10 Book Covers That I Really Like (also, homework)

There are a few steps to getting a book out into the world. There’s the actual writing, which is slow and uninteresting, but then there are fun parts. Bright shiny parts.

Like thinking about possible covers.

I remember making a cover myself, long ago, in an effort to help myself visualize the fact that one day I might actually have a book. It was terrible and odd but it served an important purpose.

My publisher, however, has now informed my that it is time for us to start thinking about actual covers. He suggested that I send him pictures of a few that I really like, for us to use as a starting point.

In other words, we are at the start of the bright shiny part of this book-publishing journey.

However, instead of just sending images of covers to him (and seeing as you, dear readers, are now part of this journey to publication) I decided to showcase them here.

So here they are – my 10 favorite covers of recent years.

These are not in any particular order, though looking at them now I would place my fellow Icelander’s cover in the #1 spot. Or Agents of Dreamland.

1. Drood – Dan Simmons

I had not heard of Dan Simmons when I first saw Drood (I think). The cover somehow captured my eye and upon reading the back cover I had to have it. It’s a fictional retelling of Dickens’ last five years, a time when Dickens was in a train accident and turned, well, dark. So much of the book is true that I became a Dickens fan after this.

2. The Passage – Justin Cronin

The book could really be about anything, judging by the cover. The first chapter is one of the best first chapters I’ve ever read in a book – hands down. I haven’t watched the series they made yet, and I don’t think I will.

Great cover though.

3. Brúðan – Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is one of three Icelandic thriller writers that have made it overseas (soon the be four?). Her covers are hit and miss for me but this one is just absolutely fan-fucking-tastic! One of my favorite book covers ever.

I haven’t read the book though.

4. An Unkindness of Magicians

I think I gasped when I saw first saw this cover for Kat Howard’s magician mayhem-drama. I really like the book, utterly adore the cover.

5. Wanderers – Chuck Wendig

A cover that just oozes atmosphere. Somehow very fitting and understated.

6. Agents of Dreamland – Caitlín R. Kiernan

Of the covers here, this is the second one that just really stands out to me. This is the sort of cover that I would like to see for WHITESANDS in September.

7. I’m Thinking of Ending Things – Iain Reid

Love this. Nothing more to add. Oh, I met Iain Reid here in Iceland, at the launch of the Icelandic translation. I now have a signed copy of this wonderful, odd, creepy, mind-bender.

8. Finch – Jeff Vandermeer

Finch is one of my favorite books. It’s about a fictional city that has been taken over by mushroom-people with sharp teeth. The whole city is infested with fungus and is slowly rotting away. Finch is set with the task of solving an odd double-murder as he also tries to find a way out of the city before the mushroom-people complete the construction of a pair of towers that might possibly destroy everything.

9. Almost Insentient, Almost Divine

A great collection from Undertow Publications, who somehow get great covers on ALL their books.

10. This is How You Lose the Time War

Nothing to add really. Just look at that cover.

If you think, looking at these, that you know of a cover I might like, please mention it in the comments.

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