Re: Interesting... although I wonder- are the illustrations her fault?
DomA Send a noteboard - 04/09/2009 10:17:53 PM
I remember that RJ and Harriet talked about how excited they were to get what's-his-name to do the covers. And most fans generally agree that the cover art is... sub-par, at best.
Hmmm the style of the cover art for WOT was fashionable back in 1990. Sansweet was big at the time. Now, this retro style is very dated.
RJ said a time or two that he didn't have much of a say in the cover art (Harriet has a bit more, as she usually handled this stuff, the cover blurb, the chapter titles and icons, the maps etc.).
Reading a bit between the lines of what Harriet said at JordanCon about the cover art... she is aware it's a bit quaint/dated. I suspect part of this is the fact Tor wishes to market WOT as Fantasy in the 'old style' and so they kept its image over the years. It's not really nice art, but it's very recognizable.
Harriet and Tom also made clear it's too late to change the look in their opinion and they will stick to the look to the end. However, Harriet/Tom mentionned it's very possible after the series is over, Tor has new editions released with more modern art, a new illustrator etc.
Marketing-wise, it would be a terrible idea to change the WOT covers now. Especially so after a five years hiatus. Casual readers who might learn about it need to spot the new book and recognize it instantly, and it needs to feel like WOT.
And then there are all the illustrations in the Big White Book, most of which are grossly inaccurate. I mean, if you're doing a picture of a character, wouldn't you think to write down what color her hair was?
Rj explained what happened. First, the illustrators were not his choice but the publisher's (I never heard Harriet has been involved in any way with the BWB - it was Theresa Patterson and RJ). Then, a mess up happened. The original illustrator had made (apparently) great B&W sketches that RJ liked and approved. At the last minute, the publisher asked to have colour illustrations for the same price instead and well... the result of this rush is on the pages. RJ never liked the BWB illustrations.
It's years in the past, anyway - and unconnected to Harriet's project. The BWB was a publisher project, Harriet's book is a personal project she's held over the years, collecting tibdits from each book, the notes etc. with the intent of publishing her encyclopedia after the series was over.
This message last edited by DomA on 04/09/2009 at 10:19:29 PM
big news coming soon (apparently)
- 03/09/2009 10:25:55 PM
2777 Views
It's hard to see how ...
- 03/09/2009 10:34:48 PM
1045 Views
well, that would be even more disappointing
- 03/09/2009 11:11:59 PM
930 Views
I used to want a movie or tv series
- 03/09/2009 11:25:26 PM
904 Views
And the way the absolutely murdered LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy was even worse *NM*
- 04/09/2009 02:36:38 AM
455 Views
I'm with Ken on this one
- 04/09/2009 02:42:09 AM
1020 Views
maybe Harriet will announce her encyclopedia? *NM*
- 04/09/2009 07:32:12 AM
454 Views
She already did
- 04/09/2009 12:40:35 PM
967 Views
Interesting... although I wonder- are the illustrations her fault?
- 04/09/2009 09:15:45 PM
848 Views
Re: Interesting... although I wonder- are the illustrations her fault?
- 04/09/2009 10:17:53 PM
923 Views
There have been talks about licensing WoT content for an RPG or MMO. Hopefully not the latter... *NM*
- 04/09/2009 03:14:48 AM
464 Views
I acctually think WOT would suit being turned into a MMO... I would love that. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 09:23:58 AM
538 Views
It would. I just don't think enough people would play it to make it good
- 04/09/2009 02:28:54 PM
894 Views
Kindle?
- 04/09/2009 08:33:07 AM
802 Views
That would make me happy. A big reason I haven't gotten one is 'cause WoT isn't on it *NM*
- 04/09/2009 02:29:21 PM
417 Views