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 meme is currently being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring GREY COVERS. I’ve selected Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson.
This edition was produced by Orbit in October 2018 – and was the cover that came to mind when I thought about this challenge. Being a simple soul, I do recall wondering why the cover was so determinedly not red, given the title. I think it is a strong simple design, unfortunately compromised by all the chatter clogging up the overall effect. For once, I really like the stark, plain title font and I think the textbox at the bottom of the page has been done well, too. A shame about that chatter…
Published in September 2019, this cover has taken the basic design from the previous year and has tweaked it, somewhat. The figure is offset, which I think is more effective and I also like the red font, giving a nod to the title. It also nicely stands out from the otherwise monochromatic colour palette. I prefer what they’ve done with the author font, too, given that will be the selling point of this book. Overall, the effect is cleaner and more visually appealing than the previous offering and this one is my favourite.
This Russian edition, published by Эксмо: fanzon in March 2019, still features an astronaut, but they have gone for a classic spacescape with Earth in the background. I like the pulse of red courtesy of the Chinese flag in the background, but I do think the title gets a bit lost for this to be really effective.
This Italian edition, produced by Fanucci in January 2019, is, instead, featuring that red moon. Trouble is, it is all but obscured by the dust on… the moon? That doesn’t make any sense. And neither does the fact we can’t see any stars in the background. I hate this cover for being idiotic at best and plain misleading at worst. If this was a fantasy adventure, it wouldn’t be so bad – but it’s hard sci fi. What does work for this cover is that funky title font, which I really like.
This German edition, published in August 2019 by Heyne Verlag, has taken another angle. This one works really well – I love the pop of red from the flag reflected in the visor. It’s a really cool design, both eye-catching and effective. The main reason this one isn’t my choice as the cover of the week, is that the title and author fonts are simply not striking enough. But it was a close-run thing. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
Totally agree with your choice, Sarah. For me, the red in the title made all the difference!
Thank you, Becky. It’s amazing what a different just changing the colour of the title can make…
So true!
Yep, the Red font really pops.
Thank you, Kimberly – yes, it does! I’m wondering why they didn’t go with that option for the first cover. It seems an obvious choice…
I love your choice as well. I also really like the German edition. Great choice, Sarah:-)
Thank you, Tammy:). It seemed odd that a book with red in the title was so very grey…
Great choice of book, though none of the covers really leap out at me. I guess I will pick the last one, because it looks so different 🙂
It is a really effective cover, I think:).
Every cover looks alike . Only the last one feels a bit different . Will pick that one
I think that cover really works, too:)
The second cover with Red Moon in red is the one that caught my eye at first but I think it’s the German edition that will stick in my mind. Both of these covers have made me want to know more about the book though which means they must have done their job! 🙂
It’s an interesting book, though I personally thought the pacing was a bit compromised. It certainly isn’t his best work, but quite a lot of fun, nonetheless:)
The second cover from the top is the more balanced one, and therefore the best. The Russian cover could have been a good one as well, but the spacesuit’s helmet looks a bit squashed and makes me think of an alien rather than an Earth astronaut… 😀
I was going to raise the issue of the squashed-looking cosmonaut – but decided it must be me:)).
I think them all though i like the traditional moon shot with Earth in the background best. The Chinese flag is a nice touch.
It is a great shot, isn’t it? And look a bit more moonlike than the others.
These are all eye catchers. I’m going with the German edition. It really stands out.
Thank you, Laura – yes, I was very torn about that one. I do have a bee in my bonnet about title fonts, though – otherwise I think this one would have been my favourite.
So sorry I missed this Sarah!
I’m torn between the first and second covers. I really like the first – but then the chatter. The second is very similar but I’m less fond of the author’s name placement.
I’m trying to imagine it without the chat.
Lynn 😀
I think it would look SO much better without the chat! It’s such a shame that this has become a popular habit on modern covers, particularly for best-selling books.
And please don’t worry, Lynn – I’m aware you have a lot going on right now and I’m hugely grateful at your continued and reliable hosting of my favourite weekly meme:)).
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I like the last cover best, but like you, it was close with the one that was your favorite!
Thank you, Britanny – it is a close-run thing, isn’t it?
You know, I gotta say I dig that last cover. Sure the text fonts aren’t fun, but I just LOVE the red flag in the mask being front and center, and the slightly warped look of that flag because of the helmet. 🙂
Yes – I suspect if I wasn’t so fixated on title and author fonts, this would have been my choice for the week.
My favorite is the same as yours. I like the first one, but the red font in the second one is perfect. It adds a splash of color (to a still otherwise crisp design) and reflects the title itself. My least favorite is the Italian one.
That Italian one is simply a shocker, isn’t it? And yes – I’m always surprised at just what a difference changing the font colour can make to the overall tone and feel of a cover…