Cover Art - Imperial Assassin - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Mark Robson · 6th March 2006, 07:20 PM

For those who are now anticipating the release of Imperial Assassin, here's a peek at what you're going to be looking for. Once again, Geoff Taylor has excelled. I think this is the strongest cover yet. What do you think?

Marky Lazer · 6th March 2006, 07:21 PM

Swell! I mean that, the other I checked were... so so (better than I can ever do, of course) But I didn't find them too apealing. This one is really great!

genisis2 · 6th March 2006, 07:40 PM

Thats an excellent cover.Very exciting. Definately something to be proud of.

Teresa Edgerton · 6th March 2006, 07:55 PM

An amazing cover! Now I'm jealous.

dwndrgn · 6th March 2006, 08:35 PM

This is a great cover (even though there is a spider on it instead of a dragon

). The artist has marked out the conglomeration of parts of the story in one shot...hopefully you understand what that meant. Don't know why I'm a bit hazy today, maybe because I just gave blood.

Mark Robson · 6th March 2006, 08:44 PM

Thanks for that instant positive vote of confidence. The trick now will be making the story live up to the cover! The blurb has now been drafted as:

A deadly war has been triggered in the city of Shandrim. Declared outlaws by the Emperor, the Guild of Assassins strike back hard. Emperor Surabar must act fast. He needs someone to infiltrate the Guild. All attempts to locate the assassins' headquarters have failed and Femke is already known to the assassins. So Reynik, the young legionnaire, must penetrate their inner circle to discover the Guild's secrets.

Reynik knows he will face great danger. Secrets kept hidden for over five centuries command a high price. But there are some dangers for which even the best training cannot prepare you.

I, Brian · 6th March 2006, 08:58 PM

Oh, I like that cover - extremely striking. I think your policy of getting the cover noticed at a distance can only work really well there.

Paradox 99 · 6th March 2006, 09:06 PM

Awesome - I have a thing for purple!

rune · 7th March 2006, 08:17 AM

Love the cover

Looks great

kyektulu · 7th March 2006, 08:21 AM

Love the book cover Mark, that is great artwork!

I will be sure to look out for your book in the shops.

kyektulu · 7th March 2006, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradox 99

Awesome - I have a thing for purple!

Your not the only one...

Aerin · 7th March 2006, 10:17 AM

Well, my first reaction was "Awesomely awesome!!". My second was "Aww. No dragon. But just as well, I love spiders too! (in fact, I collect stuffed animal ones. Bats too. Maybe that can be your next cover!)" and my third reaction was "Well, that's highly impractical. He/she/it is clearly using illegal means to enter/leave a building, in plain sight of a whole city, and with plently of light(ning) to see him/her/it by."

I could go on for a while, but I think this is enough for now. I have to comment on how the rain is so awesome, though. Oh yes! I have a question for you! How much symbolism is there in your books? Or this cover, for that matter?

GOLLUM · 7th March 2006, 11:35 AM

As per a previuos post possibly in my top/fav 25 fantasy covers of all time...

Mark Robson · 7th March 2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerin

my third reaction was "Well, that's highly impractical. He/she/it is clearly using illegal means to enter/leave a building, in plain sight of a whole city, and with plently of light(ning) to see him/her/it by."

I could go on for a while, but I think this is enough for now. I have to comment on how the rain is so awesome, though. Oh yes! I have a question for you! How much symbolism is there in your books? Or this cover, for that matter?

Thanks again, everyone. I'm delighted that everyone has mirrored my response to this.

Aerin, you're right about being in plain sight, but how many people look up into torrential rain? He's pretty high up there - your point of view is a bird's eye one. Imagine being stood on the ground. Would you be likely to notice him?

There is a lot of symbolism in terms of how the cover is designed. The spider has huge significance to the plot, and the dragon on the first book will make a lot more sense for having read this second one too. As for symbolism inside the cover, could you be more specific? I'm not sure what you mean by the question.

Aerin · 7th March 2006, 12:57 PM

A bird's eye view of a bird at about tower level, if that castle-looking thing has towers. But your argument does rule out just about the whole of the city's population.

