Words and Such art
The Urth list — 18 messages, 7 voices, 25 Oct 2011
https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/6084
James Wynn25 Oct 2011, 17:00
http://liamkruger.tumblr.com/post/11311695396/heyoscarwilde-gene-wolfe-once-did-a-story-about "Gene Wolfe once did a story about astronauts that had birds inside of them. "
Which story is he talking about?
Marc Aramini25 Oct 2011, 17:17
↳ in reply to James Wynn
leif in the wind
8 quoted lines
--- On Tue, 10/25/11, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote:
From: James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com>
Subject: (urth) Words and Such art
To: "The Urth Mailing List" <urth at lists.urth.net>
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 10:00 AM
http://liamkruger.tumblr.com/post/11311695396/heyoscarwilde-gene-wolfe-once-did-a-story-about "Gene Wolfe once did a story about astronauts that had birds inside of them. "
Which story is he talking about?
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to James Wynn
There was what I thought was a recent one that was more or less about this called 'Lief in the Wind' - collected in Stories, edited by Neil Gaiman. Great idea and a few finely worded moments, but not one of my favourites by Wolfe.
-DOJP
8 quoted lines
↳ in reply to Daniel Petersen
Also, why can't the quality and style of the Wolfe-inspired art at this link ever be one of Wolfe's book covers instead of the (what is to me) atrocious genre-inbred kitsch that usually wraps up his literary art that is itself at the opposite end of the spectrum?
-DOJP
14 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:18 PM, Daniel Petersen <
danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com> wrote:
There was what I thought was a recent one that was more or less about this called 'Lief in the Wind' - collected in Stories, edited by Neil Gaiman. Great idea and a few finely worded moments, but not one of my favourites by Wolfe.
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote:
↳ in reply to Daniel Petersen
His short story collections typically are better, but I agree that none are as good as this. Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't expect to make a lot of money off them and so the Art Director did not get involved. Wolfe claimed that expectations of increasing sales is the reason the covers of The Book of the New Sun volumes got worse with each release.
25 quoted lines
On 10/25/2011 12:25 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
Also, why can't the quality and style of the Wolfe-inspired art at this link ever be one of Wolfe's book covers instead of the (what is to me) atrocious genre-inbred kitsch that usually wraps up his literary art that is itself at the opposite end of the spectrum?
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:18 PM, Daniel Petersen
<danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com
<mailto:danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com>> wrote:
There was what I thought was a recent one that was more or less
about this called 'Lief in the Wind' - collected in /Stories/,
edited by Neil Gaiman. Great idea and a few finely worded
moments, but not one of my favourites by Wolfe.
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com
<mailto:crushtv at gmail.com>> wrote:
http://liamkruger.tumblr.com/post/11311695396/heyoscarwilde-gene-wolfe-once-did-a-story-about
"Gene Wolfe once did a story about astronauts that had birds
inside of them. "
Which story is he talking about?
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to James Wynn
How have I not consciously noticed that before about the short story collections? You're absolutely right, James, and it's heartening. I now see that I had subconsciously registered this all along, but I think my conscious disgust and ire at the series and novel covers was choking out all distinction in my mind, heh. As weirdly plain and bright as that 'Gollancz 50' cover is for Shadow and Claw, I think it might actually be better than most of the others (definitely better than the Fantasy Masterworks version [shudder].)
-DOJP
20 quoted lines · 1–3 deep
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote: His short story collections typically are better, but I agree that none are as good as this. Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't expect to make a lot of money off them and so the Art Director did not get involved. Wolfe claimed that expectations of increasing sales is the reason the covers of The Book of the New Sun volumes got worse with each release.
On 10/25/2011 12:25 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
Also, why can't the quality and style of the Wolfe-inspired art at this
link ever be one of Wolfe's book covers instead of the (what is to me) atrocious genre-inbred kitsch that usually wraps up his literary art that is itself at the opposite end of the spectrum?
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:18 PM, Daniel Petersen <
danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com> wrote:
There was what I thought was a recent one that was more or less about this called 'Lief in the Wind' - collected in Stories, edited by Neil Gaiman. Great idea and a few finely worded moments, but not one of my favourites by Wolfe.
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote:
↳ in reply to Daniel Petersen
The cover of Starwater Strains is surely my favorite.
13 quoted lines
On 10/25/2011 12:50 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
How have I not consciously noticed that before about the short story collections? You're absolutely right, James, and it's heartening. I now see that I had subconsciously registered this all along, but I think my conscious disgust and ire at the series and novel covers was choking out all distinction in my mind, heh. As weirdly plain and bright as that 'Gollancz 50' cover is for Shadow and Claw, I think it might actually be better than most of the others (/definitely/ better than the Fantasy Masterworks version [shudder].)
