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Boyd Cover Art - A Petition

Villiers53Villiers53
edited December 2012 in Literary 007 Posts: 802
The Bond canon has enjoyed some of the most prolific artwork in publishing history.
The Jonathan Cape UK Fleming hardback originals are absolute classics with the late, great, Richard Chopping setting new standards. In the '60s, Raymond Hawkey designed a series of covers for Pan that resulted in those particular editions becoming the fastest selling Bond books of all time.
With the exception of the Cape first edition of "Colnel Sun" and that publisher's covers for the first five John Gardner continuation novels, few Bond afficianados would claim that the adult Bond novels, Fleming or continuation, have enjoyed remotely the level of dust jacket art that they deserve. Indeed, the work on both sides of the Atlantic for the Faulkes & Deaver continuation novels has been, at best, lack lustre.
The purpose behind this petition is to challeng IFP and the publishers of William Boyd's forthcoming Bond book to give a commission to a serious artist to provide us with something worthy of Chopping and Hawkey particularly when 2013 will mark the 60th anniversary of Casino Royale.
If you are of like mind - give your opinion and sign up below. Let's motivate the powers that be to provide the fans with something really special!
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Comments

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Where's the sign-up? I want to participate, as one doesn't have the right to complain about a cover unless they have taken all avenues possible to stop a bad cover from hitting shelves.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Where's the sign-up? I want to participate, as one doesn't have the right to complain about a cover unless they have taken all avenues possible to stop a bad cover from hitting shelves.
    This is the sign up - you've done it and if IFP and JC don't pick up on, I'll print it off and send it to them - let's make them give us something great!

  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    I want a great cover! Mondo, perhaps?
  • TopGearJB007TopGearJB007
    Posts: 624
    Sure, why not? Count me in. I'd like to see something that could be mistaken for a movie poster.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,585
    Count me in, too. A cover with a bit more detail would be nice.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    sign me up as well..... i've had enough of these drab covers - i know i could do much better than the artists they've hired..
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited February 2013 Posts: 28,694
    So... What does everyone think of this unimaginative cover?

    UK+art.JPG

    [-(

    Here's hoping it is only promotional, judging by the fact that the release date is on the cover.
  • ultraboxultrabox
    Posts: 194
    That HAS to be promotional. I don't too many instances of the release date being on the front cover of a novel.
  • ohmss42ohmss42
    Posts: 29
    they have already said that is only a place holder. Why have a petition on something when you havent yet seen the final product?
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,847
    speaking of covers why is the american cover of Carte Blanche so ugly!
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    I'm in for all the good it will do. I honestly wouldnt be shocked these days if they actually went with the cover above.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    TheWizardOfIce wrote:
    I'm in for all the good it will do. I honestly wouldnt be shocked these days if they actually went with the cover above.

    Same here; my expectations are always low for covers.
  • X3MSonicXX3MSonicX https://www.behance.net/gallery/86760163/Fa-Posteres-de-007-No-Time-To-Die
    Posts: 2,635
    Remember to not judge the books by the covers. :)

    The book may have a simple cover but the content it's good.

    Or not.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited February 2013 Posts: 28,694
    X3MSonicX wrote:
    Remember to not judge the books by the covers. :)

    The book may have a simple cover but the content it's good.

    Or not.

    It is always the content that is most important, but covers attract readers and sell copies! After all, we are first struck by the visual art before the words on the pages. Very very important, indeed!
  • Risico007Risico007
    Posts: 9,847
    it's probably not the title but if the title was The New Mission what would people's thoughts be....

    It's kind of Growing on me.

  • Villiers53Villiers53
    edited February 2013 Posts: 802
    IFP and Jonathon Cape could get huge kudos and pre-publication publicity by commissioning a serious artist and trailoring the development of the artwork before launch date.
    In my opinion, given that the book is set in the '60s the design should be in the " Trompe l'oeil" style as used by Chopping.
    This would lead to huge merchandising opportunities and would help hardback sales enormously.
    Something that most people would consider to be very important in the era of the e-book.
    FRWL was a break through cover for Fleming and this could happen for Bond again.
    Will Jonathon Cape / IFP have the wisdom or will we just get the same old, same old?
  • myworldisenoughmyworldisenough
    Posts: 1,143
    I hope the actual print cover will be worthy of the old Fleming covers as its being published by Jonathan Cape. I won't hold my breath though. I just don't understand why there are so many uninspired covers of late. A hard back cover should reflect the beauty of the literature within.
  • ultraboxultrabox
    edited February 2013 Posts: 194
    myworldisenough wrote:
    I hope the actual print cover will be worthy of the old Fleming covers as its being published by Jonathan Cape. I won't hold my breath though. I just don't understand why there are so many uninspired covers of late. A hard back cover should reflect the beauty of the literature within.

    Devilmaycare.jpg

    No one here a fan of this cover? I know the novel itself wasn't well received here, but I thought this cover was fairly sleek.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    ultrabox wrote:
    myworldisenough wrote:
    I hope the actual print cover will be worthy of the old Fleming covers as its being published by Jonathan Cape. I won't hold my breath though. I just don't understand why there are so many uninspired covers of late. A hard back cover should reflect the beauty of the literature within.

