Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Sabetha — Thu, 04/02/2009 - 19:44
...is a let down.
Really? Really!? That's just lazy, guys.
For those who don't recognise it, it was the cover for The Bastards and The Knives, one of Scott's nonexistent novellas. Hmm, well, maybe it means we'll be seeing the book some time soon?
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Icarus — Fri, 04/03/2009 - 02:34Lazy, yes.
Understood, however, considering that he is late on the book, so why should they do anything other than photoshop a default cover?
"As I get older I realize, more and more, that life is way too precious to waste on dignity."
-Jim Butcher
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Sabetha — Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:02Surely if it's late they would have had plenty of time to make a new cover? I mean, the American version got one out early last year. Unless this was oringally intended to be the RoT book cover and not The Bastards and The Knives *shurgs*
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Icarus — Sat, 04/04/2009 - 03:21It seems strange to be the cover for either book. I think it is rather boring.
I'm not even going to think about the status of the novellas if he does not have book 3 finished.
April 16 is the deadline I read on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist that Scott has to submit the books if there is any hope for 2009 release.
"As I get older I realize, more and more, that life is way too precious to waste on dignity."
-Jim Butcher
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Sabetha — Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:58In all honesty, I couldn't care less about the novellas. I'd rather Scott concenrate on getting the main books out on time, and if those novella are out over the next few years, I'll consider it a pleasant bonus.
I actually quite liked the cover, but now I'm a bit confused. I assumed it was based around something specific in the novella, but if they changed it to be RoT's cover maybe it's just a pretty picture, which I think is a shame. At least with LoLL and RSURS the covers were directly linked to the content.
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
TheSpider — Sat, 04/04/2009 - 21:03I'm a bit confused. I guess you found this cover on Amazon UK. But it looks like a doctored cover of The Bastards and the Knives to me...
If my memory is correct, this cover was released early last year as the cover of the 2 novellas to be published in a omnibus.
It made sense for these novellas to have such a generic cover (BTW it is the beautiful dome of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican - if I am not mistaken). But it seems a bit too generic for RoT - unless such dome has a crucial significance for the plot...
I'm not a big fan of the Spectra cover but at least it is definitively connected to the story...
It seems that Gollancz's covers are often inspired by Bragelonne's covers these days (French publisher; their covers are GORGEOUS). I'm trying to contact them...
For some reason, I thought that Scott had finished the novellas' manuscript a while ago (news, anyone?). This would mean that the novellas would be published before RoT? To be honest, I am not SUPER excited about them, but I'll be happy to get anything at this point....
Also, something strange... in 2006, when Scott announced the deal, he said that he signed with Subterranean Press. This means that Gollancz could not publish the novellas for some time since SP holds the rights... Why would Gollancz release a cover so early, while we haven't even heard of SP's version???
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Cerys — Sat, 04/04/2009 - 23:33On a more encouraging note (hopefully), Amazon.co.uk have a release date of Nov 19th '09, but now they also have a product description up (which is the first I've seen:
Original here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0575084472/ref=s9_wish_c5_i2?ie=UTF8&coliid=I23DLDJ1BKUONM&colid=1MDRS3RHF5P2X&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0DF2C4AJNSMKAMVQPM4D&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463374933&pf_rd_i=468294
Thoughts? Speculation? Random screaming?
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
TheSpider — Sun, 04/05/2009 - 02:41A few thoughts (for what it's worth...).
I do understand that Locke can be a total ass, but what on earth has he done to her to deserve that? "Sabetha has just one goal - to destroy Locke for ever." I've always thought that they could not get along because they are too pigheaded and competitive to be in a healthy relationship, but now it sounds like it was a lot more complicated and something really bad happened between them. :shock:
FYI, another blurb was posted on Amazon.com. I pasted it here for your convenience since I can't find it on their website anymore, but beware it is too detailed for some people....
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Sabetha — Sun, 04/05/2009 - 15:02That's coz it is ;)
Yeah that's the old blurb released sometime last year. It's floating round this forum somewhere, too.
Yeah I totally agree. I read and it was like, woah. Maybe she's proper crazy, like they keep saying in the books. Maybe whoever wrote that blurb was being a bit too OTT. *shrugs* Still exciting though :D
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Roland of Gilead — Mon, 04/06/2009 - 17:34The plot sounds wonderful to me, and with Lynch's skills as a writer, guaranteed to be one of the best novels of the year.
