What did David Foster Wallace do to deserve such bland cover designs? It’s not like the guy isn’t well regarded in the literary establishment. His books sell. His topics range from the nature of infinity to Carnival ocean cruises, there’s ample material for visual ideas.
DFW: please, just give your friends at McSweeney’s press a call.
I’ve added one of his few decent covers below, which uses that “dark iconography” that Ben likes so much.
I agree about that this design lacks something, or more precisely, that it’s another in a long long series of such covers: Ian McEwan’s Saturday, Coetzee’s Slow Man, etc. Seems like an idea that’s run its course.
I have to disagree, in fact I was at the bookstore this past Sunday and I found this cover striking enough for me to turn my head and look at it for several seconds – perhaps 15 or so. The only reason I didn’t pick it up to read the blurb on the back? The author.
the lobster is WAVING at us. and asking us to consider it. i considered it, and i laughed outloud – i don’t know if that’s what the designer intended, but i spent more time on it than i do a lot of other covers…
What did David Foster Wallace do to deserve such bland cover designs? It’s not like the guy isn’t well regarded in the literary establishment. His books sell. His topics range from the nature of infinity to Carnival ocean cruises, there’s ample material for visual ideas.
DFW: please, just give your friends at McSweeney’s press a call.
I’ve added one of his few decent covers below, which uses that “dark iconography” that Ben likes so much.
— Eric Jacobsen, 2005-12-22 17:07:00
I agree about that this design lacks something, or more precisely, that it’s another in a long long series of such covers: Ian McEwan’s Saturday, Coetzee’s Slow Man, etc. Seems like an idea that’s run its course.
— Joe, 2006-01-11 18:51:00
Love that typeface though.
— Brix, 2006-01-12 06:12:00
I have to disagree, in fact I was at the bookstore this past Sunday and I found this cover striking enough for me to turn my head and look at it for several seconds – perhaps 15 or so. The only reason I didn’t pick it up to read the blurb on the back? The author.
— mathew, 2006-01-12 07:00:00
Ouch. Not into DFW huh? As fond as I am of this book (its been my subway companion for the last few days) I agree that its a terrible use of type.
— Jason, 2006-01-12 07:31:00
I think it is the composition that is lacking. Each element carries the same weight, visually. It has no finesse.
— Christopher Tobias, 2006-01-19 21:38:00
I wish the lobster image was replaced with, oh, a nutcracker would have been funny…
— dave, 2006-08-18 11:01:00
the lobster is WAVING at us. and asking us to consider it. i considered it, and i laughed outloud – i don’t know if that’s what the designer intended, but i spent more time on it than i do a lot of other covers…
— beth, 2007-04-18 21:00:00
I laughed to.
The Lobster waved and I laughed.
Its VERY effective.
— Adam, 2007-08-02 13:45:00