about Whelan capturing the feel of the book--I don't feel and sort of emotion behind the painting. It doesn't evoke an emotional response like a Picacio or a Martiniere. Of course, this is strictly a personal opinion, and I can easily see how others love it, and why Marketing is going for the Whelan cover. I just think it's silly to go out and get a Whelan cover, and then completely obscure it. The figures, to me, aren't the cool part of the full, un-cluttered art piece. The storm is the cool part (kinda like the Deadhouse Gates cover). But we don't see that with the typography (and on the Mass Market paperback, it will be even more obscured). In fact, I'd argue that the storm and its effects on the psyches of the characters (and their individual conflicts) is of way more importance than the Bridge Teams. A Bridge Team would have been cool, but not as a cover. It would make a beautiful interior illustration in, say, a Subterranean Press Limited Edition, but not a cover.
See, personally, I think that the reader who hasn't read fantasy in years will see this cover and think "This looks like all the other books in the genre."
The huge caveat here is that books look much different in print than as a jpg. Mistborn 1, for example, didn't look that awesome on a computer screen. But when I opened a shipment of them, and saw how it looked in person, it was far different, and very impressive. I'm hoping the same applies here (as well as them shrinking down the typography so we can actually see the Whelan cover they paid good money for).
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I'm pretty sure the typography is not going to change after this. The cover has been through all its approvals already (or it would not have been revealed). I do wish it were smaller but this is what we get.
The prologue for the book will be in the back of the WARBREAKER paperback at the end of this month. I believe that Brandon has never read the full prologue at a reading; I've always heard him stop halfway through. If you have heard him read the first half and thought it was awesome, let me say you ain't seen nothin' yet. (Though I guess the people in this thread who have already read or are currently reading the book can attest to that.) (If you are currently reading it, make sure it has chapter 26.)
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His name is big, because they are selling Brandon as much as they are selling the book. The Wheel of Time made him famous. Look at Stephen Kings books. Alot of his books don't even have a blurb about the book (I hate that) and just have his picture.
They are selling his track record.
Way of Kings is a brand new series. So less will know what it is than will actually know who Brandon is from The Gathering Storm. However, many people will know Brandon from Wheel of Time. You will probably see the book in a bookstore sitting next to Gathering Storm and then if Towers of Midnight is out in the fall next to that.
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I see your point (and I think we've discussed this before). Though I'd disagree about Whelan capturing the feel of the book--I don't feel and sort of emotion behind the painting. It doesn't evoke an emotional response like a Picacio or a Martiniere. Of course, this is strictly a personal opinion, and I can easily see how others love it, and why Marketing is going for the Whelan cover.
Bookstore Guy: I think you're exactly right. It's a matter of taste. For example, while Picacio is a nice guy at the Cons and everything, and I think he is a very good artist, I don't care for the look of books with his artwork on them. (This is obviously not the case with other people. His artwork, when seen in person, is gorgeous.) You and I both agree that Martiniere makes great covers. And as for me, I will pick up a book with a Whelan cover no matter who the author is.
Having said that, I do wish I could see more of the cover through the largeness of Brandon's name. :)
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Bookstore Guy: I think you're exactly right. It's a matter of taste. For example, while Picacio is a nice guy at the Cons and everything, and I think he is a very good artist, I really dislike the look of books with his artwork on them. (This is obviously not the case with other people.) You and I both agree that Martiniere makes great covers. And as for me, I will pick up a book with a Whelan cover no matter who the author is.
Having said that, I do wish I could see more of the cover through the largeness of Brandon's name. :)
I completely see your point. Whelan, to me, is a status symbol because of the exact point you mention. He became so synonymous with big name authors (Stephen King, Tad Williams, etc) that the association is ingrained in the older, fantasy reading crowd. And really, that is who Brandon needs to pick up/solidify as a fan base. He's already done well with new readers. You know, I almost wish the background of the painting had been reversed. Make the dude a tad smaller, and put the focal point of the storm on the front cover with the type a bit smaller. Meh. If wishes were fishes, and all that...
The prologue for the book will be in the back of the WARBREAKER paperback at the end of this month. I believe that Brandon has never read the full prologue at a reading; I've always heard him stop halfway through. If you have heard him read the first half and thought it was awesome, let me say you ain't seen nothin' yet. (Though I guess the people in this thread who have already read or are currently reading the book can attest to that.) (If you are currently reading it, make sure it has chapter 26.)