Unfortunately, IMHO, that year will be 2010. :cry:
I think we have a better chance of seeing A Dance with Dragons before Republic of Thieves. I never thought I would say that. :o
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
TheSpider — Tue, 04/21/2009 - 15:05Orion has just released their new catalogue with a Nov 2009 date for the release of RoT. Note also the cover...
http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/extras/catalogues/OrionNewBooks_July2009-Jan2010.pdf
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Akaia Autumngold — Tue, 08/11/2009 - 16:00Link's broken. Have found a catalog here:
http://www.mcarthur-co.com/cataloguesSpring09/Orion-spring09.pdf
Not sure it's the same one, no mention of a release date, no cover art - just a picture of SL.
Summary:
Maybe it's just me, but a woman who needs someone dead seems slightly different from someone who wants someone dead. It's almost impossible to speculate accurately, but maybe she doesn't bear him that much malice after all - more like indifference, with external forces pushing for his death?
All in all very interesting, can't wait to actually get to the bottom of this.
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
TheSpider — Wed, 08/12/2009 - 03:07I've edited my post. See p. 38 of the catalog.
Indeed, it could to imply that the Bondmagi have a way to force Sabetha to do their bidding. I'm wondering what it might be... My guess is that it is more complicated than the usual "otherwise you'll die." Is someone else involved?
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Icarus — Wed, 08/12/2009 - 03:22What am I missing? The catalog that was posted has 37 pages.
"As I get older I realize, more and more, that life is way too precious to waste on dignity."
-Jim Butcher
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
TheSpider — Thu, 08/13/2009 - 14:38Link in my previous post:
http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/extras/catalogues/OrionNewBooks_July2009-Jan2010.pdf
Re: Republic Of Thieves UK Coverart...
Sabetha — Thu, 08/13/2009 - 15:11That's very interesting speculation! Yeah, I doubt Lynch would make it so boring. She's a bit older than Locke, so maybe she has children they could threaten? Maybe a gang of her own? I can't wait to find out! I'm thinking she doesn't WANT locke dead anyway, or else she wouldn't have disappeared for so long.
I just seriously hope that
singhforthewin — Wed, 10/28/2009 - 15:16I just seriously hope that she doesn't die somehow, it would seem a little cliché. Also i hope that speculation isn't true! It seems a little too close to the first two books where Locke is coerced into doing something or face his death. Hopefully Scott will mix things up a little bit.
Anybody heard anything else
Elfy — Sat, 10/31/2009 - 14:04Anybody heard anything else about the UK covers. That'll probably be what we get out here. We got the UK cover for The Gathering Storm, which was merciful because there's something about Darrell Sweet's cover art that never looks quite right.
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)
Last I heard, it's still as
Sabetha — Sun, 11/01/2009 - 14:49Last I heard, it's still as you see at the top of this topic. Pretty, but lazy. They've still got a year to change it though, so you never know.
That's really disappointing.
Elfy — Mon, 11/02/2009 - 09:18That's really disappointing. Even when that was the mooted cover for the anthology I was kind of ?. What does that mean? It doesn't give any idea of what the book or the books are about, in fact it seems to send the wrong message. I think that cover is total crap, they'd be better off putting it in brown paper. Having said all that I'm far more interested in what's between the cover than the cover itself.
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)
You're right. I think it's a
Sabetha — Mon, 11/02/2009 - 17:12You're right. I think it's a pretty cover, but that's it. At least with Lies' and Red Seas' cover it gave some indication to the setting/plot. This could be slapped on any novel of any genre.
I think that possibly they're
Elfy — Tue, 11/03/2009 - 05:31I think that possibly they're looking at using that cover as the UK version and the other one for the US. Lies had totally different covers in the two. I was so glad that I got the US version, although most don't agree with me I preferred the cover, and I got the Camorr map which wasn't in the UK version that was in bookstores out here in Oz. Plus the one I bought cost me less!
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)
Gollancz just released to
TheSpider — Mon, 05/24/2010 - 18:14Gollancz just released to James from Speculative Horizons the UK cover art. http://speculativehorizons.blogspot.com/2010/05/exclusive-look-at-uk-art...
I can't manage to insert it in this post!
SPOILERS
It is gorgeous! I love the Venetian influence. I think this must be Locke and Sabetha as the novel will be centered on the couple. It's interesting because the building behind them has a cupola, just like the one seen on the old cover.
Gosh Sabetha looks scary... But it's funny because she's not facing Locke as the blurb seems to hint. She almost seems to be protecting him with her arms extended.
And Locke almost has her back to her. I hope this bode well (or rather not too dramatic!).
The only thing I don't like - but this is because I'm a girl and I love clothes - it is the sleeves of her dress... Ugly!
