Anyone Like the "Inaccurate" Book Cover art from the 1980's?

[Allyn Gibson]

If I'm hostile, it's only because I'm frustrated and bewildered by your obtuseness and your unwillingness to admit and accept that, in this case, there's evidence that your preferred interpretation is incorrect. I apologize if you're offended by the Bob Woodward comparison; I thought it was apt.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Back in the day, the covers were often finished before the books were.

The completed cover slicks for the "Probe" hardcover were in storage for over 12 months during its rewriting, otherwise garamet (MWB) probably wouldn't have stayed as the sole author, considering how little of her original work remained.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The reasonable conclusion is that Calhoun added a Starfleet symbol jewel to his sword after he joined Starfleet.

I assumed this would have been a gift to Calhoun, perhaps from Shelby, the Excalibur bridge crew, or even his Starfleet sponsor (Picard).

 

[Stevil2001]

Wasn't the actual (Danteri, right?) sword curved-- unlike the one in the text?

 

[ryan123450]

If so, that leads one to believe that Chrisopher's symbolism theory is the correct one.

 

[Thestral]

I've only read a little New Frontier, but i always took the sword on several covers to be symbolic, even if Calhoun does have the sword that scarred him.

 

[Christopher]

Wasn't the actual (Danteri, right?) sword curved...?

I checked the text, and the sword on Calhoun's wall is described as a short sword with a curve to the blade and carvings on the handle. The sword depicted on the covers from Gods Above through Missing in Action is a double-handed longsword (judging from its size relative to the skull on the After the Fall cover), cruciform-hilted with a smooth grip (handle) and a straight double-edged blade with ornate engravings. So it definitely is not the sword on Calhoun's wall.

Also, on the cover of Stone and Anvil, it's driven deep into the titular anvil -- an obvious allusion to Excalibur. (The sword in the stone is actually a different one in most versions of Arthurian legend, but it's commonplace in modern times to equate it with Excalibur.)

 

[ryan123450]

Who's sword was the sword in the stone?

 

[Greg Cox]

I have to ask: Aren't most Trek covers symbolic? Unless people's heads are often literally floating amidst nebulae and starscapes?

 

[ryan123450]

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Christopher]

Who's sword was the sword in the stone?

It was Arthur's sword before Excalibur was. Arthur pulled one sword from the stone to earn his kingship, then later it (or whatever other sword he used at the time) got broken in battle, and the Lady of the Lake gave him Excalibur as a replacement.

 

[sfroth]

It was Arthur's sword before Excalibur was. Arthur pulled one sword from the stone to earn his kingship.

Wait, he didn't become king because some watery tart threw a sword at him?

 

[JD]

I was honestly always unsure if the sword was supposed to be a symbolic thing, or an inaccurate representation of Calhoun's sword. After reading through the thread I'm starting to think that symbolic does seem more likely.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I always thought symbolic. Unless Calhoun likes to take photos of it (and more recently, his comm badge) in obscure locations around the galaxy. For his Spacebook page

 

[ryan123450]

Who's sword was the sword in the stone?

It was Arthur's sword before Excalibur was. Arthur pulled one sword from the stone to earn his kingship, then later it (or whatever other sword he used at the time) got broken in battle, and the Lady of the Lake gave him Excalibur as a replacement.

Interesting. I'm not immensely familiar with the details of Authurian legend and its been quite a while since I've seen Excalibur.

 

[Christopher]

^I believe the film Excalibur is one of the modern works that treats the two swords as the same one.

 

[ATimson]

I have to ask: Aren't most Trek covers symbolic? Unless people's heads are often literally floating amidst nebulae and starscapes?

With the magic of the holodeck, anything is possible!

 

[ryan123450]

^I believe the film Excalibur is one of the modern works that treats the two swords as the same one.

Ahhh. Since that is my main exposure to the legend, that must be why I never knew there were versions with two separate swords.

 

[tomswift2002]

With the magic of the holodeck, anything is possible!

Didn't we see floating heads on the holodeck in that one TNG Season 4 episode?

Anyway, probably my favorite cover from the 80's would have to be the one for Masks. The light-blue just makes it stand out from the others.