Terry Pratchett - Going Postal (Review)

Well, I liked it. It feels like he's on another high (if he acually ever was in a low) and the last few books, including this one (but excluding the monstrous regiment) were very good. At times quite serious but still plenty of jokes to go round Especially liked: the nickname he gives his girlfriend, the avid pin collecter and the wheel designed by BS Johnson

 

I know that Kirby was a great talent and it's not easy to replace him, but I agree that the current artist chooses quite a different style - calmer, clearer less mad But in a way this is keeping in line with the books - since Night Watch the last few books have had some rather serious overtones. And this seems to be the case even with the Tiffany Aching stories, which are supposedly primarily aimed at children.

BTW, well noted that the plot is virtually a re-read of the Truth. I was wondering why it all seemed familiar

 

Oh. I see what you mean... Sorry for the mixup, I just assumed that you miss Kirby in general. I had no idea American covers were different. Why do they change them? Part of the charm (and from a marketing point of view, the advantage) is that you can spot a stack of discworld books a mile off in a bookstore - very distinct design - especially true for Kirby's...

 

Wow. That is ugly. Back home, almost all of the Pratchett books I've seen have had the good covers. Hmm, maybe I (and my public library) just shop at the right places.

 

Aaarghh! My eyes! My eyes!

Anyone got acid or smething?

 

Has anyone seen those rather plain black covers they've started introducing now?

They're actually rather good.

 

I think I know what you are talking about. Although they are not the original covers, they are still nice (I a copy of "Pyramids" with that cover).

 

Yes.

They're rather similar to the Harry Potter 'adult' covers, although they're better executed.

 

Frankly, I prefer my old-covered, SIGNED copy of Pyramids..

 

One day, I will let all our (that is: mostly my sisters) Terry Pratchett books, may they be german, or english, be signed by the Master. And that's a lot.

 

Speaking as an 'American' I wish I could answer the question of why they (we) change covers. I've often wondered that myself. The only thing I can figure is that American Publishers assume that residents of the USA don't have any taste. Some of us do. Me, for one, of course.

 

Just a note -- not all US fantasy book covers are bad -- the covers of Heroes I and II trilogies are quite awesome -- the artist is Duane O. Myers and his work is quite beautiful.

 

Same thing is assuredly hampering the sales of Steven Erikson in the US. The changed the covers from beautiful, stylish, moody images which had something to do with the books to a cover with a chick in chainmail and a knight on horse back, rendered in poor quality. None of which appear in the book. Those who buy books because they have a cover like that would probably not enjoy Erikson and those who would enjoy him are probably frightened off by the cover. Tragic.

 

yeah.. i thoguht you guys might've been exaggerating, the cover is pretty bad

 

The cover question is bugging me too. But every book has a cover for the European market and a different one for the American market. Every book in the fantasy and horor genre at least. And the simple explanation I've come up with for myself is, that the conventions on art and looks are completly different on both continents.

I am quite postitive that no one would buy a book with an American cover in Europe. And I bet that the same goes vice-versa. No Noth-American would buy a book with an European cover. (or mabye "in general"). And that's the reason why the covers of every book are changed as a rule. It has to be so, because a book couldn't be sold otherwise.

And I've been wondering about that since I once had a book with an American cover and I've been embarrased to be seen with it. On the other hand, that seems to be a matter of taste. And too make a fuss about taste is useless and leads to nothing.

And it is every book, one can easily compare it on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. And if WoTC covers are an exception, I think it's because they control the distribution of the their books world-wide without relying too much on local partners and sell their books mainly through their brand and their "whole concept" that goes with it. A publisher like voyager couldn't sell any Robin Hobb or Tad Williams book with their American cover in any regular European book-shop. People just coudn't bear to look at the cover. This must be a difference of visual conventions. And in the case of Tad Williams's "Otherland", I think they managed to mix both graphic-conventions to a common-ground that appeases both tastes.