Well, let's see about symbolism. There's the spider, which usually stands for poison. The spider is on the word 'assassin', so maybe that's fore-shadowing. There's lightning, which, I always take as standing for a quick unexpected yet shocking event that sheds new light in events, or people. There's the rain, which can stand for someone's frustration of events being their understanding/power to change, since rain is one of those troublesome things you have no control over. Oh, yes, you can't forget the letters seem silver, like a certain someone's bracelet.

This is probably so far-fetched.. But hey, I'm having fun.

6th March 2006, 07:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,942	Cover Art - Imperial Assassin For those who are now anticipating the release of Imperial Assassin, here's a peek at what you're going to be looking for. Once again, Geoff Taylor has excelled. I think this is the strongest cover yet. What do you think? Attached Images

6th March 2006, 07:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marky Lazer Plastic Paddy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,735	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Swell! I mean that, the other I checked were... so so (better than I can ever do, of course) But I didn't find them too apealing. This one is really great!

6th March 2006, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
genisis2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 379	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Thats an excellent cover.Very exciting. Definately something to be proud of.

6th March 2006, 07:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Teresa Edgerton Ink-stained Wretch Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 4,565	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin An amazing cover! Now I'm jealous.

6th March 2006, 08:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,671	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin This is a great cover (even though there is a spider on it instead of a dragon ). The artist has marked out the conglomeration of parts of the story in one shot...hopefully you understand what that meant. Don't know why I'm a bit hazy today, maybe because I just gave blood.

6th March 2006, 08:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,942	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Thanks for that instant positive vote of confidence. The trick now will be making the story live up to the cover! The blurb has now been drafted as: A deadly war has been triggered in the city of Shandrim. Declared outlaws by the Emperor, the Guild of Assassins strike back hard. Emperor Surabar must act fast. He needs someone to infiltrate the Guild. All attempts to locate the assassins' headquarters have failed and Femke is already known to the assassins. So Reynik, the young legionnaire, must penetrate their inner circle to discover the Guild's secrets. Reynik knows he will face great danger. Secrets kept hidden for over five centuries command a high price. But there are some dangers for which even the best training cannot prepare you.

6th March 2006, 08:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 5,370	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Oh, I like that cover - extremely striking. I think your policy of getting the cover noticed at a distance can only work really well there.

6th March 2006, 09:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paradox 99 KenDodd'sDad'sDog'sDead Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 794	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Awesome - I have a thing for purple!

7th March 2006, 08:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
rune rune Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cumbria Posts: 1,560	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Love the cover Looks great

7th March 2006, 08:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
kyektulu White Wolf Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 1,959	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Love the book cover Mark, that is great artwork! I will be sure to look out for your book in the shops.

7th March 2006, 10:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
Aerin We Are The Voices Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 24	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin Well, my first reaction was "Awesomely awesome!!". My second was "Aww. No dragon. But just as well, I love spiders too! (in fact, I collect stuffed animal ones. Bats too. Maybe that can be your next cover!)" and my third reaction was "Well, that's highly impractical. He/she/it is clearly using illegal means to enter/leave a building, in plain sight of a whole city, and with plently of light(ning) to see him/her/it by." I could go on for a while, but I think this is enough for now. I have to comment on how the rain is so awesome, though. Oh yes! I have a question for you! How much symbolism is there in your books? Or this cover, for that matter?

7th March 2006, 11:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 5,332	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin As per a previuos post possibly in my top/fav 25 fantasy covers of all time...

7th March 2006, 12:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
Aerin We Are The Voices Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 24	Re: Cover Art - Imperial Assassin A bird's eye view of a bird at about tower level, if that castle-looking thing has towers. But your argument does rule out just about the whole of the city's population. Well, let's see about symbolism. There's the spider, which usually stands for poison. The spider is on the word 'assassin', so maybe that's fore-shadowing. There's lightning, which, I always take as standing for a quick unexpected yet shocking event that sheds new light in events, or people. There's the rain, which can stand for someone's frustration of events being their understanding/power to change, since rain is one of those troublesome things you have no control over. Oh, yes, you can't forget the letters seem silver, like a certain someone's bracelet. This is probably so far-fetched.. But hey, I'm having fun.

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