Kirby or Kidby?

[Lenny]

Whilst I've no preference, I do believe that the Kidby illustrations suit the hardback books far better than Kirby's.

[pyan]

Is that the same one as on the bookmark, Pteppic? In that case, I agree with you....

[Harpo]

Kirby. I had a couple of old Discworld calendars on my wall for a while (until I gave them away as gifts) and loved looking at his pictures, lots of little details to enjoy.

[Marky Lazer]

I think Kirby's covers are more like little paintings one can look at. Pretty and funny. When Kidby's covers are more like the characters made up by Pratchett. Therefore it's a bit hard to compare the two of them, methinks. Maybe Kidby should draw the cover for a re-release of a Colour of Magic sometime, then we can compare what we like better.

[Nesacat]

I first met Pratchett with Kirby. They'll always be a favourite for that reason if for no other.

However, I also love the sheer exuberance of Kirby's artwork. Colours, exaggerated details, curls and swirls and all.

I love the detail in them and have spent several happy bus journeys studying the covers.

[pyan]

I bet that got you some funny looks, Cat!

"Why doesn't she open them?" "Dunno, perhaps she can't read...."

[Marky Lazer]

I bet the Cat gets funny looks when there isn't even a book near

[pyan]

*winces in anticipation*

[Marky Lazer]

*puts on armor*

[morriganthecelt]

I voted no preference. The problem is, this is like having a new actor/actress brought in to play an established role that has been created an developed by a previous actor/actress. You associate that character with the former actor/actress and almost resent the new one for trying to take over. Because of this, I think some people might not be able to accept Paul Kidby's work on it's own merits.

With some people poor Paul will never win, his work is not the same as Kirby's, so in their eyes, it's not 'proper' Discworld art, yet if he attempted to paint in a similar style, he would also be criticised.

Both are and were good illustrators, both have a different approach and style. Don't forget, illustration would be incredibly boring if everyone worked in the same way, producing the same work.

Lets also not forget that Josh Kirby's long career began way before the Discworld, in the 1950's and included film poster art (Return of the Jedi and Monty Python's Life of Brian amongst them) and book covers for war, cowboy, romance and adventure novels as well as SF. (He created the cover for the first Pan edition of Ian Fleming's 'Moonraker', 1956.) His personal catalogue of published book covers extends to over 400.

[The Ace]

Kidby is a good artist, but he doesn't have Kirby's mad genius.

[Allegra]

Originally Posted by The Ace

Kidby is a good artist, but he doesn't have Kirby's mad genius.

Right again, Ace! Why do I have to always agree with you?

Originally Posted by pyan

...I like the Kirbys for their sheer exuberance, but the Kidbys fit my mental picture of the characters better.....as I said, no preference.

Hmmm...that makes a lot of sense too... I guess I'm just being quite agreeable today. Still, I'll vote for Kirby.

[The Procrastinator]

Kirby. Because its madness...motorway madness...Kirby got the spirit of Discworld, and like others, I too have spent ages poring over those beautiful covers looking at every little whacko detail. Also, its not just that I came to the series early so I'm used to Kirby - I actually bought my first Discworld book (The Light Fantastic - I laughed till I cried - had never read anything like it) because of the mad cover. That cover called to me; I saw the book, picked it up, put it back several times over several weeks and in the end just had to buy it because I was so intrigued with that cover. None of the other books on the fantasy/scifi shelf had a cover remotely like it. That was a while ago now, things have changed, but I still miss those mad covers. Kidby is a great illustrator but his style is so sedate - but perhaps the books are more sedate now, too. I don't want to complain about Kidby, but if I was starting afresh with Discworld now I wouldn't be buying it on the strength of the covers.