This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer and is currently hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog. This week the theme is a cover featuring grass, so I’ve gone with The Long Earth – Book 1 of The Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter.
This cover, produced by HarperCollins in June 2012, is the version I read. As a result, I have a real soft spot for it. I love the worlds lined up in the sky, which give a strong sense of the content and the world depicted looks very unspoilt and free from mankind – until now, that is. My one grizzle is that the author names, along with the title do tend to sprawl across the image rather intrusively.
This French edition was produced by L’Atalante in June 2013. Again, sweeping grassland features, although this is a world where humanity has already got a foothold with tracks, fencing and an airship. Again, those other worlds are lined up in the sky. I like the fact that the title and author is clumped neatly in one corner, which gives a far better sense of the immensity of the landscape.
Published in April 2016 by Nemira, this Romanian cover is my favourite. I love the solitude of the figure on the outcrop, staring up at the other worlds lined up in the sky. As well as the lovely landscape, there is also that stunning spacescape – this one has it all, in my opinion.
Produced in 2013 by Prószyński i S-ka, this is another effective cover. While I prefer the figure just standing, a little stunned, in the previous cover, the running man in this one is also striking and once again, the sky full of different versions of Earth is beautiful. It is very close contender for the favourite.
This Turkish offering, published in February 2014 by İthaki Yayınları, is another lovely cover with those wide vistas and multi worlds, but what spoils this one is the writing sprawling across the whole image, which is the same peeve I have with that first cover. However, all in all, I think Terry and Stephen were very lucky to have such a lovely lot of different covers. Which is your favourite?
I think all the selected covers are pretty good. Hard to pick a favourite but the Romanian is also my favourite!
Yes… I do think it edges it over the others, though it’s nice to have a week where there aren’t any duff covers:). Have a great weekend!
I like the Romanian cover too!
Fun fact I just discovered: The Turkish cover says “dunya” and the Hindi (an Indian language) word for “world” is loosely based on this one. It’s “duniya” in Hindi. Apparently, the Hindi “duniya” is derived from Arabic. You learn something new every day! 😀
You certainly do – because I didn’t know that, either! Thank you for taking the time to tell me, Shruti and have a great weekend:)
Good pick with the covers this week!
That French edition: getting a bit a Hobbit feel with green hills and fence 😀 but the Romanian one is my favorite as well.
lol… I hadn’t thought of The Shires, but you’re right – it does feel as if Bag End is just over the hill!
They are all surprisingly similar, but I think I like # 4 slightly more than the others. Lovely choice for this week😁
Thank you, Tammy. They are similar, aren’t they? But I suppose they didn’t want to mess too much with a winning formula:).
I like your choice too – it’s a shame about the first and last cover, they would both have been good except the text spoils them.
Lynn 😀
Yes – and it is such a shame, particularly as the beauty with both covers relies on wide, uncluttered vistas… That said, I think all the covers are good this week:)
I agree that all the covers are good, except for the text getting in the way. The Romanian one is the only one where you get a nice clear picture. Also how the worlds are laid out, it goes along with the theme of how the protagonists can step from earth to earth.
Yes – that’s why I like it so much – it’s always a bonus when the cover reflects the content:)
That’s a lot of green grass! For me, it’s hard to pick my favorite between the first and the last one…so I’m just gonna say it’s a tie! 🙂
Yes, I was very pleased with myself when I found this book in response to the theme, as I thought it was going to be really tricky:). But overall, I think they are all good.
Oh, my favourite is the French cover for sure. The expanse of grass, the line of planets in the sky, and the fact that the text let’s the image dominate. Love it.
Yes, it is another lovely cover – I think all of them are good ‘uns. Have you read the book?
I haven’t, and am unlikely to as I’m not a fan of Pratchett *hides*
Oh, that’s okay. I love his work, but I’m perfectly willing to concede he is very much an acquired taste:)
I don’t like the last one because of the reason you mentioned but the rest are really eye catching. I think my favorite is the one with all the different Earths in the sky.
It is lovely, isn’t it? Have a lovely weekend, Katherine:)
I like the first one and the 2013 one with the man running best. I immediately wanted to know WHY he was running. p.s. I haven’t read the book.
It’s a book about an invention that discovers how we can Step across to parallel versions of Earth and the adventures that happen when we do… It’s the ultimate escapist read! The Polish cover (running man version) is also one I love, too.
The Turkish cover is my favorite! How delightful to see them all.
I’m glad you like them, Bette – and there is something particularly special about the Turkish cover, isn’t there?
Wow these are all visually striking. I don’t think I can pick a favorite this time.
Yes, I was really pleased to be able to offer a selection where there simply isn’t a poor option.
All of these are stunning and seem to fit the book and genre really well too. I am not sure if I could pick a favorite as they are all really good.
Yes – they do fit the book and are all very attractive, aren’t they? If I wasn’t such a sucker for spacescapes, I think I would be stumped, too…
The coloring of every cover is sooooooooooo vivid! In that regard, every cover’s got a touch of effectiveness. But I agree with the boy standing on the point and beholding so much awesomeness. The text doesn’t cover the worlds on that one, thank goodness, and it allows us to take in just what the boy takes in. LOVE IT!
Yes – as ever, you put it perfectly:))x
Aw, shucks. 🙂
I like the first one best. I like the birds flying over the landscape. I don’t feel the title is too intrusive. I also like the last one because of the colors. However, with that one I feel the title is too intrusive. But, overall each one is a great book cover!
They are all good, aren’t they? I’m glad you like the first one, as that is the most widely available:)
I always like when I choose well. 🙂