Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

[2takesfrakes]

I've only read a couple of STAR TREK novels, which I was made to regret as they were so awful. But, uh ... in my STAR TREK searches, sometimes novels pop up and I'm quite taken by some of the Art of the older ones. Artists have done some interesting work, like Bob Larkin, whose cover the following link clicks to. And I have to say, I really like his sense of style. Though the figures are definitely posed, there's a sense of staging and drama in Larkin's design, which I find very appealing. Very nice use of shadows and the likenesses and facial expressions are very well done ...

Spock and love interest deal with an infestation problem for the novel Vulcan! by Kathleen Sky:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZt5tSWCKLw/UTZex-eXZuI/AAAAAAAACZA/STBzEWHDBgw/s1600/Vulcan.jpg

Do you enjoy the Cover Art for STAR TREK novels, as well? What are some of your favourites?

 

[Daddy Todd]

Larkin was definitely the best artist doing covers during the Bantam years. He only did a few, but they’re memorable.

Birdsong did great covers during the Reign of Arnold. Many of his covers were also better than the books (in this case, the books were subpar because Richard Arnold, the guy approving them for Roddenberry, had rotten taste, not because the writers couldn’t write very well, as was the problem for many of the Bantams.)

It’s been a good long time since I looked at the cover of a Trek book and thought “awesome cover!” These days, they seemingly design them for maximum impact as a thumbnail on Amazon. They don’t look all that great on the actual book. Sadly.

 

[David cgc]

Off the top of my head, "Takedown" was a pretty striking cover of the current era. Both Section 31 novels, as well. "The Latter Fire" could've been a run-of-the-mill ship cover, but it's elevated by a strong use of color and very painterly lighting.

 

[Jinn]

I think pretty much all the German covers are great, but I also think that A Pocket Full of Lies's cover and the David Mack Section 31 books look good.

 

[Kilana2]

The German covers for the Destiny novels are among my favorites. And the German New Frontier covers are also fantastic artworks.
As to the original covers: I prefer characteres on a cover. The original Voyager Relaunch covers feature ships and no characters. Cross Cult changed that. There is no harm in featuring ships on a cover. But the original Voyager Relaunch covers are mostly bland......

 

[tomswift2002]

As to the original covers: I prefer characteres on a cover. The original Voyager Relaunch covers feature ships and no characters. Cross Cult changed that. There is no harm in featuring ships on a cover. But the original Voyager Relaunch covers are mostly bland......

I’m not sure which covers you are referring to, but the first four Pocket Voyager post-Endgame novels by Christie Golden did feature characters on the covers.

 

[Kilana2]

I’m not sure which covers you are referring to, but the first four Pocket Voyager post-Endgame novels by Christie Golden did feature characters on the covers.

Yes. I meant the novels by Kirsten Beyer.

 

[Greg Cox]

Bob Larkin also did some memorable PLANET OF THE APES covers for Marvel back in the day.

 

[Daddy Todd]

Larkin also did the cover for Marvel’s TMP magazine, iirc.

He was the best!

 

[2takesfrakes]

Bob Larkin also did some memorable PLANET OF THE APES covers for Marvel back in the day.

So it would seem!
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0a/2a/1c/0a2a1c38e3a47bac9facf2baa7c29ba4--pulp-art-.jpg

 

[caseylee4ts]

I like ship shots a lot, but I think I prefer character shots more - as long as the artist gets the likenesses right. Not a huge fan of the cartoony ones (i.e., Prey). David Mack's Section 31 book are probably my favorites. At least of the more current novels. I'd have to look through some of the older books to judge those. I feel like a lot were hit and miss (Gemworld anyone?).

 

[JD]

Some of my favorites, using the cover pictures on Memory Alpha:

DS9:
Warpath
The combined version of the two Avatar covers.
The Never Ending Sacrifice
Hollow Men
I, The Constable
TOS:
From History's Shadow
Elusive Salvation
The Face of the Unknown
Constellations
The Rings of Time
The combined version of the three Crucible covers.
Legacies: Captain to Captain
Legacies: Best Defense
Legacies: Purgatory's Key

TNG:
Immortal Coil
The Sky's The Limit
Takedown
Armageddon's Arrow

Voy
Architects of Infinity

Destiny:
Gods of Night
Mere Mortals
Lost Souls

The Lost Era
The Buried Age
The combined Terok Nor covers


Section 31:
Disavowed
Control

Klingon Empire:
A Burning House

SCE:
I really liked most of the hand drawn covers for the e-books
Foundation omnibus
Creative Couplings omnibus
Grand Designs omnibus
Out of the Cocoon omnibus

TTN:
Fortunes of War

Van:
Storming Heaven

 

[F. King Daniel]

The original James Blish novelizations and other Bantam-era Trek books had the best covers, IMHO.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Had to look him up! James Blish had an almost Normal Rockwell'ish style, it seems like:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/81/59/30/8159301c4e2caab93b8dbbdac74e0319.jpg

Also, I want to like Boris Vallejo's STAR TREK book covers, from back in the day. There's an atmospheric quality about them and he certainly seems competent enough. But there's never any dramatic staging in any of them. The subjects are just kind of posed, like it's for a yearbook -- I don't get that. Maybe he was just pumping them out, quick and dirty, but it's such a shame. He always seems on the verge of something interesting and just doesn't want to put in the effort ...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdEUGOGNmF4/U839437s0AI/AAAAAAAAK2U/jn7pTJuwlX8/s1600/06.jpg

 

[Kerock]

Who remembers the Star Trek Trading Cards?

https://78.media.tumblr.com/39d0daa9b6810bab8ba216f08991d9ab/tumblr_p8nuosIkw81spnykgo1_1280.jpg

 

[Dayton Ward]

I found a reprint set of those cards at the Vegas Trek convention last year. They're hilarious.

https://daytonward.wordpress.com/2017/10/08/phaser-daser-leafs-1967-star-trek-card-set/

 

[JD]

Had to look him up! James Blish had an almost Normal Rockwell'ish style, it seems like:
[URL]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/81/59/30/8159301c4e2caab93b8dbbdac74e0319.jpg

Also, I want to like Boris Vallejo's STAR TREK book covers, from back in the day. There's an atmospheric quality about them and he certainly seems competent enough. But there's never any dramatic staging in any of them. The subjects are just kind of posed, like it's for a yearbook -- I don't get that. Maybe he was just pumping them out, quick and dirty, but it's such a shame. He always seems on the verge of something interesting and just doesn't want to put in the effort ...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdEUGOGNmF4/U839437s0AI/AAAAAAAAK2U/jn7pTJuwlX8/s1600/06.jpg

Cliff Nielsen, [/URL]John Picacio, and Mike Collins, would be three of my favorite more recent cover artists.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I've seen Mr. Nielsen's work around, apparently, and had no idea who he was! Another Artist who has an understanding of how to present his subjects and a signature style ...

http://78.media.tumblr.com/1ff6e3dbe952cf058fc209a867543901/tumblr_otca99OR901qz6pzqo1_1280.jpg

 

[Greg Cox]

Had to look him up! James Blish had an almost Normal Rockwell'ish style, it seems like:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/81/59/30/8159301c4e2caab93b8dbbdac74e0319.jpg

To avoid confusion, James Blish was the author of those books, not the cover artist.

 

[2takesfrakes]

James Bama ...