Due in no small part to the cover, this book is on my To-Read list.
From the Amazon description, it deals with “a near-future world that turns from the merely horrible to the horrific, from a fool’s paradise to a bio-wasteland.” which includes “human-like creatures called the Children of Crake.”
The cover does a wonderful job of depicting the mutation humanity undergoes, while also referencing a new beginning and a fall from grace by using Eve as its subject. The type selection, with it’s hard angles and futuristic forms, places the book in the Sci-Fi realm without being corny about it.
The paperback, (see below), is also really nice, though missing most of the concept that makes the hardcover a classic.
I must say how refreshing it is to see a science fiction cover get due diligence for once.
Hey Ben BTW I saw your canticle cover and thought it was damn cool but I’d agree with the above and say I wouldn’t have thought this was science fiction either, just MOR sexual exploration/transgression I guess
I was reading this book in my 3rd period class, and my friend looked at it and said he recognized the cover. He said it was from a painting by “hieronymus bosch” and was called “the garden of earthly delight”. This painting was made up of 3 parts. One was meant to resemble heaven, one hell, and one the Earth which was filled with sin. The middle one is the earth one with sin, the left one is heaven and the right one is hell. You you look at the left one, at the top right corner, it is the same as the cover to the book, with the creatures, the weird mountains and trees. Look closely and you’ll see it. I have no idea how my friend noticed that, it’s kind of freaking me out. Im on page 350 or so of the book now. So i have like 100 to go. Maybe my question will get answered in there. But if anyone knows why that portion of that painting is used as the cover of this book, please e-mail me and let me know.
Thanks.
Due in no small part to the cover, this book is on my To-Read list.
From the Amazon description, it deals with “a near-future world that turns from the merely horrible to the horrific, from a fool’s paradise to a bio-wasteland.” which includes “human-like creatures called the Children of Crake.”
The cover does a wonderful job of depicting the mutation humanity undergoes, while also referencing a new beginning and a fall from grace by using Eve as its subject. The type selection, with it’s hard angles and futuristic forms, places the book in the Sci-Fi realm without being corny about it.
The paperback, (see below), is also really nice, though missing most of the concept that makes the hardcover a classic.
I must say how refreshing it is to see a science fiction cover get due diligence for once.
— Ben Pieratt, 2006-02-01 08:17:00
It’s wonderful, as is most of John Gall’s work. I’m perplexed as to why the paperback is so different and inferior.
— Joseph, 2006-02-01 13:19:00
The trick to getting sci-fi taken seriously by the Literati seems to be using classical painting elements in your covers.
— Eric J, 2006-02-01 15:34:00
haha. true.
I did the same thing on that Canticle for Leibowitz cover.
— Ben Pieratt, 2006-02-02 06:50:00
Agreed on classical painting.
Sophistication.
— benjamin kinzer, 2006-02-06 10:56:00
I never would have thought this book was science fiction even with there font selection. Im not sure if I love this cover or hate it.
— Eric Durr, 2006-02-16 22:09:00
Hey Ben BTW I saw your canticle cover and thought it was damn cool but I’d agree with the above and say I wouldn’t have thought this was science fiction either, just MOR sexual exploration/transgression I guess
— Nick, 2006-05-25 05:25:00
I was reading this book in my 3rd period class, and my friend looked at it and said he recognized the cover. He said it was from a painting by “hieronymus bosch” and was called “the garden of earthly delight”. This painting was made up of 3 parts. One was meant to resemble heaven, one hell, and one the Earth which was filled with sin. The middle one is the earth one with sin, the left one is heaven and the right one is hell. You you look at the left one, at the top right corner, it is the same as the cover to the book, with the creatures, the weird mountains and trees. Look closely and you’ll see it. I have no idea how my friend noticed that, it’s kind of freaking me out. Im on page 350 or so of the book now. So i have like 100 to go. Maybe my question will get answered in there. But if anyone knows why that portion of that painting is used as the cover of this book, please e-mail me and let me know.
Thanks.
— Matt, 2007-02-09 12:45:00
Probably my favorite book covers ever. Perfection.
— C-Dog, 2007-03-31 14:05:00