Really dreadful book covers

[Nuclear Optimism]

Absolutely slapdash. Mao isn't even in it! He was killed off in the previous book.

[Nuclear Optimism]

[billtheburger]

[The Widow of Brid]

I've not read the book itself, only been told about it, but aren't these covers massive spoilers?

Spoiler alert

The lead character is only revealed to be a mouse later on?

[close]

I could easily be wrong though.

Ah man, please tell me you're not joking with that misapprehension.

Anyway, as Blue Jam said, you should read it. It's genuinely great.

[Frazer]

Worth digging up the thread for this classic...

[Funcrusher]

A collection of three novels in the classic Richard Stark(Donald Westlake) Parker series deserve better than this, probably the worst cover on my bookshelf.

[Don_Preston]

Sent to the Gulag for being an elf.

[billtheburger]

[holyzombiejesus]

Just because it looks like a fanny, doesn't mean it's a good cover for your grotty little book.

[Don_Preston]

Kramer and his friend Nick Cave visit the country.

[Inaniloquent]

On the subject of those Gollancz ones: I've got an SF Art book with a section on the artist who did those covers, and there's pages of stuff about the research he does to construct the perfect image and find the perfect models and stuff. I've not read the books and I don't know him or anything, but I feel I must defend him just a little. Let it be known: he did try!

I can scan it in or something if anyone wants a read.

[holyzombiejesus]

Rob Ryan style cut outs are the new neon pink shopping bags and martini glasses.

I was just looking for some and came across this, for 1984.



I'm not sure if I think it's any good or not. It's a neat idea but ...

[stunted]

The point where Gil-Martin assumes the form of a goblin:


See also the adaption by Thomas Harrison:

[billtheburger]

MORE

[Bingo Fury]

Well, she sounds like a psycho.

[Don_Preston]

MORE

That's how Courtney Cox got her break, sadly.

[pigamus]

Yes, it's real.

[Thomas]

Rob Ryan style cut outs are the new neon pink shopping bags and martini glasses.

I was just looking for some and came across this, for 1984.



I'm not sure if I think it's any good or not. It's a neat idea but ...

I like it. Don't know if you've seen it in the real life, but it's got a nice effect -

[Gavin M]

MORE

A few years ago there was a pile of books my dad's house, on the top of which was an 80s Mills & Boon-type book with a very similar cover to this.  I was 99% sure that the model on the cover was a young Doon Mackichan.  Sadly I didn't get a picture of it and the internet tells me nothing.

[Bored of Canada]

Has anyone mentioned this one yet? I was talking about Confederacy of Dunces with a friend once and she explained she was planning on reading it but the cover was so horrific that she literally never bothered.

[Queneau]

Has anyone mentioned this one yet? I was talking about Confederacy of Dunces with a friend once and she explained she was planning on reading it but the cover was so horrific that she literally never bothered.

She should wait until she comes into contact with the fucking words!

Do audiobooks count?

[pigamus]

[pigamus]

[billtheburger]

I sort of like that book cover.
Is the lady adorning it 70s porn come proper actress, Brigitte Lahaie?

[Frazer]

They all come proper by the time...

File this one under so bad it's actually quite good

[pigamus]

[pigamus]

[pigamus]

[billtheburger]

Didn't need the splooge on that last cover did we?

[Thomas]

Fifteen out of fifteen swastikas, impressive rating.