Yeah, the new prologue is very cool. It bookends with the epilogues (and matches Dalinar) much better that the early version I read.
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I would just like to say, *ahem* Hooray for Bridge Crews! Also, I really like the cover. Maybe I'm just biased toward Brandon, but that thing screams, "EPIC!" If a poster is made of the entire wrap-around, I will totally buy that. (Assuming I'm not broke.)
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It will be the Szeth prologue in the back of WARBREAKER, though it has been revised substantially since you originally saw it. The other new prologue is right now being called the series prelude and comes before the Szeth prologue in the book. Also, the epilogues have been changed to part 5, except for the last one, so there is only one epilogue in the book now.
Michael Whelan will most likely sell prints of the art. They are not cheap.
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Did Brandon change the Szeth prologue substantially from the 7.0 version? Or the series prologue for that matter?
And yeah Whelan's prints are rather pricey. $100 to $200 is the average for a normal one.
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The Szeth prologue is absolutely fantastic and leaves you wanting to know a lot of things and truly keeps you reading wanting to understand what how and why. It is in all sense of the word epic.
The prelude was cool, but not as good.
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Szeth? Bridge crews?
Stop confusing me... >_<
Honestly, the cover does nothing for me. I couldn't tell there was a storm brewing until someone else mentioned it, I could barely tell that was a sword in the guy's hand (on first glance it looked like an umbrella), and while the art is superb, it looks like the standard fantasy cover. The only interesting aspect, the only part I can directly connect with what little I know about The Way of Kings is the shelled plants on the ground.
If I had never heard of Brandon Sanderson, never read any of his books, and I came across this in the bookstore, I'd likely pass it right on by. I could pick a book off my shelf at home and have a fifty percent chance of pulling a cover with a guy holding a sword with an obscure figure in the background.
And is the guy in the foreground wearing a poncho?
But really, this is just me. Even in the above scenario I'd likely buy the book based off the synopsis on the inside jacket. I guess I was just hoping to see a cover with a really freakin' huge sword, and a guy in the middle of one of these violent storms. Or something like that.
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That's interesting, I thought the Prelude was super interesting, especially with how it ties to the Epilogue and to Dalinar. Of course, I got the Prelude after I had already read a version of the novel, so maybe my perspective is skewed.
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lol.
Well I the depiction of the landscape is quite good and you'll understand eventually. It really is quite accurate as far as covers go.
Also, it's a cape. xD
@Bookstore - Yeah it does. It is interesting, but it's less awesome as the prologue. Plus it does well introducing the Shardblades.
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It's at 7.4 now, not substantially changed from 7.0. I was referring to the first time you read the book, BSG.
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I don't know that one is better, they both illustrate different things really well. The Prelude, to me, gives a nice epic scope, and introduces some of the history behind all the misunderstandings people have in the novel. The Prologue showcases the "magic." It's very flashy, and usually I'd say it was way more awesome (you know how I loves me some action scenes), but for some reason the perception of the past is a really big thing for me lately, which is why I love the Prelude.
Shiver--Yeah its a cape, and a clever way not to show the guy's armor. Though a poncho with an umbrella would be awesome.
It's at 7.4 now, not substantially changed from 7.0. I was referring to the first time you read the book, BSG.
Whew. You were worrying me for a sec. And yeah, I noticed the differences between 3.0 and 7.0. I'm not gonna read too much more of 7.0 because the next version I read will have a review based off of it, and reviewing the 7.0 just won't be right (lemme know when a final is ready to request from Tor).
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Shiver--Yeah its a cape, and a clever way not to show the guy's armor. Though a poncho with an umbrella would be awesome.
I know, right? It'd be possibly the coolest thing ever if these Shardblades doubled as umbrellas. THAT is something I've never seen before, and would fit, in a weird sort of way, in a world plagued by incredibly frequent hurricane-like storms
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I have to agree with BSG about the prologue vs prelude. I personally thought the prelude was a bit cooler. I mean, the magic was awesome, and I love seeing more of Szeth, but I really wanted to know more about the original ten and how that all ties in. (Of course, Chris there has a bit of an ahead on us in the sense that he thinks it's similar to something in Dragonsteel, so he's opinion might not be the best to go off of. *peace*)
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There isn't a LOT that is the same. Just certain things. I'll go into more detail on messenger later.
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Fair enough.
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I'm not gonna read too much more of 7.0 because the next version I read will have a review based off of it, and reviewing the 7.0 just won't be right (lemme know when a final is ready to request from Tor).
