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Brys · 28th March 2006, 04:34 PM

I still prefer the UK edition to this. (Just for reference, here it is):

I feel that this tone is a bit darker and more appropriate to the story. There's no denying that both are great pieces of fantasy artwork - I just think that the idea of the Hounds of Darkness is done so much better here - it reminds me exactly of the scene it's meant to depict. The other one, like so much other US Malazan coverart, is great traditional fantasy art but to me seems a bit inappropriate to the series. (The faces in the rock are not the hounds of darkness). The character in it really doesn't seem to suggest Karsa Orlong to me - doesn't have the correct aura of size and strength exuded by Karsa, and he's far too subservient in that pose.

At least they're relatively the same style though, and of the US-unique pieces of artwork, this is by far the best. The top version I wouldn't mind as a cover, the lighter cover though I don't like as much. Not bad enough to put me off, like the US MoI cover, but the truth is I'd be buying that despite the cover, not because of it. For the UK version, I have no problem with it at all. As usual, to me it seems that the US cover represents heroic fantasy while the UK version leaves you in no doubt that it is epic fantasy.

28th March 2006, 04:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brys Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 809	Re: US edition House of chains cover art I still prefer the UK edition to this. (Just for reference, here it is): I feel that this tone is a bit darker and more appropriate to the story. There's no denying that both are great pieces of fantasy artwork - I just think that the idea of the Hounds of Darkness is done so much better here - it reminds me exactly of the scene it's meant to depict. The other one, like so much other US Malazan coverart, is great traditional fantasy art but to me seems a bit inappropriate to the series. (The faces in the rock are not the hounds of darkness). The character in it really doesn't seem to suggest Karsa Orlong to me - doesn't have the correct aura of size and strength exuded by Karsa, and he's far too subservient in that pose. At least they're relatively the same style though, and of the US-unique pieces of artwork, this is by far the best. The top version I wouldn't mind as a cover, the lighter cover though I don't like as much. Not bad enough to put me off, like the US MoI cover, but the truth is I'd be buying that despite the cover, not because of it. For the UK version, I have no problem with it at all. As usual, to me it seems that the US cover represents heroic fantasy while the UK version leaves you in no doubt that it is epic fantasy.