[Khellendros]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet. The cover for the Sub Press Deadhouse Gates limited edition has been revealed and it's...controversial.

Here's a link to it on Pat's blog: http://fantasyhotlis...-of-steven.html

I'm not sure who it's meant to be. Apsalar? Felisin? Or an abstract depiction of the Whirlwind? While it's very nicely drawn, it doesn't seem to have the DG vibe to me. Hopefully the illustrations inside the volume will be more representative.

[Tyr]

I'll be honest and flat out say its not good. GotM cover was bad ass. WTF is this? There are so many more things they could have done and this was a really poor choice of cover.

Even something abstract to represent Chain of Dogs or Tremorlor or the Whirlwind. Whilst the picture is well designed, it just does not fit and is 100% underwhelming.

[Crow Clan Baby]

Don't really like it. OK, it's nice to have something unique and different for a limited edition (that is the whole point after all), but the original cover was so iconic that it would always be a hard act to follow and I don't think this one does enough.

[TaxManATX]

I think this would be great as art in the novel, but I agree it is defintiely underwhelming for cover art. Looking at the artists portfolio, it seems to me like she just drew something she was comfortable with to slap on the cover. I'm a bit nervous to find out what the other illustrations will look like. I really hope we get to see a proper rendition of the fall of Coltaine, especially since I've been considering getting a quarter-sleeve based on that scene but I'm not artistic at all.

[POOPOO MCBUMFACE]

That's... damn generic. Might as well slap a chainmail bikini on her and be done with it. The series is just being made to look like stock fantasy fare. Not impressed. I found the Rake one pretty generic too, tbh, but at least it looked cool.

[wade]

I think it's a pretty interesting take on DG, and fits the book's feeling somewhat... It's just that damn font! Deadhouse Qates? Lates? Urghgh.

Her style looks promising for the rest of the artwork though.

[Seal]

I like it. Juxtaposed against the GotM cover the two come across as balanced - male and female, lots of swirling smoke etc. I think theres probably more in the cover than first appears.

[Hetan]

It's a pretty enough picture - just really disappointed in it I guess.

Looks like a generic pic - bears no relationship to any scene that I can call to mind? Apsalar? nope - it's just not her.
Felisin? perhaps although I'm not convinced by the pose.
Who else? Not Sha'ik that's for sure.
Lostara? nope. Has this artist ever read any of the book? I dunno. But if this is the cover - which to my mind should be WOW! - I don't hold out much hope for the rest of it

Of all the epic scenes that could have been used - why choose to do this? Makes no sense to me.

[Puck]

I had high hopes for the artist's work on this, so I really hope the illustrations will be better than the cover...

[Abyss]

My take is less generous - It looks like she's shitting out a pair of sandals and wiping her butt with the dagger.

[Abyss]

Seriously, look at that pic... where the fuck are her legs? how are her feet BENDING like that?

I defy anyone on this forum to sit in that position for thirty seconds, let alone do so while coyly glancing at a big sharp letter opener behind their back without carving half their right asspart off.

[worry]

Anyone who'd draw yet another pale white fantasy lady on the cover of Deadhouse Gates, of all the books in the series, couldn't possibly have even a passing familiarity with the story.

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 12 July 2011 - 08:54 PM, said:

Seriously, look at that pic... where the fuck are her legs? how are her feet BENDING like that?

I defy anyone on this forum to sit in that position for thirty seconds, let alone do so while coyly glancing at a big sharp letter opener behind their back without carving half their right asspart off.

I do that position all the time to disengage from people's guards in jiu-jitsu (reach back to loosen feet with my own legs placed as such). It's perfectly normal and within regular bodily limits.

I'm in full agreement with you that this is a strange choice to have as the cover illustration, but it does provide a striking counterbalance to Anomander Rake's image from the first book. I think it's Felisin as she becomes Shaik.

It's hard to not ape the wolves of sand image from the DG edition most of us have and I can see why they chose that image. The style of it bodes well for the rest of the art that will come - in my opinion.

[TaxManATX]

amphibian, on 12 July 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

Abyss, on 12 July 2011 - 08:54 PM, said:

Seriously, look at that pic... where the fuck are her legs? how are her feet BENDING like that?

I defy anyone on this forum to sit in that position for thirty seconds, let alone do so while coyly glancing at a big sharp letter opener behind their back without carving half their right asspart off.

I do that position all the time to disengage from people's guards in jiu-jitsu (reach back to loosen feet with my own legs placed as such). It's perfectly normal and within regular bodily limits.

To perform the half tortoise pose, you actually start out in a very similar position as the woman on the cover and I believe you hold the pose for at least 90 seconds. The environment is even very similar... Bikram yoga is practiced at 104 degrees F. The only thing missing is the blade, which would definitely cause some trouble I think!

[Puck]

TaxManATX, on 13 July 2011 - 06:05 PM, said:

To perform the half tortoise pose, you actually start out in a very similar position as the woman on the cover and I believe you hold the pose for at least 90 seconds. The environment is even very similar... Bikram yoga is practiced at 104 degrees F. The only thing missing is the blade, which would definitely cause some trouble I think!

It's still not a fitting pose and image for the cover of DG.

[Jonny]

I agree, with the sheer amount of amazing scenes to choose from, this was the one picked. Very peculiar.

With GotM I preferred the LE cover easily, but with this one.. I prefer the original.

[Dolmen 2.0]

most Hardback covers employ something of a "less is more" approach

Maybe they were trying to keep most of the action in the book something of a surprise?

Im no expert but It feels like a marketing ploy to me...not the best marketing ploy
but marketing departments tend to get away with random evil.

[HedgeWalker]

Rubbish.

Ubiquitous uninspiring non-contextual well-drawn pretty nonsense.

But then; it's only a front cover, if my choice of books was based on the front cover, I'd have not got past Memories of Ice's (Bantam) Generic Warrior posing with Fire Background...
But then; it's a special edition, I want it to 'look' awesome to make it worth paying for.

[Kanese S's]

I guess it's supposed to be Apsalar?

I dunno, I like the regular cover better. The one with the distant riders and swirling dust storm. Just seems better suited to, well, I guess, what I think of when I recall Deadhouse Gates. Specifically, the Whirlwind Rebellion, and the resulting Chain of Dogs. Yes, Apsalar is in DG, but she's not the first character that comes to mind when I think of DG, despite being one of my favorite characters in the series.

[sting01]

Abyss, on 12 July 2011 - 08:54 PM, said:

Seriously, look at that pic... where the fuck are her legs? how are her feet BENDING like that?

I defy anyone on this forum to sit in that position for thirty seconds, let alone do so while coyly glancing at a big sharp letter opener behind their back without carving half their right asspart off.

Well, seems you do have some physical problemes with your body mate. That is a normal position in many martial or combat sport.

To me, it would SYMBOLISE (read not a physical description, but the symbol) of Surly/Larseen; a woman who does not do what others would do; and ready to strike while doing b.j. ( another case where a lady use to be like that, at least where I live).

IF my last remark is not conform to the forum rules, pls the moderators accept my apologies and delete it. But it is a fact of the life, it is not?