Review copies won't come until the ARC/bound galleys, which will be after the copyedit. What they're doing now is the ABM which is only for author cover quotes, key media contacts, and key buyers at big chains. As well as for internal Tor use.
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What does ABM stand for?
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Advanced Bound Manuscript, I believe.
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what is the difference between an ABM and an ARC?
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I believe arcs are actually bound whereas abms are not bound.
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Advanced Bound Manuscript, I believe.
psh, no. It means alternate basement monkey.
(but yeah, i'm like 90% sure you're correct.)
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No, ABMs are bound. ARCs come from a later stage in production, and are bound galleys the size the hardback will be. ABMs are various sizes depending on the publisher. At Tor they're smaller than the final book and are usually exported from Microsoft Word.
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So...is anyone going to comment on the Kalad/Kaladin thing? Is it intentional? (Kalad led the rebellion long ago in Warbreaker and Kaladin is a character in The Way of Kings, but their names are strangely alike.)
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I don't think it's intentionally, considering this is the alternate name avoiding Merrin because Merrin sounded like Matt and Perrin mashed together.
Though someone brought up the potential of Kaladin being a KELsier RaoDEN love baby. . . . xD
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He totally is! With Uncle Vasher teaching him how to act.
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=/ I personally don't like the cover at all. It looks too much like every other novel in the Fantasy section of book stores; the thing that made me not balk at reading Mistborn, Elantris, and Warbreaker were their unique covers. Fantasy books always have this cover that makes me feel like they're cranked out of a factory of lifeless writers and artists.
:[ Even with BS's name in giant letters, it doesnt feel like a BS book. Alas, I'm still going to have to buy it though, because I know the content is what really matters. It's just going to be hard to look at that cover. (Wow, I sound overly critical >< sorry!)
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I don't think it's intentionally, considering this is the alternate name avoiding Merrin because Merrin sounded like Matt and Perrin mashed together.
Though someone brought up the potential of Kaladin being a KELsier RaoDEN love baby. . . . xD
I had a "Merin" that eventually became two characters, one a "Melin", because I wanted to draw an association with Merlin, and "Merin" just sounded wrong. It's really easy to come up with a name that just doesn't sound right.
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=/ I personally don't like the cover at all. It looks too much like every other novel in the Fantasy section of book stores; the thing that made me not balk at reading Mistborn, Elantris, and Warbreaker were their unique covers. Fantasy books always have this cover that makes me feel like they're cranked out of a factory of lifeless writers and artists.
:[ Even with BS's name in giant letters, it doesnt feel like a BS book. Alas, I'm still going to have to buy it though, because I know the content is what really matters. It's just going to be hard to look at that cover. (Wow, I sound overly critical >< sorry!)
I know many hard core fantasy readers who would use this argument in exactly the opposite way saying that the other covers are meant to draw you in just with fancy pictures and nothing else.
I however agree with you that generally I like awesome pictures, but this one is very very good. It fits the story extremely well. Though I wonder why this character is on the cover. Many others would have been preferable in my opinion.
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I know many hard core fantasy readers who would use this argument in exactly the opposite way saying that the other covers are meant to draw you in just with fancy pictures and nothing else.
I however agree with you that generally I like awesome pictures, but this one is very very good. It fits the story extremely well. Though I wonder why this character is on the cover. Many others would have been preferable in my opinion.
Actually, I see that as something of a problem. The people who like the cover, it seems, are the ones who have read some version of this book. Most of us haven't. Therefore, even if the cover depicts the story inside incredibly well, we don't know the story inside. And I don't buy a book hoping the cover will be explained in the story; I want to the cover to give me an idea on what the story is about, to snag my eye and hold me for the thirty seconds it takes to affect an impulse buyer.
This cover doesn't do that. As stated, it looks like every other novel in the fantasy section (well, every other novel that isn't about vampires; those are fat more heinous in the repetitive covers).
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Meh
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I've never read it, but I think the cover looks awesome. Maybe I just don't spend enough time in the fantasy section...
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Most of the posts on Tor.com are from people who haven't read the book, and most seem to like it. However, some do say what you said, Shivertongue.
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Most of the posts on Tor.com are from people who haven't read the book, and most seem to like it. However, some do say what you said, Shivertongue.
Yeah, I've been paging through those comments and saw them. I seem to be in the minority on this, though, and will have to resign myself to being one of those who is far from impressed with the cover. Won't be the first time, and I doubt it will be the last.
