Books spotted 6/2/09 at Borders Books at the Alamo Quarry
China Mieville
THE CITY & THE CITY
Ballantine / Del Rey
Cover by Unknown
I should’ve looked at the flap to see who did this one. Mieville’s a phenomenal writer, and his name stops your eye and sells the book. Mission accomplished by the art/design team. However, if a less notable author’s name was there, would this cover still stop traffic? ‘Curious to hear opinions.
Mark Chadbourn
AGE OF MISRULE: BOOK ONE
WORLD’S END
Pyr
Cover art by John Picacio
What can I say? I’m partial to this one! ‘Happy to to see it faced-out. 
Chadbourn’s an AMAZING writer. I’ve read this, and if you like original epic fantasy, then you’ll love this book. This is Chadbourn’s first major release in the States, and he’s gonna be a biggie.
Max Frei
THE STRANGER
Overlook
Cover by Unknown
Again, I should’ve looked at the design credit on the back endflap. It looks like stock photography, but the offbeat dot-pattern matte vs. gloss printing grabs my eye every time I see this cover. Anyone read this one? Intriguing package.
Daryl Gregory
PANDEMONIUM
Ballantine / Del Rey
Cover art by Greg Ruth
Unconventional eye-catching illustration by Ruth. Thoughtful design decision with the title by art director Dave Stevenson (I’m pretty sure that’s Dave Stevenson art-directing this one.)
I love love love the Age Of Misrule covers. Sadly I couldn’t get into the first story so I don’t think I’ll be acquiring the others.
Unless, of course, there were to be a poster print with all of them together? That should take you, what, 2, 3 minutes tops to throw together??
China Mieville’s three-book series starting with “Perdido Street Station” were so good that I’m gonna have to pounce on his new one. I’m totally jealous that his command of the English language is so much better than mine. I thought the cover of “Perdido Street Station” was mediocre, I only read it because Sanford would not stop talking about it.
JP — Thanks for the kind word! Definitely a possibility of prints for these down the road…..:)
Paul –Yeah, Mieville’s terrific for sure.