“Nights of Villjamur” UK Paperback Cover

November 16th, 2009 · 20 Comments

Here’s the UK paperback cover for Nights of Villjamur. As you can see, it’s quite different from the original, and the yellow font will be gold-embossed on the physical copy. The photo work was by Richard Jones.

This will be published in June 2010, alongside City of Ruin in hardcover.

Tags: Nights of Villjamur · art · news

20 responses so far ↓

1 Aishwarya // Nov 16, 2009 at 12:52 pm

I suppose a cover with a person on it was inevitable. But I really like this, though not as much as the HB.

When is the paperback out? (and congratulations!)
2 Mark C Newton // Nov 16, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Thanks! I shall make an edit – it’s out June 2010, side by side with City of Ruin in hardcover.
3 James // Nov 16, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Coolio!
4 hagelrat // Nov 16, 2009 at 5:34 pm

yeah the hardback wins in terms of style but this is another great cover.
5 Julie Crisp // Nov 16, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Can I just add that the colours are really much better than this on our print outs! I’m not sure why it all looks so grey. It’s more ominous teal-looking sky with shadows – not quite so monochrome…
6 Mark C Newton // Nov 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm

I’ve just seen the slight grey tone on one or two of the bloggers’ sites. Strange, since it’s the same image. I think it looks strong either way!
7 Neil // Nov 17, 2009 at 12:47 pm

He looks nothing like Russell Brand
I assume it’s Randur on the cover?
8 Mark C Newton // Nov 17, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Hey Neil. Well, pretty close…! And yep, that’s the chap in question.
9 Neil // Nov 17, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Probably best not to be too similar or lawyers would be calling.
I’m not a huge fan of the “human on the front” fantasy cover but it seems a good one for that approach. At least he isn’t wielding his sword in the generic fashion.
At the end of the day, I already have a copy so you don’t need to convince me to pick the book up at a store.
10 Pradipta // Nov 17, 2009 at 9:41 pm

I would have approved of this more had they managed to convince you to model for the cover.
11 Alex Carnegie // Nov 17, 2009 at 11:58 pm

Agreed re. “human on the front” covers” – much prefer my lovely hardback, minus Byronic swordsman. Congrats though Mark!
12 Mark C Newton // Nov 18, 2009 at 8:15 am

Good heavens – I’d love to make the modelling suggestion to my editor just to see the reaction on her face.

Thanks, Alex. In all honesty, I couldn’t decide between them. They very different, each pressing different buttons for me and commercially. I’ll settle for the one that sells the most books!
13 Pradipta // Nov 18, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Go for it!

I like the cover, by the way. Only one question: why Randur? Not *his* book, precisely…
14 Mark C Newton // Nov 18, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Well, it’s no one character’s book, but his is as good a viewpoint as any, I guess. Brynd will most likely make it to book two (and has on the hardcover).
15 Pradipta // Nov 18, 2009 at 5:55 pm

‘Well, it’s no one character’s book…’

So you picked the prettiest one, I see.
16 On Artwork // Nov 18, 2009 at 7:07 pm

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17 Stefan Fergus // Nov 18, 2009 at 7:29 pm

It’s not bad, but I think it’d look better without the fellow on the cover. Keep it bleak, snowy, and just the city in the background. That’s my 2p contribution to the discussion.
18 Neil // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:11 am

I’m a stat fan (and scientist) so ideally would like to see dome figures that back this “guy on the cover” claim. They must exist or publishers would be wasting time and effort.

Your point on being similar to other books strikes me as odd. George RR Martin’s “A song of ice and fire” series and Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of time” series, in the uk at least (I’ve seen the god-awful fantasy art covers) all have emblems on the front. These seem to do pretty well and seem like good books to grab a comparison off for your series. They have the benefit of building a reputation already but the sales by cover similarity argument still stands.

I don’t know what the original “Twilight” covers were but the most common ones are the ones with chess pieces etc on them.

I’m not for or against the covers. (although I actually think it makes sense to change from hardback to softccover (you may even get collectors buying both). I’m just pointing out that the article arguments for the “model cover” can also be applied to the “non-model” covers too.

I think an excellent compromise are seen in R.Scott Bakkers “prince of nothing” series which probably keeps everyone happy and still manages to maintain its own identity.
19 Neil // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:13 am

oops. The above post should be in the “on artwork” discussion. Is it ok if i post it again in the correct place?

I got caught up in my rant!
20 Mark C Newton // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:20 am

Sure- repost away!