Face Out Books
by davidadurham on Nov.13, 2009, under David Anthony Durham, Jeff VanderMeer, Paul G. Tremblay
As I’m always happy to admit, I really don’t know what makes a good cover - not in terms of speaking to and grabbing tons of readers, at least. I do know what I like, and recently there have been a few covers that seem like winners to me. I realized a good way for me to pick out covers that I obviously like is to note which ones I’ve “faced out” on my bookshelves. I like to break up the spines on my shelves with covers facing into the room every now and then, and clearly I gravitate toward images that essentially serve as artwork in my room.
One is Paolo Bacigalupi’s Windup Girl cover. The strangeness of it, the fusion of the ultra-modern with a distressing indication of poverty and decay sparks my interest.
I find the this cover of Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker to be very attractive too. It promises adventure and fun, even though the image is limited to a single character’s face. Maybe it’s because it’s so obvious she’s seeing things that I’m not at the moment, but that I could if I read the book…
In terms of epic fantasy, I rather liked both of Ken Scholes’ covers for Lamentation and Canticle.
In some ways they are traditional to the genre, but they have a look of high-quality to them. Maybe it’s the historical novelist in me, liking that they feel like classic paintings of some distant historical moment.
And I quite like the cover for Kay Kenyon’s City Without End. It’s another one that I have facing out on my bookshelf. I just want to go to this place, to see and feel and smell the atmosphere there. That’s a pretty good thing for a cover to invoke. What about you? Ever use your books as artwork? For interior design?
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Scree has been wiped from the face of the land in a brutal demonstration of force. While those responsible scatter to work on the next step in their plan, the stakes are raised--all the way to the heavens--as the gods themselves enter the fray.
November 13th, 2009 on 5:49 pm
I often face out books on my shelves, too. I’m glad to know that I’m not alone.
The Boneshaker cover is my favorite steampunk cover so far.
November 13th, 2009 on 6:18 pm
Well, I once actually built a sort of mural out of actual books. Arranged and attached them to a backing and hung ‘em on a wall. Looked pretty great, actually, though I had to take it apart eventually for a move. Might do it again someday, though. Book as art object - bibliophiles always loved it. Well, everything except the nails…
November 13th, 2009 on 8:46 pm
I need more shelves so I can face out books.
David: I agree on the Boneshaker cover. It draws you in completely.
November 13th, 2009 on 9:50 pm
Karl Schroeder’s Sun of Suns cover is pretty striking, too. It’s just wtf enough and just cool enough to make you wonder what’s inside.
November 14th, 2009 on 12:21 pm
Morgan, you must have a lot of books.
Bryan, the very idea of a book and nail sends shivers through my writer’s bones.
Paul, we’ve got this one long room in our house, with no windows on the main wall. A while back I designed shelves using brick and boards that covered all of that long wall and a good section of another side. It was way more space than I had books at the time. That’s actually why I started facing books out, to use up more space. Five years later, however, and I’m finding the available space is definitely dwindling…
Adam, I just looked up the Sun of Suns. Yeah, it’s cool. Duly noted.
November 14th, 2009 on 1:39 pm
Don’t worry, David, I didn’t spike any of your books…
November 15th, 2009 on 11:45 am
Okay. Thank you. I’m personally relieved.;)