New artwork for Bukowski paperbacks

[TDjazz]

The new covers are cheesy-looking; as another poster noted, they look like clip art. I just bought Women with the original cover, which, as you all know, features an original drawing by Buk--it can't get any better than that.

 

[Bukfan]

You're so right! How in the world could they even think of replaceing the original cover (with the Buk drawing). The novel and the drawing goes together. At least they should go together. And not only that, they even changed the size of the book..:(

 

[Domator]

For luck they chanced only three books and the rest from Ecco have still an original covers. Women, The Post Office and Ham On Rye are still available with original covers (thanks god).

 

[Bukfan]

But will they reprint those three with original covers when the stock is gone, that's the big question!

 

[roni]

Let's be Real - it isn't a question, that Ecco will slowly take over. This includes the covers, sure.
Let's not fuck with COVERS anymore. Doesn't make sense in the long run. (for a German, used to disapointing covers, this is an easy claim, sure!)

what we REALLY should be concerned about is:
Will they keep publishing ALL the books?
Or may some of them appear to not bring the profit they expected - and VANISH from the market ... ?!?
What'll happen then?

 

[Bukfan]

well, I do worry about those covers because I don't wanna see this trend continuing and the look of the covers relates directly to the question of keeping the books in print! A book with a good cover sells better than a book with a bad cover! And the BSP covers have prooved to be popular!
Aside from that, I think it's too early to tell if some titles will vanish from the market. I guess some will - eventually. Unless Buk's popularity stays the same or maybe even increases some titles will vanish. But what to do about it? Can we do anything? And what could that be? I really don't know...

 

[mjp]

what we REALLY should be concerned about is:
Will they keep publishing ALL the books?
Or may some of them appear to not bring the profit they expected - and VANISH from the market ... ?!?

Actually, the Ecco brand exists at HarperCollins strictly to market a large catalog of older, smaller, or slow selling titles, so that will probably not happen. Their expectations for the Ecco titles are not great.

In the world of mass market publishing, Bukowski is small potatoes. So don't expect Ecco to ever give his work the same attention that Black Sparrow did, as far as the physical and aesthetic quality of the books is concerned.

 

[jordan]

plus, how do we know that the BSP covers were popular, except among us die-hards that post here? i know it's crass to think of marketing focus groups debating which cover "grabs" you more, but i don't think it's a stretch to imagine that putting info about bukowski, as well as a summary of the book on the back, may increase sales, especially in the high-volume channels like borders. i'll eat my words in a decade if i'm wrong, but there are so many BSP paperbacks floating around in the marketplace, i can't imagine that the original covers won't always be available for the people that want them.

 

[Bukfan]

You're probably right, Jordan! A summary and some info about the dirty old man on the back and a picture of two girls kissing on the front, done with nice colors and on glossy paper, will sell more copies of Women I'm sure. Maybe it's just us die-hards who prefer the old covers and wants future readers to enjoy them too. If new covers can help keeping most of the titles in print, then it's a good thing, I guess.

 

[hank solo]

Brace yourselves...

New UK edition of Come On In!:

From Canongate, who also put out Hollywood last year:

 

[Father Luke]

They like those paisley type things don't they?

We'll look back on this in fourteen years and wonder what the hell?

 

[HenryChinaski]

dude, those covers are fuckin awesome. what are you guys talkin about?
i like that hollywood cover better than the black sparrow one.

 

[Father Luke]

It's kind of trendy.

Well, I'm talkin about how things change.

I like the three dimensional effects on Come On In!
Notice the shadow of Bukowski and his smoke.

I wonder how I will feel about it in 14 years.

I Like the Hollywood design.

Both have those paisley things I mentioned.

They are both rather indicative of the times,
and I wonder what they will look like to my eye in 14 years.

 

[mjp]

They aren't as horrifying as those harsh photograph covers of the camel toe and the false uppers in a glass. But yeah, the repeating swirl decoration is odd. Maybe they intend to do that on every cover and that is how they unify them.

As long as they don't change the words. ;)

 

[Father Luke]

They aren't as horrifying as those harsh photograph covers of the camel toe and the false uppers in a glass.

I missed the camel toe one.

 

[mjp]

Well, this didn't come from anyone here on this forum, mind you, I got it from someone at Ecco, ya dig? You know, remaining nameless and all that. Good.

 

[Father Luke]

Yep. That's a camel toe.
Actual cover?

Should I ask about the false uppers?

 

[Rekrab]

My first impression of the two new covers is "ugly."

 

[hoochmonkey9]

I think the paisley swirly things are an attempt at "branding" by Canongate.

 

[Gerard K H Love]

I always thought Ham on Rye would make a good book for high school english classes. The camel toe edition would take some heat. Of course someone would want equal billing and request a male version. What kind of toe?

 

[HenryChinaski]

Yep. That's a camel toe.
Actual cover?

Should I ask about the false uppers?

lol, nah i posted that a while back before they re-released the three novels with new cover art. that was one of the ideas floating around. my friend designed them and he was throwin around a bunch of ideas. it was hit or miss and i guess he missed on all of em. ahahaha.

 

[Father Luke]

so lets see the false uppers

 

[mjp]

I'll have to post that from home. Images are on the home computer. Unless someone else saved them...

 

[HenryChinaski]

 

[1fsh2fsh]

lol, nah i posted that a while back before they re-released the three novels with new cover art. that was one of the ideas floating around. my friend designed them and he was throwin around a bunch of ideas. it was hit or miss and i guess he missed on all of em. ahahaha.

no offence to your friend, HC, but those are just wrong!!

 

[Father Luke]

that's funny.

thanks much-o