And even if I had never heard of Brandon Sanderson, I'm willing to bet I'd still pick up the book, although I would likely wait for the paperback to come out in that situation (I'm planning to buy the hardcover, 'cause this looks like a series I want in hardcover). The series title 'Stormlight Archive' is intriguing enough that I know this hypothetical me would stop for a closer look, and I always read the inside jacket no matter what the book is. The hypothetical me would find what's in there - assuming it contains what little I already know about the book - intriguing enough to want to read it.
Again, hough, the hypothetical me would wait for the paperback. I'm not the hypothetical me, and despite my dislike of the cover, I'm buying it in hardcover.
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Wow Mr. Sanderson. Great pick you and yours made to pick the best artist for a great cover. I find it hard to believe that people are so critical of it... the scope of the picture with the funnel storm clouds is great. I can't wait for the series and know that it will be great.
Once again I just want to say your a great author not only because I love the Wheel of Time but also for the other great books you have written. Your magic systems are amazing and creative. Hopefully you will continue to write great books for us your fans but most importantly for yourself. :)
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=/ I personally don't like the cover at all. It looks too much like every other novel in the Fantasy section of book stores; the thing that made me not balk at reading Mistborn, Elantris, and Warbreaker were their unique covers. Fantasy books always have this cover that makes me feel like they're cranked out of a factory of lifeless writers and artists.
:[ Even with BS's name in giant letters, it doesnt feel like a BS book. Alas, I'm still going to have to buy it though, because I know the content is what really matters. It's just going to be hard to look at that cover. (Wow, I sound overly critical >< sorry!)
HE KNOWS ABOUT THE FACTORY! SEND OUT THE TERMINAL DRONES!!
You're right to focus on the content of the book rather than the cover. It's anything but generic, I think.
I however agree with you that generally I like awesome pictures, but this one is very very good. It fits the story extremely well. Though I wonder why this character is on the cover. Many others would have been preferable in my opinion.
You know, funny you should mention it, but I didn't really associate the characters on the cover with anyone in the book (though I know who they may be meant to represent). Without discussing details (I think we can do that), if the man in armor is meant to be D___ , then I think the color of his armor is wrong, and his sword is not quite right either. Some of this may be up to interpretation, but I just considered the character on the cover to be representative of his "type". It's more an image designed to bring several of the more unique details of the world into one picture (the armor, the weapons, the Plains, the plants, the storms).
Funny enough, while on first glance I see how people consider this cover "generic" (ooh, guy in armor with a sword, that's new), I think people are missing out on the details in that cover that will only become apparent once they've read the text. They might appreciate Whelan's work more, then.
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Whelan posted on Facebook that he goofed and made the cape the wrong color. So it is supposed to be Dalinar. But the current color works really well in the composition.
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Whelan posted on Facebook that he goofed and made the cape the wrong color. So it is supposed to be Dalinar. But the current color works really well in the composition.
Everybody gets one I guess. Mistake that is.
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Funny enough, while on first glance I see how people consider this cover "generic" (ooh, guy in armor with a sword, that's new), I think people are missing out on the details in that cover that will only become apparent once they've read the text. They might appreciate Whelan's work more, then.
It's not a lack of appreciation for Whelan's work. The artistry is fantastic, and in some instances utterly gorgeous.
The problem, going back to the details on the cover, is that most of us do not know these details. From an outsiders standpoint, there is nothing special about the cover, and whatever details these are are lost upon us. It comes across as 'guy in armour with a sword' because that's what it looks like. If what makes it special is in the story itself, that's not good enough - there should be something on the cover to indicate that the story within is something special, something you haven't seen before.
You look at the cover and see stuff you recognize, and that excites you - you're able to connect the cover with what you have read/had read to you of the book. I'm unable to make that connection. These details are utterly lost upon me. On Writing Excuses they often talk about how writing is about making promises to the reader. The cover is the first promise made - one that, admittedly, the author has little to no control over in most cases - a promise of what kind of book you can expect if you read this. This cover, going with almost no foreknowledge of the story, tells me it's going to be generic epic fantasy. The author's name belies this a bit, as I know Brandon Sanderson writes anything but generic epic fantasy, but it doesn't wash away the notion.
