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NEW Wheel of Time BOOK COVERS
Judging from the WoT covers,
I think it's plain that the artist hasn't taken a sufficient amount of life drawing classes and doesn't read
the books. Here's my remedy: For each volume, I've listed a description of the Current Cover, and
My Idea of what the cover should be.
Volume 1: The Eye of the World
Moiraine and Lan are leading the gang out of the Two Rivers, and they look like they're going on a pleasant
school field trip rather than fleeing in the middle of the night. Aldieb has a hyper-extended foreleg.
One of the guys—it could be either Rand or Mat—looks like a grinning
Nicholas Cage.
My Idea: In keeping with the book title (and the fact that
readers may not yet be familiar with the characters), we could see an aerial shot of the Blight,
with one little spot of lush greenery. Not a Magic Eye picture, but something intricate and eye-pleasing.
Or, to make sure every cover displays characters, I'd like to see Rand confronting the cringing Paidan Fain
in Baerlon. The first book of the series should have a dynamic illustration to interest new readers.
Volume 2: The Great Hunt
Rand is apparently showing Loial and Lady Selene the Horn of Valere while bad guys
wearing Trolloc armor approach. I don't recall this happening in the book at all. Although Selene is
written as an extremely experienced and confident woman, here she resembles a B-movie actress portraying a gasping
maiden. Loial is sadly disproportionate. And where is Hurin?
My Idea: This volume (my personal favorite) really defined who Rand is.
I would show the colossal male sa'angreal statue being unearthed near Cairhien in the foreground, its arm thrusting
towards the sky and clutching the giant crystal, and Rand staring like an addict while Selene pulls at his arm.
Then again, that was not a major point in the story. Another option
would be to show the Horn of Valere in the foreground, while Rand and Loial creep toward it through the
nighttime woods in the background. Perhaps "Selene" watches with an amused smile from the shadows to one side.
Or (so many options here!) we could go for the subtle approach and show Mat's fist holding the
ruby hilted dagger, and the black corruption spreading from its blade into a man's flesh.
Volume 3: The Dragon Reborn
Rand obtains Callandor . . . but in the book, he never brandished it above his head
like "He-Man" grasping the Power of Grayskull. Mat and Perrin look on, although they were not present in
that scene. Perrin looks like a deformed dwarf.
My Idea: This was the first book where we really got to know Mat, so it's got to show
him. I want to see Mat trying to shove his bundle of fireworks
into the arrow slit. Silhouettes of Aiel crawl over the Stone in the distance.
Of course, the title of the book should be taken into account. If we must
show the scene of Rand obtaining
Callandor, I would prefer to show him approaching the crystal sword alone and cautiously, like someone approaching
a fearsome destiny.
Volume 4: The Shadow Rising
Rand and Mat are relaxing in the Aiel Waste and being served dinner by
Moiraine(!), although in the book, they neither relaxed nor were served by any female channeler. What is this,
a Randland vacation getaway?
My Idea: The main theme of this volume, I thought, was Perrin as the hero,
so I would like to see a huge Wolf banner with Perrin handing weapons out to Two Rivers folk,
and (for that touch of interest), the Tinker Aram trying to figure out how to use a longbow.
Another major development in this book was the announcement of Rand as the car'a'carn. I would like
to see him in the foreground watching, bemused, as little golden dragons float around him. His forearm is
held up while a dragon settles into his skin. Beyond him, we see the columns of Aiel remembrance, and in
the distance beyond the columns, a figure which readers will know is Mat is hanging from a tree. It's
Rhuidean, so objects of the One Power are scattered all over the pavilion.
Volume 5: The Fires of Heaven
Rand, Mat, and either Elayne or Aviendha (not sure which it's supposed to be)
are randomly posed in a city which I guess is supposed to be Rhuidean. It is unclear why they're together
and just standing around.
My Idea: One of the major plot developments was the "re-birth" of
Birgitte. I would show the scene in tel'aran'rhiod where Moghedien is tying Nynaeve in knots,
while Birgitte, injured and engulfed by the background shadows of Luca's menagerie, aims her silver bow.
Volume 6: The Lord of Chaos
Rand is standing in an extremely awkward pose and making a fist with one
hand for no apparent reason. His proportions are just strange. Aviendha (maybe) is posed below him
in an "Oh-My-Gosh!" B-movie poster stance. She seems to be wearing a plastic jacket with a red
and white Aes Sedai symbol on the back, although she never wore anything like this in the series. Some
kind of horned bat-thing is flying overhead. Huh? It could be a draghkar--although I don't recall
any in this volume--or it could be a Seanchan beast, although the raken and to'raken have not
been introduced in the series yet.
