
Show me a person that DOESN’T – at least partially – judge a book by its cover and I’ll show you a person who doesn’t read books.
Yes shacksters – (if I may be so bold as to use this wacked-out and possibly stylish honourific in your… er, honour) it’s time again to celebrate the best the year had to offer in book cover eye candy. And there’s a lot to celebrate.

(A) Royally weird and wonderful, your Majesty.
(B) Waaah

(A) So many interesting trains of thought with this one.
(B) Pink Splendor! You can just about hear the squeak.

(A) Nice balance (sorry!) between image and text.
(B) Now that’s a button!

(A) Clever and more than a little bit frightening.
(B) Is that tomato aimed at the reader or the guy in the brown suit? The red splatters already there might help you decide.

(A) My nomination for Book Cover of the Year. Nicknamed ‘Death by Lolly’.
(B) Love, love the LOST IN SPACE (1960’s) vibe to this cover.



(A) So vampy! If ever a cover deserved the red-carpet treatment, this is it. The spelling of ritual is pretty special too.
(B) It’s the phallic-shaped blood drip from the nose that really seals it for me.

(A) Another BOOK COVER OF THE YEAR nomination. Those car headlights are indeed next-level illuminating!
(B) One supremely kissable cover.

(A) You want clever text placement? We give you clever text placement.
(B) I’m so mutts about this cover! (again, sorry). What a Fire-God brilliant interpretation of the book’s title.

Two hot-in-different ways beguiling book covers.

(A) “A two-year-old could do better than this cover” I hear you say. Actually, it looks like a two-year-old DID this cover.
(B) Oh my! Green is most certainly the new black.

(A) Inhale on this smokin’ hot bit of eye trickery, if you will.
(B) Love how the text gradually morphs from FEAR to LESS.

(A) The word ‘arcane’ means ‘understood by few – mysterious – secret’. Yep.
(B) If you get the symbolism of the duck, then good. I definitely don’t. What I do get and dig (haven’t heard that word in a while have you?) is the simple beauty and balance of the colours, fonts and text placement of this work of art.

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these really ran the gamut and are so incredible!
Thanks Beth. I used to love music album covers too back in the Mesozoic era (aka ‘Days of Vinyl’) but of course that’s only a memory now. Book covers though are the next best thing, I reckon.
Lovin’ it!!! WOW X 10! Ur a rockstar!!
These covers do indeed have rock star quality, right you are Anon. As far as flair and decoration goes, LADY GAGA (who I am seeing tonight – (er… that makes it sound like her and I are ‘seeing’ each other when what I really mean is Scenic Writer’s Shack will be guests at her Brisbane concert tonight) I reckon would be proud.
Well, hell, my comments are coming up anonymous! Can’t have that! Love, love, love your site, your posts, your passion, and your dedication! You go, you rockstar!!!!
I enjoy a good mystery as much as the next person so I completely enjoyed the ‘Anon’ riddle while it lasted…Diana! I also (not every time but very often) register as ‘Anon’ when making a comment ON MY OWN SITE – so a salute to WordPress for riddle-making of the highest order on that front as well!
You’ve got a great selection, Glen. And your commentary’s JUST as entertaining as the covers themselves. Looked up Portalmania ’cause someone halfway through a portal with a fixed smile on their face is always intriguing. Those stories sound good, too. And Stephen Graham Jones has a LOT of covers. Boy, is that guy prolific. Your covers always remind me–so many books. So little time!!!
I’m glad SOMEBODY reads the comments.
Thankyou Stacey!