I'd prefer it if the details from the story you people keep mentioning were made more obvious, so that while I still wouldn't know what they were about, I'd become intrigued enough to WANT to know what they're about. I know I'm repeating myself, but the statement still holds true: I don't know what the story inside is. The cover should give me some idea, but the idea it gives me is 'generic epic fantasy - little to nothing new here'.
In all honesty, based on this cover, I wouldn't be surprised to find elves in the book.
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Whelan posted on Facebook that he goofed and made the cape the wrong color. So it is supposed to be Dalinar. But the current color works really well in the composition.
I like the cape, especially the heraldry.
I was thinking more that the armor looked too bronze or golden, and ornate, for Dalinar. Though the color is possibly more a factor of the lighting, when I look at it again, and the cape covers up much of the body so it's difficult to see how the armor really looks. The sword is also different from the text description in a couple significant ways.
It does such a great job of evoking the setting that it doesn't bother me a bit if it's not of a particular character.
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I think it looks pretty sweet. I can see where the artwork could be considered pretty generic, but this is sort of the epitome of such covers, superseding other, similar pieces. That sheer quality will probably be enough to make this stand out from a gaggle of similar covers, cuz its just so cool.
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I however agree with you that generally I like awesome pictures, but this one is very very good. It fits the story extremely well. Though I wonder why this character is on the cover. Many others would have been preferable in my opinion.
You know, funny you should mention it, but I didn't really associate the characters on the cover with anyone in the book (though I know who they may be meant to represent). Without discussing details (I think we can do that), if the man in armor is meant to be D___ , then I think the color of his armor is wrong, and his sword is not quite right either. Some of this may be up to interpretation, but I just considered the character on the cover to be representative of his "type". It's more an image designed to bring several of the more unique details of the world into one picture (the armor, the weapons, the Plains, the plants, the storms).
Funny enough, while on first glance I see how people consider this cover "generic" (ooh, guy in armor with a sword, that's new), I think people are missing out on the details in that cover that will only become apparent once they've read the text. They might appreciate Whelan's work more, then.
Nah, cause his cape is blue. It looks like E______ to me. Gold armor.
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I could buy that. I don't recall the description of his blade, offhand.
But like I say, does it matter if the cover isn't of a particular person or moment in the text? I'd rather it be content that fits the material without nailing down anything than to have it try and nail down something and be wrong.
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I could buy that. I don't recall the description of his blade, offhand.
But like I say, does it matter if the cover isn't of a particular person or moment in the text? I'd rather it be content that fits the material without nailing down anything than to have it try and nail down something and be wrong.
Is there a reason we can't have both? From first glance it needs to be a cover that draws in the average fantasy section browser so that it gets picked up and looked at. It doesn't need to MEAN anything to them, but it does have to be interesting enough to keep their attention. But once the book has been read and enjoyed, looking back at the cover and BOOM, new understanding of the cover.
I really have NO CLUE what will be going on in this book and I like it that way. I haven't really gone looking for any information. So this cover, means very little to me, except for the storm itself. Once I read the book, i'll look back on it and hopefully go... wow, that's a greater cover then I thought.
I love the cover, that's how I'ma finish this rant. :D
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I however agree with you that generally I like awesome pictures, but this one is very very good. It fits the story extremely well. Though I wonder why this character is on the cover. Many others would have been preferable in my opinion.
You know, funny you should mention it, but I didn't really associate the characters on the cover with anyone in the book (though I know who they may be meant to represent). Without discussing details (I think we can do that), if the man in armor is meant to be D___ , then I think the color of his armor is wrong, and his sword is not quite right either. Some of this may be up to interpretation, but I just considered the character on the cover to be representative of his "type". It's more an image designed to bring several of the more unique details of the world into one picture (the armor, the weapons, the Plains, the plants, the storms).
Funny enough, while on first glance I see how people consider this cover "generic" (ooh, guy in armor with a sword, that's new), I think people are missing out on the details in that cover that will only become apparent once they've read the text. They might appreciate Whelan's work more, then.
Nah, cause his cape is blue. It looks like E______ to me. Gold armor.
Clearly this means Eerongal, because i'm that awesome.
(also: i would be sad if an author ganked my name for their book :( Would make me less unique)
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How have you gotten on the reading list? And how can I join? August 17 is just not going to come soon enought for me!
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How have you gotten on the reading list? And how can I join? August 17 is just not going to come soon enought for me!
by being good friends with brandon :P
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Myabi and Inkthinker? When did you meet brandon? I feel very left out, but then I haven't been on for ages...
So is there going to be a thread to theorize about the first book, because from the bits and pieces I have put together I have a few...