My Idea: This is the book where Rand really starts hearing voices, and his first defeat
since he accepted the title of "Lord Dragon." I'd like to see a huge close-up of him squished
inside the trunk, bound and gagged, and just screaming! This is not a spoiler because all we can
see is Rand, with no idea where he is, who has him, or how he got there.
Volume 7: A Crown of Swords
- Current Cover 1: The first paperback version simply shows the crown of Illian on a maroon
background. Subtle and decent! Maybe someone listened to criticism. Maybe the artist missed
his deadline.
- Current Cover 2:
Rand poses like a ballet dancer and looks like he's inviting someone to rape him. No one in Randland wears
sleeveless muscle tanks, but he is. And he's awkwardly thrusting out his chest and one fist.
The background looks like a cheesy haunted house, but I'll assume it's Shadar Logoth with Mashadar swirling around him.
- My Idea: The thorny crown of Illian is in keeping with the title, but it breaks the
tradition of portraying the characters on the covers. Instead, we could show Mat battling the
gholam in the dusty storeroom, dancing around dead bodies.
Volume 8: The Path of Daggers
- Current Cover:
Rand leads his armies to battle the Ever Victorious Seanchan forces. This is right around when Rand was feeling
particularly ill and went insane with Callandor, so why is he smiling like football star before a game?
- My Idea: The current cover has the right theme, because the Seanchan are back and
wreaking havoc, but it lacks dynamism. Then again, this was not the most dynamic book in the series.
We could show Egwene as the "girl Amyrlin" riding at the head of the Salidar Aes Sedai army,
flanked by Bryne, Suian, and Sheriam.
Volume 9: Winter's Heart
- Current Cover:
Perrin tromps through the snow even though his armies are on horseback. He bears an uncanny resemblance to
Jonathan Frakes for no reason.
The figure in the Aiel outfit next to him must be Gaul, although Gaul is supposed to be substantially taller than
Perrin. The riding woman with the staff could be Faile or could be an Aes Sedai. I don't recall
any women in his camp carrying a staff. And who is the weathered old man on the horse? Basil Gill is the
only older dude with Perrin's people, and he's not that old or thin.
- My Idea: Here's a more dynamic scene that would translate to an interesting book
cover: Mat wears his pink ribbon get-up in the Tarasin Palace, embarrassed by the pretty maids who are
laughing surreptitiously at him. Tuon is walking haughtily past, trailed by Anath and assorted slaves, and
mostly hidden by her white veil. But Tuon's large, somber eyes can be seen, and she is sneaking a curious look
towards Mat from the corner of her vision. This could even be construed as an illustration of the title:
Tuon is as cold as winter's heart.
Volume 10: Crossroads of Twilight
- Current Cover:
Mat is rearing his horse in a chaotic forest scene, surrounded by a group
of nearly unrecognizeable, stiffly posed characters. Tuon is conspicuously absent, unless she's the boy
dressed in blue girly clothes. Mat strongly resembles French actor
Gerard Depardieu.
- My Idea: There were a number of cool scenes in this volume
that could have been chosen for the cover. I would like to see an evening upshot of Tar Valon from
the River Erinin, with that massive chain across the southern gate, and a shadowed figure just barely
visible on the wall. Or how about when Mat chases Renna on his galloping horse?
That way we could see him in an active, focused pose, instead of looking like a dolt. I like Gerard Depardieu,
and I think he is an extraordinary actor, but I've always pictured Mat as looking more like a young
Harrison Ford.
Volume 11: Knife of Dreams
- Current Cover:
Is that redheaded oaf supposed to be Gaul? Then why the heck is he wearing a sword? And if I hadn't been told,
I'd have no clue about the identities of the others. That tiny little wolf-man is supposed to be our
hulky blacksmith, Perrin. The Bashere-looking warrior is actually Neald, apparently dressed up like a Murandian
general. And that midget woman in the foreground is Galina, although she ought to be normal-sized.
There's so many problems with the perspective and proportions, I can't believe this thing was approved by
the marketing department at Tor.
- My Idea: I can think of quite a few more thrilling scenes than the one portrayed on the
current cover. I mean, really. How about Rand and co. facing off with Semirhage? I'd like to see
that Forsaken in the guise of Tuon, looking like a creepy bald child, standing in the marble doorframe of an
abandoned mansion, flanked by her sul'dam, in an over-the-shoulder shot from Rand and Nynaeve.
More COVER ART BASHING!
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All material Copyright © 2008 Abigail Goldsmith, except where otherwise noted.
All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission from the author.
Document updated: 05 September 2008 - 23:48:54
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