    Devilmaycare.jpg

    No one here a fan of this cover? I know the novel itself wasn't well received here, but I thought this cover was fairly sleek.

    myworldisenough, a serious artist like Chopping would cost them money whilst the DMC cover admired by ultrabox (certainly not by me) can be turned out by any dim wit with desk top publishing software.
    I certainly hope that Jonathan Cape take note of this thread and do something worthwhile. It would be much better from a marketing prospective if they had a beautiful dust jacket to merchandise rather than turn out special Bentley editions that nobody wants!
  • myworldisenoughmyworldisenough
    Posts: 1,143
    Villiers53 wrote:
    ultrabox wrote:
    myworldisenough wrote:
    I hope the actual print cover will be worthy of the old Fleming covers as its being published by Jonathan Cape. I won't hold my breath though. I just don't understand why there are so many uninspired covers of late. A hard back cover should reflect the beauty of the literature within.

    Devilmaycare.jpg

    No one here a fan of this cover? I know the novel itself wasn't well received here, but I thought this cover was fairly sleek.

    myworldisenough, a serious artist like Chopping would cost them money whilst the DMC cover admired by ultrabox (certainly not by me) can be turned out by any dim wit with desk top publishing software.
    I certainly hope that Jonathan Cape take note of this thread and do something worthwhile. It would be much better from a marketing prospective if they had a beautiful dust jacket to merchandise rather than turn out special Bentley editions that nobody wants!

    Completely agree. Whilst you can't judge a book by it's cover, you can certainly raise its profile and sell more copies if it has a wow cover. For people like me who collect the Bond hardbacks, I want to see a thing of beauty over a lacklustre half baked effort.
  • ultraboxultrabox
    Posts: 194
    Oh well, I liked the simplicity of that cover. I didn't care for the Carte Blanche smoke cover, I'm not a minimalist, so I think DMC may be an opinion of taste. The simple covers don't always work, DMC just stood out for me.
  • myworldisenoughmyworldisenough
    Posts: 1,143
    I do think the Devil May Care cover is striking whilst being simplistic so I do understand your point and I don't mind it at all. But when comparing it against the artistic illustrations of the original Fleming covers then it struggles to hold my attention.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    With Jonathan Cape publishing (when was the last time they published a Bond book?) hopefully this means good things ahead as far as where the cover is concerned.
  • TaffinTaffin
    Posts: 37
    With Jonathan Cape being involved again I can only wish for them to reissue all the Bond books - including the continuation novels - in a matching set, the same size as the original Cape Flemings, that would be my ultimate Bond-book dream!

    They were a nice easy to handle size and looked really classy with and without their dustjackets.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Taffin wrote:
    With Jonathan Cape being involved again I can only wish for them to reissue all the Bond books - including the continuation novels - in a matching set, the same size as the original Cape Flemings, that would be my ultimate Bond-book dream!

    They were a nice easy to handle size and looked really classy with and without their dustjackets.

    Couldn't agree more. I don't know if there is some sort of rights issue but those beautiful Chopping covers are amongst the most under exploited literary art ever.
    Imagine if they were reproduced as collectors prints to support the launch of the new novel!
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    Evidently, today is the day when we will learn the title - let's hope it's a good title for a great story with a fantastic cover!
  • offtheradarofftheradar
    Posts: 80
    Villiers53 wrote:
    Taffin wrote:
    With Jonathan Cape being involved again I can only wish for them to reissue all the Bond books - including the continuation novels - in a matching set, the same size as the original Cape Flemings, that would be my ultimate Bond-book dream!

    They were a nice easy to handle size and looked really classy with and without their dustjackets.

    Couldn't agree more. I don't know if there is some sort of rights issue but those beautiful Chopping covers are amongst the most under exploited literary art ever.
    Imagine if they were reproduced as collectors prints to support the launch of the new novel!

    I've been hunting for prints but hitting dead ends. I'm putting together a Pinterest page dedicated to the Life and Art of Richard Chopping, who was actually a family friend growing up. I want as many people to appreciate his work as I can.
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    tomjcull - good luck with your project!
    Now we know that the name of Boyd's novel is to be SOLO we may get some creative ideas from JC as to what the cover may look like?
  • offtheradarofftheradar
    Posts: 80
    Here it is folks. If there is another suitable thread I can post this, let me know.

    Thanks

    http://pinterest.com/tomjcull/the-art-life-of-richard-dickie-chopping/
  • Villiers53Villiers53
    Posts: 802
    tomjcull this is fantastic and so interesting. In my opinion, I think it deserves a thread all of it's own. It's rare we find stuff as stimulating as this appearing!
    For my part, I loved his work and find it such a shame that ultimately the two men didn't get along.
    His covers are strong, unique and different and give such an air of literary authority to Fleming's the work. I'm sure they added enormously to sales. His canon of art for the Bond books is of such a high standard, I always find it difficult to pick a favourite but ultimately I keep coming back to FRWL it is just so beautiful and full of mystery.
    With regard to the new Bond book, "SOLO", I have written to IFP and appealed to them to do something worthwhile. An assistant replied saying that they are employing the great team that have brought us the outstanding Vintage classics - further proof that they just don't get it!
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