One Book By, and One Book About, B.S. Johnson
Designers unknown
Off to the bookstore ASAP to find a copy of Like a Fiery Elephant; I have to know what's happening on the spine and the back.
I'm pretty sure this edition of Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry is out of print, so if anyone knows anything about this, please leave a comment.
Both of these would stop me in my tracks in a bookstore.
7 comments:
Oh my gosh, I love that cover for the first one. That's incredible! How wonderfully creative and unique! I think it's my favorite cover you've posted in a while.
The second cover, I like as an image. But I guess it's not very readable. The novelty can attract some, but too much effort needed to read. The vertical layout does not help things either.
Very hard to read, but engaging and original and nicely executed...
"Christie Malry" is credited to Julia Hember. Th back cover continues the theme, with the blurb and review quotes being typewritten on a crumpled piece of paper.
That's a nice touch with the theme continuing on the back, but I am still not convinced about the cover. It is very confusing and hard to make out the title etc. It is an elegant idea and fun. Not original. Obviously we have all seen the letters of a keyboard used to spell things out etc. But this feels nice an authentic despite that.
The first cover has very energetic typography, but, again, hard to read and make out at first glance. In an age of quick snippets of info, we have become accustomed to getting our fill of data at-a-glance. And while this is annoying to us artsy designers, it is our job to accommodate this realty in an attractive, fresh way, but within the trend and actuality of our time.
It may very well be, that we are entering into a time of poor design—as it was in the 70s (not only with publishing and disco—and i like disco—but with everything). Not because of us, but because of industry and the nature of information and communication in our time. The demand for sales in concert with a competitive field has left many of us producing shit. We may fight for higher standards, but we are not in the position (money is money) to say too much because we need to make ends meet. We need a rep. A person to fught for the rights of good book cover design.
Who will be that superhero? Who will be Book Cover Girl/boy???
The fact is there are many heros out there. And we have to become proper vessels for super-hero strength ourselves. Be dignified. Have reasonable loyalty and don't sell out. Strive for good taste. Know what is good and proper in context of the times and follow the example of the established leaders. And don't fear to become a leader yourself. But really be a leader. Don't bullshit.
Fuck it. I'm just blabbing. I'm concerned...
I almost never agree with ian-nothing personal
but you are right on here.
I'm afraid the first cover is skirting with looking like last years fashion.
The second cover-although the theme has been done before,is stronger, and more enduring in my opinion. but hey it's all opinion.
Personally I think this two covers are too busy and rushing. May be I'd understand if I read the book.
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