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Miyabi has been going to Brandon's major signings for over 3 years. And Inkthinker worked on some of the art in the book.
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Miyabi has been going to Brandon's major signings for over 3 years. And Inkthinker worked on some of the art in the book.
doesn't miyabi also take like classes he teaches or something at BYU or whatever?
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It is kinda cruel to talk about the alpha-read in front of the other fans. Plus, it's hard to talk about it at all without spoilers, and I really don't want to spoil anything in this, aside from saying that I think it's really, really good.
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It is kinda cruel to talk about the alpha-read in front of the other fans. Plus, it's hard to talk about it at all without spoilers, and I really don't want to spoil anything in this, aside from saying that I think it's really, really good.
Yeah, I wanted to say something about that, but couldn't find a polite way of saying "Please, please, PLEASE SHUT THE **** UP!" Both about the tiny spoilers and the fact that some of you have gotten to read it already. It's like your deliberately rubbing our noses in your exclusive club memberships... It's been beginning to grate on me a bit...
Edit: Okay, that came off harsher than I intended. Sorry about that... been a stressful day...
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I actually like the suspense. If I had already read it, all this discussion of what could be and what couldn't be wouldn't be as much fun I think. I think alpha readers get the short end of the stick, they may get to read it earlier but it won't be at the level of enjoyment that it could be if they got it when they released in August. They have to analyze it and give opinion on previous copies. Can't purely sit there and get engulfed into the scene. That's my opinion of alpha-readers. It may be completely wrong as to what is expected of them. :)
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Edit: Okay, that came off harsher than I intended. Sorry about that... been a stressful day...
No apology needed. It is, as the Brits say, "a fair cop".
The nice thing about the alpha is that it's not the final draft, and so even for those of us fortunate enough to get a peek there's new material to look forward to. Even the latest draft I've read will change from the version I'll hold in my hands six months from now.
But in the meantime, I would not want to spoil the new book for new readers, nor would I care to risk my nascent association with Brandon by flapping my loose lips. So while I'm dying to talk about it, this is a public forum and it's a private subject. I think it's important that we wait until everyone can join the party.
And then we'll rock this joint until the roof falls in. ;D
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Cheers Ink. :)
Miyabi has been going to Brandon's major signings for over 3 years. And Inkthinker worked on some of the art in the book.
doesn't miyabi also take like classes he teaches or something at BYU or whatever?
I think Miyabi is just a superfan. FRR and some of the other newer posters take Brandon's BYU classes.
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I don't think there are that many TWGers in class. In fact, the only other one I can think of Erik, but I haven't seen him in class for a while. And of course there is Mr. J. Is that who you're thinking of?
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I only sat in on class once, becaiuse it's a 4 hour drive.
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I don't think there are that many TWGers in class. In fact, the only other one I can think of Erik, but I haven't seen him in class for a while. And of course there is Mr. J. Is that who you're thinking of?
That sounds quite probable.
I only sat in on class once, becaiuse it's a 4 hour drive.
Oye! You stay out of this! We'll tell you what you do and dont do!! :P
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I only sat in on class once, becaiuse it's a 4 hour drive.
Oye! You stay out of this! We'll tell you what you do and dont do!! :P
Oops, my bad. Proceed, please.
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Four hour drive? Superfan indeed, lol. :)
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I'm jealous... my drive is probably over a day :'(
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I love the cover I agree his name could be a little smaller and glad that TOR has bought four books of this series can't wait to dig into to it...
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The art is amazing, but isn't the name oversized? Instead of making epic name and middle-sized title, it should be the other way around, I think.
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I'm jealous... my drive is probably over a day :'(
Mine would be undersea. :D
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Like to see that drive.. ;D
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So, I was surfing around Book Depository, and stumbled across this:
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780575097353/The-Way-of-Kings
I'm assuming it's the UK cover, but I'm not sure. Reminds me of the UK Mistborn covers, actually...
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That is a beast of a cover.
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Yeah, that's the UK cover.
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Looks to be done by the same artist who did the Mistborn series. It isn't amazing, but I think it is better than the US version. I may just import it.
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I can't say I like it. The details are wrong.
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I can't say I like it. The details are wrong.
The plate seems to be OK, except the helm seems off. The sword is way off I agree.
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His right hand seems to have way smaller fingers than his left hand. That's been bugging me for weeks.
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Well, guess I'll be buying the US editions again. ;)