Judging By the Cover (Opinion)

Don't judge a book by it's cover is probably one of the most common idioms in all of the english language. Put metaphorically, it simply means not to make a snap judgement about something, or someone based totally on appearance. It makes sense as human are still animals, in a survival situation making an instant mental decision could be what saves you from a predator or a poisonous food.

Nowadays, however, humans are generally safe from predators and in the first and second world, the expression means to give things a chance.

But I'm here to argue against that, specifically in regards to books. Now every rule has it's exceptions, Yu-Gi-Oh cards taught me that one, but generally a book with a good cover sets you up for a good time.

Now, obviously, the cover of a book does not change it's content (barring a reworked edition). So the only difference a cover can make is to wet ones appetite or set one up for excitement. Take for instance the sci-fi novel, The Werewolf Principle. Now I use this example because it has a myriad of covers.

Here are a few.
 

The Current edition of the book.

An early edition of the book.

Now, while these two aren't drastically different in terms of quality they have different implications. The left, a modern abstract monochrome flurry that emphasizes the name of the story rather than the picture. The cover was an afterthought, not meant to grab someone's eye in a book store. This is the copy available on Amazon. The right is an earlier version of the book, with a colorful, and cosmic design, a medical slant. An eyeball, a cutaway of a wolf, and a circulatory system. It brings one back to the late 60s, and reminds one of sci-fi classics such as The Andromeda Strain.

Here are some more covers.

A reprint. Russian artwork I believe.

The second edition.

This one should be obvious, which book looks more exciting? The full-color, metallic cyber-dog howling in front of a full moon? Or a drab pen and ink sketch that looks like it was done on the back of a napkin at a diner?

The point should be obvious. Without a good set-up, even if the content is the same, the excitement of a book could be totally lost on the reader, assuming they know nothing of the book or author. Covers shouldn't be misleading, but they should capture the most exciting aspects of a story, and sci-fi especially is very easy to do this.

This next picture is the cover for the audiobook.

WOW

Pardon my french, by this is FUCKING TERRIBLE. It looks like a fat man wearing a dog hat. Not only is this a poor representation of what happens in the book, but it looks ridiculous and not in a good way. And again with the monochrome! What do people have against color?

OK so how did I stumble upon this book, by science fiction maven, Clifford Simak? Well, I was just looking through pictures on google and I stumbled upon this painting.

Take that in for a moment.

Isn't that incredible? It's a full color masterpiece by sci-fi artist Frank Kelly Freas, and it really does the book justice. In fact, I'd say that this painting is TOO good for the book, but that's not really a problem. Not only does it capture the grand scale of the adventure, but it casts an imposing alien wolf into the sky. Villain? Phantom? I won't spoil it, the book is short enough for you guys to give it a read yourselves.

Oh and I highly recommend giving Freas' work some attention. He sadly passed away in 2005, but his library of over 50 years of painting still exists and it is lovely. Unfortunately, the Kelly Freas website is not the best source to view his work. It's old and clunky, and has limited examples of his amazing work. A google search will do you much better.

Some make the argument that visuals detract from the imagination of a story, and having a complex or specific image in one's mind while reading can be distracting. I don't buy it.
I think you need that spark to the start the fire. Sure lightning might strike the wood and it might light up all by itself, but matches will get the job faster.

And that's what they are, matches. Let a good cover light the fire of reading within you and set off an a fun literary adventure.