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com <mailto:crushtv at gmail.com>> wrote:
His short story collections typically are better, but I agree that
none are as good as this.
Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't
expect to make a lot of money off them and so the Art Director did
not get involved. Wolfe claimed that expectations of increasing
sales is the reason the covers of The Book of the New Sun volumes
got worse with each release.
↳ in reply to James Wynn
Hm, out of what I actually own, I guess I might go for Island of Dr Death (purple skull) or Endangered Species (stick wings). This one's probably the worst I own:
http://www.saltmanz.com/pictures/albums/Cover%20Scans/Book%20Covers/Storeys%20from%20the%20Old%20Hotel.jpg
(The sheer hilarity value is almost worth it.)
-DOJP
14 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:57 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote: The cover of Starwater Strains is surely my favorite.
On 10/25/2011 12:50 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
How have I not consciously noticed that before about the short story collections? You're absolutely right, James, and it's heartening. I now see that I had subconsciously registered this all along, but I think my conscious disgust and ire at the series and novel covers was choking out all distinction in my mind, heh. As weirdly plain and bright as that 'Gollancz 50' cover is for Shadow and Claw, I think it might actually be better than most of the others (definitely better than the Fantasy Masterworks version [shudder].)
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote:
His short story collections typically are better, but I agree that none
are as good as this.
Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't expect to
make a lot of money off them and so the Art Director did not get involved. Wolfe claimed that expectations of increasing sales is the reason the covers of The Book of the New Sun volumes got worse with each release.
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to Daniel Petersen
The art for Wolfe's books is so hit and miss! The Richard Bober illustrations for the Long Sun books are awesome, and particular favorites of mine. This one, one the other hand, not so much:
http://www.lwcurrey.com/pictures/114676.jpg. As I recall, Severian was the opposite of nonchalant (chalant?) at that particular scene.
24 quoted lines · 1–3 deep
The cover of Starwater Strains is surely my favorite.
On 10/25/2011 12:50 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
How have I not consciously noticed that before about the short story collections? You're absolutely right, James, and it's heartening. I now see that I had subconsciously registered this all along, but I think my conscious disgust and ire at the series and novel covers was choking out all distinction in my mind, heh. As weirdly plain and bright as that 'Gollancz 50' cover is for Shadow and Claw, I think it might actually be better than most of the others (definitely better than the Fantasy Masterworks version [shudder].)
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com> wrote:
His short story collections typically are better, but I agree that none
are as good as this.
Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't expect to
make a lot of money off them and so the Art Director did not get involved. Wolfe claimed that expectations of increasing sales is the reason the covers of The Book of the New Sun volumes got worse with each release.
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin
Yeah, that is pretty hilarious. And, yeah, I've always those Long Sun covers were not bad - especially compared to most other Solar Cycle stuff.
-DOJP
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes25 Oct 2011, 18:20
↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin
2 quoted lines
See, now, I actually like that one -- and in fact, the first three Maitz covers for tBotNS. I recognize, in retrospect, that they aren't very good representations of the action, but they are associated in my mind with my first discovery of Wolfe.
I agree with who said that the story collections get the best covers. I particularly like -- I don't remember which one it was -- the one with the dog.
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes
Antonin Scriabin25 Oct 2011, 18:24
↳ in reply to Dan'l Danehy-Oakes
9 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 2:20 PM, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes <danldo at gmail.com>wrote: Antonin Scriabin wrote:
See, now, I actually like that one -- and in fact, the first three Maitz covers for tBotNS. I recognize, in retrospect, that they aren't very good representations of the action, but they are associated in my mind with my first discovery of Wolfe.
I agree with who said that the story collections get the best covers. I particularly like -- I don't remember which one it was -- the one with the dog.
--
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to Daniel Petersen
The cover on the original Operation Ares paperback pretty good. The cover on the original paperback for tIoDDaOSaOS was better than the one with the purple skull. I preferred the paperback cover of "Endangered Species" with the giant pollen spore to the stick wings one. Usually, however, the original covers to the Long Sun volumes were atrocious IMO. It's the original edition novels that tend to be the worst offenders.
However the original covers and illustrations for The Wizard Knight, Pirate Freedom, and And Evil Guest are very good. Usually, it seems the best his first editions can hope for is to be unoffensive.
J.
35 quoted lines · 1–2 deep
On 10/25/2011 1:04 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
Hm, out of what I actually own, I guess I might go for Island of Dr Death (purple skull) or Endangered Species (stick wings). This one's probably the worst I own:
http://www.saltmanz.com/pictures/albums/Cover%20Scans/Book%20Covers/Storeys%20from%20the%20Old%20Hotel.jpg
(The sheer hilarity value is almost worth it.)
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:57 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com <mailto:crushtv at gmail.com>> wrote:
The cover of Starwater Strains is surely my favorite.
