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 being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring covers with dizzying images. I’ve selected Dead Astronauts – Book 2 of the Bourne series by Jeff VanderMeer.
This edition was produced by Fourth Estate in December 2019 and it’s certainly eye-catching. And has the sense of surrealism and power that runs through VanderMeer’s writing. I love the swirling colour and glorious difference – I just wish the title and author fonts were less wussy and more visible.
Published in December 2019 by MCD, someone must have heard my grizzle about the previous cover. Because this time around, we get the psychedelic colours AND the emphatic title and text – in eye-blurring detail, actually. But you certainly can’t miss them… And I take my hat off in tribute to the cover art designers – this book pushes all sorts of boundaries in regards to narrative, use of language and story conventions. New Weird aptly sums it up. And it’s a testament to the skill and imagination of the designers that this offering and the previous cover gives the potential reader a very strong clue as to what they’re getting into.
This edition was published in 2020 by Subterranean. It couldn’t be more different to the other offerings for this book – but is still beautiful, for all that. My main reservation is that I’m not sure it adequately conveys the sheer oddness of the book.
This Turkish edition, produced by Alfa Yayınları in March 2021, is my favourite. I love the Mandelbrot fractal designs – a strong clue to the challenging nature of the book, as well as being beautiful and very easy on the eye. And the addition of the fox outline introduces another main character who features in the book, which is always a plus for me. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
What a great choice for the theme! I love the MCD cover most, but I also love the Turkish edition, which I’ve never seen before😁
The first two covers did manage to make me feel dizzy and slightly seasick… 😀
Oh, I’m so sorry the covers made you feel queasy! They certainly aren’t ones that we can ignore:)).
What an interesting variation. I much prefer the 2020 “different” cover, but I haven’t read the book, so I can’t comment on how it fits with the story. The colorful ones… They hurt my eyes! Lol
Those colourful ones aren’t aiming to be overlooked, are they? Thank you for taking the the time to share your thoughts on this selection, Diana:)).
Not at all. They make a statement!
It it is dizzy we are looking for, the second one sure does it for me. I do not like the one with the fish at all. If I were to pick one that would make me give this book a second look, it would be the last one.
Thank you for giving such a thorough summing up of your thoughts on the covers, Carla. I always find it fascinating to hear other folk’s opinions on my cover selections – it’s why I like taking part in this meme so much:)).
I wondered if Vandermeer would make an appearance for this theme – is writing is very unusual as are some of the covers for his books. I like the Fourth Estate cover – I think possibly because of the way the colours seep over the white frame.
I also like your choice because of those foxes.
Lynn 😀
I like the second one best.
Thank you, Rae:)).
Those first two are definitely a bit dizzying! I really like the 2nd one especially.
It’s certainly not going to get itself overlooked on the bookshelf…
Oh wow, some of these definitely make me feel a bit woozy! The last one is probably the only one that doesn’t make me go cross eyed 😀
Lol… they are a bit intense, aren’t they?
Great pick for the meme, I like the second edition best myself.
Thank you! It certainly stands out:).
I’m lovin’ that psychedelic second edition! The fish…it just makes me think of the Area X trilogy, which this book isn’t a part of. I reeeeeeeeeally need to read this one!
Do start with Borne! I think you’ll love it – I far preferred it to the Area X books, but then I’m not a huge horror fan:)).