Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Peter Ahlstrom on January 20, 2007, 12:23:17 AM
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Over at Ken Jennings' blog (http://ken-jennings.com/blog/?p=286) he said the following:
The cover art he showed us made me think Scholastic is hoping Alcatraz will be The Next Harry Potter, so maybe Brandon will be a billionaire this time next year.
Has there been a thread on this before that I just missed? Or are you not allowed to share this information on the intertubes yet?
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Tentative Mock up here:
(http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/alcatraz.jpg)
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Ha ha ha ha...I like it a lot! Nice face in the lens.
Karen says he looks way too much like Harry Potter and should have a different haircut/hair color...
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I am buying this book; I like what I heard at Brandon's Reading. I am also making a friend of mine purchase it since she reads alot of 'young adult' fiction :)
I sincerely hope it sells substantially, generates a positive buzz, and gives Brandon at least 5% of the monetary success that J.K. Rowlings has experienced!
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Thanks, Shuez!
Ookla,
I tried and tried to get them to make his hair to be blonde, or at least have blonde highlights, but Scholastic said. "That's silly. He looks nothing like Harry Potter! And...uh...if he did, it wouldn't be intentional at all. Nope."
I think I'm out of luck there, though I can't complain too much, since I love the cover otherwise.
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I think it's a pretty awesome cover and have no problem with how Potterian he looks. :)
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He actually looks surprisingly like EUOL when he was that age which I think is cool.
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Ooh, the conspiracy deepens! Scholastic obviously has access to some Librarian time travel device--this is obviously all a clever attempt at misdirection by hiding the truth in plain sight.
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It really is a fantastic cover. I mentioned in the Mistborn paperback thread how covers affect my decision to buy a book from an author I am not familiar with. The Elantris cover, made me buy the book. If I did not already know Brandon's work, then the Mistborn cover would have influenced me to purchase the book. Again--If I did not already know Brandon's work--the Alcatraz cover sitting in the 'new arrivals' section of B&N or Borders would emphatically make me purchase this book.
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I love this cover!
However, if I were EUOL, I also would have asked to make Alcatraz look less Harry-Potter-ish. Why couldn't he have blonde hair? Or a lighter shade of brown? Or even brown eyes--not greeny blue, which also tie back to Potter. What's wrong with the blonde, brown eyed children of the world?!? (I ask this partly because I was a blonde, brown eyed child when I was young. ;))
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My younger sister is a so-dark-brown-it's-almost-black-eyed blonde! Coincidence? I think not!
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I *really* like this cover and I think it will attract people. I know that that is what attracted me to the Harry Potter books. I remember walking through the BYU bookstore, seeing it on a display, and thinking, "That looks like an interesting book. I should check it out." Surprisingly I had not heard of Harry Potter at this point. Anyway, it was finals and so I didn't have time right then, but when I went home for Christmas, my sister had it and because I recognized that it was the same book from the store, I immediately read it.
My only issue with the cover is the title, "The Battle over the Bag of Sand." What happened to the Sands of Rashid? Sounds much cooler than bag of sand. Other than that, it looks very cool.
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But the new subtitle sounds goofy, a point in its favor. (Though the "o" in "over" should be lowercased.) "Rashid" may prove unpronounceable for many children.
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Oh, I'm sure they'd catch on. We're talking middle schoolers, so that sort of thing I really don't worry about.
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I like the cover art for this book very much :D If I had children in this age range I would definitely buy it for them. I might just buy it for them now and let them grow into it. After I get to read it first that is ;)
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Fun cover, Potteresque feel and all, though I think it's hilarious that Scholastic couldn't see any resemblance there. As for the new subtitle, I think it adds a smidge more humor/interest to the book because a bag o' sand seems like a much more ridiculous thing to squabble over than the "sands of Rashid" which could be a whole country. Not that I know--I didn't read this ms. But it looks like a zestful romp of a book, based on the cover. I'll probably buy it for my cousin and read it myself too.
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Heh. A very fun cover. But, I wonder whether having a model on the front cover could cause some (probably minor) casting problems in the future should Alcatraz ever become a movie.
