24 March 2010

Cover Unveiled for Metatropolis edited by John Scalzi

METAtropolis has quite an unusual publishing pedigree.  It was originally envisioned as a audio only product, which Audible released in late 2008. Last year Subterranean Press decided to do a limited print version, which I picked up before it quickly went out of print. I actually have a review written, but decided to save it for the trade release from Tor this June.
All of this means we have three covers that gives us very different interpretations of the world jointly created by John Scalzi, Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, and Karl Schroeder.  Above we have the Tor version which came via Irene Gallo and designed by Senior Designer at Tor Peter Lutjen. Below we have Sub Press's take with art by Edward Miller followed by Audible's original version. All very, very different takes.  The Audible version is the most modernistic look while Tor went for something a little more techie. The Sub Press cover is clearly going for the austere and dystopian feel of the novel. All around there is not a bad one in the bunch, but having read the stories the Tor version does evoke the tone of the collection best as it goes for the rebuilding of society aspects of the story more than the doom and gloom of the others.



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2 comments:

  1. I like the audible cover the most. Really cool font treatment.

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  2. The Tor cover stands out the most. The Sub Press art just looks too drab.
    -Steve W.

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