In one respect, this is like the old covers whose style Hard Case Crime is bringing back to life. It's not nearly as revealing as those pulpy productions, but, like them, it appears to be the result of craftsmanship and not just of design. Hard Case commissions paintings for all its covers, and I'd guess this one was a painting, too. ============== Detectives Beyond Borders "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home" http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Yes, this jacket illustration is definitely a painting, of the type that was commonly found in the Golden Age. Those were the days when cover artists (McCauley being a good example) were REAL artists, good painters and excellent designers. There was no fudging, no amateurishness, no lack of conviction - qualities found in abundance in modern publishing (Hard Case Crime excepted!).
Hard Case manages to spend money and effort to hire artists for its covers and still sell books relatively cheaply. More power to them! =================== Detectives Beyond Borders "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home" http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Hard Case Crime are publishing some gorgeous covers, and I love how they offer sample chapters from their books - such a great idea to draw readers/buyers in!
There were still some real artists around post Golden Age... Tom Adams being the obvious one for me. His covers for Agatha Christie paperbacks were issued from 1962 through to 1980, and most are truly beautiful artworks in themselves.
Tom Adams is, of course, one of the great cover artists, period (not just for his Agatha Christie masterpieces, but for his jackets for John Fowles, etc.). I didn't mean to imply that book cover Art stopped post-Golden Age - I was more bemoaning the recent modern trends in cover art.
I've bought a book or two because of those sample chapters. And I know Hard Case work with at least one illustrator from the heyday of paperback originals.
The Hard Case Web site even has a page devoted to the imprint's cover artists, which indicates a degree of respect and attention that most publishers don't offer. ============== Detectives Beyond Borders "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home" http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Hard Case aren't the only crime fiction publisher around who offer free sample chapters (Ramble House have been around doing that for longer). And let's not forget other worthies like Rue Morgue Press, Deadly Ink Press, Ransom Not Press, Creme de la Crime Ltd, et al. There are many small presses bringing back a little of that noir.
Don't forget Busted Flush Press and an excellent booklike magazine called Murdaland. Then there's Point Blank Press, which I hope one day will follow through on plans to bring out the unpublished fourth collection of Augustus Mandrell stories by Frank McAuliffe. =================== Detectives Beyond Borders "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home" http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
8 comments:
In one respect, this is like the old covers whose style Hard Case Crime is bringing back to life. It's not nearly as revealing as those pulpy productions, but, like them, it appears to be the result of craftsmanship and not just of design. Hard Case commissions paintings for all its covers, and I'd guess this one was a painting, too.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Yes, this jacket illustration is definitely a painting, of the type that was commonly found in the Golden Age. Those were the days when cover artists (McCauley being a good example) were REAL artists, good painters and excellent designers. There was no fudging, no amateurishness, no lack of conviction - qualities found in abundance in modern publishing (Hard Case Crime excepted!).
Hard Case manages to spend money and effort to hire artists for its covers and still sell books relatively cheaply. More power to them!
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Hard Case Crime are publishing some gorgeous covers, and I love how they offer sample chapters from their books - such a great idea to draw readers/buyers in!
There were still some real artists around post Golden Age... Tom Adams being the obvious one for me. His covers for Agatha Christie paperbacks were issued from 1962 through to 1980, and most are truly beautiful artworks in themselves.
Tom Adams is, of course, one of the great cover artists, period (not just for his Agatha Christie masterpieces, but for his jackets for John Fowles, etc.). I didn't mean to imply that book cover Art stopped post-Golden Age - I was more bemoaning the recent modern trends in cover art.
I've bought a book or two because of those sample chapters. And I know Hard Case work with at least one illustrator from the heyday of paperback originals.
The Hard Case Web site even has a page devoted to the imprint's cover artists, which indicates a degree of respect and attention that most publishers don't offer.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Hard Case aren't the only crime fiction publisher around who offer free sample chapters (Ramble House have been around doing that for longer). And let's not forget other worthies like Rue Morgue Press, Deadly Ink Press, Ransom Not Press, Creme de la Crime Ltd, et al. There are many small presses bringing back a little of that noir.
Don't forget Busted Flush Press and an excellent booklike magazine called Murdaland. Then there's Point Blank Press, which I hope one day will follow through on plans to bring out the unpublished fourth collection of Augustus Mandrell stories by Frank McAuliffe.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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