Wow, what a stunning
Sabetha — Mon, 05/24/2010 - 17:15Wow, what a stunning cover!!!! Love the Venetian masks, I have two hanging on my wall from Venice ^__^ I have to disagree with you, though, Spider! Even though you might be completely right (and it makes sense that you would be considering RoT's plot line), I get the feeling that the people on the front are bondsmage, or even entirely different characters yet to be introduced :3 *shrug* call it a hunch! (Though I do agree with you about the sleeves, hehe)
My only gripe is that it doesn't fit the theme of the last two Gollancz covers, which focussed on scenery. I think it would've been nice to have a running theme, but this cover is damn beautiful too - and it certainly grabs attention.
Makes you think, wouldn't it be a neat twist if everyone had to wear masks so Locke and Sabetha didn't know when they were 'fighting' eachother? Even if they do know of eachother's presence as a whole, it must be disconcerting not knowing exactly who you're speaking to.
Oh... interesting! I had not
TheSpider — Mon, 05/24/2010 - 17:53Oh... interesting! I had not thought about this, but it is indeed another option! It really never occurred to me that it could be somebody else. The girl on the US cover is almost without any doubt Sabetha (red hair, on a roof like a thief, etc...). She also carries a mask. So right away I made this connection.
But of course you could be right.
You're right; now that I think about it, the redundancy of masks is interesting and must be important in the plot. I think this is going to be a way to make Locke and Sabetha's reunion more dramatic. They won't know for a while that they are being pit against each other. Bondsmagi are really cruel!
And Lynch could totally pull
Sabetha — Mon, 05/24/2010 - 18:34And Lynch could totally pull off a dramatic unmasking scene too! Sounds right up his street.
The US and Uk covers are so different! AS you said, it's def Sabetha, but in comparison to the uk cover her mask is so plain!!
Amazing cover! I liked the
Elfy — Tue, 05/25/2010 - 07:36Amazing cover! I liked the old ones, but this is stunning. My initial thought was that it was Sabetha & Locke, but the male figure could very well be a Bondsmage. The way he's been drawn gives him that menace and he may be Sabetha's escort/guard to the ball.
I've posted the cover on my blog: http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com and mentioned that it is under discussion here as well. Cannot wait for March, which is shaping up as a great month for books next year.
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)
That was my thought, also,
Sabetha — Tue, 05/25/2010 - 12:39That was my thought, also, Elfy! The male figure does look rather menacing. I'm wondering if the female could be the Lady Patience of Karthain that Scott mentioned in a past interview? If I remember correctly, she's the Falconer's mother. But maybe I'm reading too much into the cover, ehehe.
I can't get past anyone other
Elfy — Sun, 05/30/2010 - 07:20I can't get past anyone other than Sabetha being the female cover figure. The knives just seem to be something I can imagine Sabetha wielding. Locke is the only one of the Gentleman Bastards who wasn't really good with weapons.
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)
I'm not sure how I feel about
Akaia Autumngold — Wed, 06/16/2010 - 10:01I'm not sure how I feel about this cover. It's such a departure from the others...and to be honest, I really really liked the US cover. Unfortunately I'm from England, so I guess I'll be stuck with the one I don't like!
I have a feeling that these are the book's villains. For some reason, I'm reminded of Selendri and Requin from RSUS...although I could be completely wrong and it could just be Locke and Sabetha after all. Though that seems a little obvious for this particular series.
I'm also going to have to deal with the fact that this will be my first hardback of the series...I hate having odd books that don't match. OCD librarianism is perfectly justifiable. B:
Hahaha, I agree with you
Sabetha — Wed, 06/16/2010 - 14:38Hahaha, I agree with you completely about OCD librarianism!! But obviously none of us are going to wait half a year for the paperback! I do like the cover, I think it's darkly pretty, but it's exactly as you say, too much of a departure from the first covers. I'm from England too so I'll be stuck with this cover, but I'll be so ready for the book by next year I wouldn't care if the cover was hot pink with sparkly hearts all over it.
Well, I like both but I'm
TheSpider — Wed, 06/16/2010 - 17:44Well, I like both but I'm happy with the US cover (where I live). I totally agree with you about the OCD librarianism but I'm lucky because I have all the hardbacks! I still think they don't really look like a set. LoLL is more whimsical. And I really like the original French cover http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=320546840406
hot pink with sparkly hearts all over it
I definitively think that's an option ;-D
I'm another OCD librarianist.
Elfy — Fri, 06/18/2010 - 08:40I'm another OCD librarianist. Publishers change cover art styles so often during long running series that it's almost impossible to keep your covers all the same during the series run. I liked the US covers for the 1st 2 books, but the one that we've been seeing is apparently the UK cover and I think for once the US & UK covers may match. Down here in Australia we'll get the UK one, unless I order it from O/S. Despite the fact that my covers won't match I'm still going for this one, it's awesome. They may even reissue TLoLL and RSURS with new covers to match as well.
Elfy (http://travelsthroughiest.blogspot.com)