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. This week the theme is a cover featuring medieval times, so I’ve selected Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, who sounds as if he should be joining in the jousting with a name like that…
To be honest, this cover produced by Roc in December 1999 is rather underwhelming. It is very brown with an embossed emblem of something that looks as though it belongs on a shield. I’m not overly struck with the rather spindly font, either. Given this is a book about a particularly colourful time, the cover seems to be expending a great deal of energy just to blend into the general background of the shelf this book will be sitting on.
This edition was produced by Roc Fantasy in October 1991 and is far more attractive and lively. The gold font upon the red is much more in keeping. However, my main worry is on behalf of the long-suffering queen or princess… no wonder she is looking so grumpy. I’d be looking a tad fed up if I had an halberd handle sticking out of my left ear, too.
Published in April 2005 by Penguin Canada (APB), I like this one. The gold colour sings out and the distant city in the distance looks invitingly different – an impression reinforced with the two moons in the sky. I like the attractive pattern bordering the vista, which gives a suggestion that this might be an embroidered depiction after the style of the Bayeux tapestry.
This Italian edition, published by Sperling & Kupfer in 1992, has very much gone for the fantasy feel. The moonlit scene – featuring two moons – is beautifully conveyed and unlike the queen in the Roc Fantasy offering, this monarch is unhampered by any weaponry protruding from her ears. She is beautiful and focused – and I want to pick up this book and find out why. This is my favourite cover.
This edition, produced by Penguin Canada in June 2016, is another dun effort. This time we get the edge of the shield, as if we are peeping over it to snatch a view of the city in the distance – also brown. I’m not quite sure why, because it isn’t remotely appealing. However, that’s just my opinion – which cover do you like best?
Brainfluff 
The top one is absolutely awesome! You picked a great looking book to showcase.
It’s a lovely book, Barb – I’m glad you can give the top cover some love:).
I think the Penguin Canada cover is my favorite. I love the colors😊 This definitely has a wonderful medieval feel to it!
Yes – I NEARLY went for that one – but I did love the drama and action of the queen leading what is evidently a night attack…
I like the first one or as you call it the ‘underwhelming and very brown’ one.lol 🙂
Ah… there you go – I was so convinced that no one could possibly like it, I was rude about it!
I’m torn between the gold cover and the blue cover beneath it. They’re both gorgeous and equality inviting in their own way. The others seem a bit bland in comparison.
I thought so! The top one frankly has my scratching my head as can’t look all that good in thumbnail…
The mostly red one is the only cover for this book I’d ever seen before, so I think that’s why I’m somewhat drawn to it. I like the gold one best, though. And the last one, the second version of the ‘brown cover’ (because I’m also drawn to anything with La Tene designs).
Thank you for giving your opinion. I agree with you regarding the gold cover.
I like the canadian because it’s a bright offering. I like your choice too but tbh none of these covers particularly overwhelm me with adoration.
Lynn 😀
I do like the gold one and the Italian one, but the others leave me cold – even though a number of other folks really like them…
I love this book, but have to admit, I’m not really a fan of any of these covers. The top one is probably my favorite
I’m clearly in the minority – I thought it was so very boring…
Well, you won’t believe this, but….I LOVE ALL THESE COVERS!! Each one has something that appeals to me. The one quibble I have is the Roc cover. Surely they could have moved that halberd away from the poor Queen’s ear! That, plus her obviously grumpy expression (perfect for a “Grumpy Queen” meme, lol!) unfortunately mar this cover. I think it has potential, though!
I love the one you picked as your favorite!! The queen looks appropriately powerful and royal, and the nighttime scene is SO appealing, since it has a LOT of blue in it! (This is my favorite color.) Plus her dress is blue, and those two moons make this a VERY enchanting cover! I am reminded of the fantasy novels of Andre Norton, plus, of course, the cover of “The Mists of Avalon”.
As for the covers with the shields on them, I must honestly say that I find them STUNNING. I guess that’s because I ADORE circular designs — such as mandalas, and yes, shields. I also love hubcaps!! If I could, I’d have a collection of these!!
I also love the Bayeux Tapestry cover! You’re right that it has that feel medieval English feel to it. It looks as if it’s made of a very soft, yet rough-textured, fabric. Very evocative!
So this week, I really can’t choose which of these covers is my favorite. (As for the halberd-in-the-ear cover, if they were to fix it, I would wholeheartedly LOVE it!!)
Thanks for sharing all of this cover AWESOMENESS!!!!! HUGS!! ❤ ❤ 🙂 🙂
Thank you for your lovely positive take on this week’s offering. I feel thoroughly chastened actually – after being rather sarky about the shield design – I’ve realised that a lot of visitors actually really liked it. The only defence I can offer is that it’s been something of a nightmare week for me and when I wrote the post, I was rather despairing. Not really good enough – and I’m taking to heart that if there isn’t anything wrong with a cover other than the fact that I don’t like it, then I’ll keep Crabby-tongue firmly between my teeth!
The first one is stunning. The others don’t do a thing for me.
Glad you like it, Laura – and I think that is the most popular cover this week – which just goes to show how much I know!
Well… I actually own the “Underwhelming brown cover ” and I don’t what it tells about my taste , but I actually like it the best among the other covers 🙈
Urg… sorry Rash! I have just fessed up to the fact that I wasn’t feeling very positive when I wrote the post. And this week has been an object lesson that just because I don’t particularly like a cover – that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad or that other folks won’t love it.
I think my favorite is the second one, the one with the grumpy queen! Yeah, a halberd sticking out of your ear doesn’t sound pleasant at all 😀
Sorry *winces*. The queen wasn’t the only grumpy one – I wasn’t at my shinest when I wrote the blog and I think it shows…
Even though I usually prefer covers without people on them but that isn’t the case here. I really like the 2nd one and the 3rd one has a lovely fairytale quality. I wish the last one had been a little more vibrant. I like the concept but not the execution!
Yes… I’m with you, this week, too. Thank you for taking the time to comment:)
What is with these vague covers? That shield could apply to ANY fantasy read. I almost wish the group of people had been done more of a tapestry, because you’re right–her expression is very odd. The golden sky seems the best effort, indeed.
I know – that was one of my main grizzles about it – soooo generic. And yes – I STILL maintain it’s because she has the haft sticking out of her ear…
I liked the design of the very first one. It caught my eye, but I doubt I would open it and read what the book was about and then purchase it.
That’s the big problem with it – how do you know what it’s about? And I know what an issue THAT is – my sales for Dying for Space have increased dramatically since the new cover and people know exactly what they’re getting.
I LOVE the new cover for Dying for Space!!! It makes a huge difference in impulse-buying appeal.
Thank you, Rae – and it evidently has made a difference – I have even got a couple of extra positive reviews on Amazon – which is marvellous:)
The 1991 Roc for sure!
x The Captain
I like the first one the most, but I’m prone to like intricate patterns, etc. I’m familiar with the yellow one – I think it’s been used in Polish version as well – but it just doesn’t grab me for some reason (even though the color contrast is really nice!).
And didn’t I get my ears pinned back for being too sarky about it? In my defence, Life was fairly horrible at the time…
I don’t mind snark, especially a creative one 🙂