On 10/25/2011 12:50 PM, Daniel Petersen wrote:
How have I not consciously noticed that before about the short
story collections? You're absolutely right, James, and it's
heartening. I now see that I had subconsciously registered this
all along, but I think my conscious disgust and ire at the series
and novel covers was choking out all distinction in my mind,
heh. As weirdly plain and bright as that 'Gollancz 50' cover is
for Shadow and Claw, I think it might actually be better than
most of the others (/definitely/ better than the Fantasy
Masterworks version [shudder].)
-DOJP
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:29 PM, James Wynn <crushtv at gmail.com
<mailto:crushtv at gmail.com>> wrote:
His short story collections typically are better, but I agree
that none are as good as this.
Probably, the collections are not as bad because Tor doesn't
expect to make a lot of money off them and so the Art
Director did not get involved. Wolfe claimed that
expectations of increasing sales is the reason the covers of
The Book of the New Sun volumes got worse with each release.
_______________________________________________
↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin
From: Antonin Scriabin
3 quoted lines
The art for Wolfe's books is so hit and miss! The Richard Bober illustrations for the Long Sun books are awesome, and particular favorites of mine. This one, one the other hand, not so much:
http://www.lwcurrey.com/pictures/114676.jpg. As I recall, Severian was
the opposite of nonchalant (chalant?) at that particular scene.
It’s nice that they did something different. Not so nice that they did it so horribly. [ ] would read on train [x] would not read on train
- Gerry Quinn
Gerry Quinn25 Oct 2011, 19:15
↳ in reply to Antonin Scriabin
From: Antonin Scriabin
2 quoted lines
The one with the dog is Starwater Strains. As far as bad representations of
the action / plot / setting, this one is also really bad.
It was originally for Fifth Head of Cerberus, for which it’s a nice image except that like loads of versions it has been printed with washed-out colours which really hurt that particular illustration.
My Endangered Species cover shows a boat on Gyoll which is quite decent (in every respect, no nude mermaids in sight).
- Gerry Quinn
Marc Aramini25 Oct 2011, 19:25
↳ in reply to Gerry Quinn
--- On Tue, 10/25/11, Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com> wrote:
From: Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Words and Such art
To: "The Urth Mailing List" <urth at lists.urth.net>
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 12:10 PM
From: Antonin Scriabin
5 quoted lines
The art for Wolfe's books is so hit and miss!? The Richard Bober illustrations
for the Long Sun books are awesome, and particular favorites of mine. This
one, one the other hand, not so much:
? the opposite of nonchalant (chalant?) at that particular scene.
It’s nice that they did something different. Not so nice that they did it so horribly.
[ ] would read on train
[x] would not read on train
- Gerry Quinn
That was the first Wolfe book I ever saw, I was like in the fourth grade or so and my father's co-worker gave me all his used sci-fi magazines and SFbook club hardback books after he was done with them. Claw of the conciliator, book club hardback with that illustration?- I had to go look for Shadow and buy a used paperback to read it.
I might read it on the train just for the snickers, then I could start extolling his literary virtues to the disbelief of my fellow passengers.
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes25 Oct 2011, 19:26
↳ in reply to Marc Aramini
I would have no problem reading it or any Wolfe book on a train. But I generally remove the dustwrapper from hardcovers while I read them.
33 quoted lines
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 12:25 PM, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at yahoo.com>wrote:
--- On
Tue, 10/25/11, Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com> wrote:
From: Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Words and Such art
To: "The Urth Mailing List" <urth at lists.urth.net>
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 12:10 PM
From: Antonin Scriabin<
http://us.mc1618.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kierkegaurdian at gmail.com>
**
> The art for Wolfe's books is so hit and miss! The Richard Bober
illustrations
> for the Long Sun books are awesome, and particular favorites of mine.
This
> one, one the other hand, not so much:
>
http://www.lwcurrey.com/pictures/114676.jpg. As I recall, Severian
was
> the opposite of nonchalant (chalant?) at that particular scene.
It’s nice that they did something different. Not so nice that they did
it so horribly.
[ ] would read on train
[x] would not read on train
- Gerry Quinn
That was the first Wolfe book I ever saw, I was like in the fourth grade or so and my father's co-worker gave me all his used sci-fi magazines and SFbook club hardback books after he was done with them. Claw of the conciliator, book club hardback with that illustration - I had to go look for Shadow and buy a used paperback to read it.
I might read it on the train just for the snickers, then I could start extolling his literary virtues to the disbelief of my fellow passengers.
_______________________________________________
↳ follows, by subject match Dan'l Danehy-Oakes
You may be looking in the wrong place. By far my favorite cover of Wolfe's work, from a Japanese edition of Claw:
http://www.elevenland.com/amano/viewA.php3?picImage=tlaClawOfTheConciliator.jpg
Regards,
Nick
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