Just a few days ago, I threw up some links to a few sites that review book covers, and some folks talked about how they can’t help but visualize the covers to their stories, even though they realize any kind of art might not live up to their (or the reader’s) imagination.
Well, if a good cover image can help get a book noticed, what happens when the image turns out…not so good? Maybe campy. Or just a jumble of story elements thrown into a picture.
Here is a visual list of Bad Book Covers for you to peruse. Maybe you won’t think these are all bad, since art in itself is a subjective media. But many of these could definitely use some help. I think a favorite is the one for The God Emporer of Dune, on page 3. The comment says it all.
I see that smile.
Okay, I looked at them all. Some were bad just because they were 30 years old and look dated. But some were just… bad. Like the authors did their own covers.
My eyeballs feel assaulted.