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My 7 year old is reading Harry Potter and Bridge to Tarabithia granted they are my copies but the way they teach phonetics to kids these days, she sounds out most words or asks for my help. More often the problems come in her understanding the language and defining some words but she was using words like, actually, in context at age 4. My 3 year old uses scrumptious, in context. (I do not baby talk my kids. I say a word they don't understand and they ask. next thing I know is they are using it.) So Rashid.... not too hard to believe they would figure it out. Or ask once and most kids would remember it especially if they are enjoying the book. However, the subtitle is kind of fun. Battle over the Bag of Sand... now why on Earth would you fight over sand, even a whole bag of it? And what does that have to do with evil Librarians? If I did not know Brandon's work I would buy it out of curiosity. because there has to be more to it than just sand.
Potterishness aside, nice cover.
Kel
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I also like the battle over the bag of sand. It adds an element of silliness that is both appropriate for the book and very intriguing. Like people have said, it begs the question, "Why would you battle over a bag of sand?"
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I can't wait to read this book, even if it is young adult. Heck, it might even end up on the bestseller list!
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I can't wait to read this book, even if it is young adult. Heck, it might even end up on the bestseller list!
I agree 100%. I'm fairly new to Brandon's work, but absolutely loved both his books so far (as have at least 5 other people I've shared them with).
I saw the name Alcatraz in various places on his site, but had no idea it was a young adult book. That makes me even more anxious to read it. I was never really a reader growing up, but during college I got into the Harry Potter series, which converted me. I think I hated reading in school because it was always 'work' to read. There was some deeper meaning or something I had to analyze, which in general turned me off.
With Harry Potter, I discovered that reading can be fun. There are plenty of books out there that you can just come home from work or what not, sit back and enjoy. Just easy reading that is pure entertainment, something you can just dive into and smile about without putting a lot of effort into. I love books like that.
The first few books I read (HP series, Narnia and Eragon series) got me so in tuned with the 'younger' books, that when I first read a larger series (GRRM's) I felt a little weird reading about all the 'adult' things that took place.
I've yet to read something from Brandon I didn't find absolutely brilliant. I can't wait to pick this one up and see how he does with a slightly different goal.
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I would suggest trying the Warbreaker book, which is his online offering, if you haven't already. :) He is accepting, and asking for, comments and any suggestions about this one, and in my opinion it is coming along nicely. I think that you will enjoy it, especially if you like his others.
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I would suggest trying the Warbreaker book, which is his online offering, if you haven't already. :) He is accepting, and asking for, comments and any suggestions about this one, and in my opinion it is coming along nicely. I think that you will enjoy it, especially if you like his others.
I have been very tempted to do so. I need some kind of fix while waiting for the next Mistborn book. The only thing keeping me from doing so thus far is the digital format. I'm so used to grabbing a book and hitting one of my overly comfortable reading spots. I'm not sure if I could sit for long periods reading text on my computer screen. I will probably give it a shot. Chances are I'll get so into it I won't even realize I'm scrolling my mouse instead of turning pages.
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Warbreaker is a traditional Sanderson book you can know what to expect from. Alcatraz is narratively a departure from his older-aimed books and is much more experimental.
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Phaz, if you're REALLY hooked on your reading spot, you can always print out the pages and read them. Once you catch up, it's not so bad to read the one chapter a week on-line. It's well worth the time investment.
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I don't like how Harry Potterish the boy looks, but I like the title font (like an old serial) & the subtitle. Cover aside, it's a really fun book: like a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy aimed at the Young Adult crowd.
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Full jacket art here (warning, it's about a meg in size):
http://www.brandonsanderson.com/graphics/Alcatrazjacketlong.jpg
Deseret News just decided to do a feature article on me, which should be pretty cool. I did an interview/photoshoot. We'll see what they come up with.
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Karma-wise, this definitely makes up for the Mistborn 2 cover. ;p
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Scholastic is doing a great job with this so far. And just because I don't think I've said it enough:
Middle grade! Middle grade! Middle grade! ;)
(Not that teens won't love it, too, I'm sure...)
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[size=10]I love how the cover art makes Brandon sound Lemony-ish.[/size]
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I really like how this turned out. I can't wait to read the finished product! ;D
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I like the cover, but it does look like it is trying to trick people into thinking that it's another Harry Potter book. Obviously, if someone reads the cover and knows anything about Harry Potter books, they will not be fooled, but I don't think scholastic is thinking of those people. No, Scholastic has designed this cover so that Grandparents (who can only read in 20 point font) will buy this book, thinking that it's just another silly book that kids read these days and soon, Scholastic and EUOL will be filthy rich until the next Harry Potter knock-off cover comes along.
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That sounds like a good plan. Go Scholastic!