Putting the Head On Cover Here, Because Why Wouldn’t I
Posted on June 20, 2017 Posted by John Scalzi 27 Comments
I mean, I was happy to give Entertainment Weekly an exclusive for a day, but now this cover needs to here at home.
Also, I really like it. Credit to Irene Gallo, Tor’s art director, and Peter Lutjen, the cover designer (he also did the design for Redshirts and Lock In). Tor always does right by me in terms of covers, and this is no exception.
Also, spare me the “apply to forehead” jokes, please. It gets tiring after the first 10,000 times.
“Scalzi has the scientific creativity of a Michael Crichton but fortunately without all the wingnuttiness..”
There, fixed that for you. :) Srsly though, I do love Crichton and Dan Simmons books, just not their politics.
I’m with Bob Dye: being compared to Crichton is being damned with faint praise, or perhaps actually slandered. As an idea guy, he’s pretty good. But as a writer? My recollection is not so favorable. You write to a much higher standard.
Lego Eyore looks sad. But that cover looks spiffy!
Cover looks more like Head Off.
Geoff Hart:
When I wrote Lock In, I said to the Tor folks, “I wrote you a Michael Crichton book, because he’s not making them anymore.” I’m not in the least offended by the comparison; it’s the comparison I intended. Mind you, I think I’m a pretty good writer. But the Haden books are meant to be Crichtonesque thrillers. It’s a very nice slot, sales-wise.
Elegant design. Implies much, reveals little.
Crichton was/remains a very popular writer. Few are immortal, doesn’t mean they’re not worth a read. Heck, the Harvard list of ‘Classics’ remains at 51 books. Ever.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics
Crichtonesque thriller is ok, as long as it doesn’t carry Crichton’s anti-science bias!
Yes, Crichton is mentioned in the blurb for Lock In, but what about Stephen J. Cannell? Doesn’t anyone else want to see a Scalzi-fied version of that old closing logo?
psst — you accidently a word: “needs to here at home.”
I cannot wait for this book, although woe and alas alack it appears I must! *hand**staple**forehead*
Interesting concept. Are free copies available? I’ve already spent this year’s book budget on Star Wars, Guamanian, and math books.
Gaiman. Damn autocorrect.
I happen to really like this world, though that’s not a criticism of Chrichton; I simply prefer your writing.
I really like this world and am excited to see another foray into it. Never apologize for writing books that sell!
Ok. I know this is off-topic but I’m posting it here because the ‘Coke Zero is dead’ thread has comments closed.
I live in darkest Canberra in Oz and I got to try Coke No Sugar last night because my Youngest daughter brought some home for us.
For the record, I liked it. And, in my opinion, it did taste more like original Coke than did Coke Zero in its local form.
Such is life.
Went to Goodreads to make sure I had it on my “Want to Read” shelf (Yes — and noticed a few people have already rated it — 10 months pre-publication — with one star). Put the expected publication date in my calendar (Check). Now to collect my Book Dork and Proud of it pin. Happy Wednesday, everybody.
I kept reading as “putting on the head cover.”
Love the cover! If a release tour brings you close to me, I’ll bring you homemade apple pie.
When this book gets printed, can we get a picture of your head on the cover? Or even a cat on the cover?
Cool cover!
Back in the days before smartphones and e-readers, when people took physical books on vacation and dinosaurs roamed the earth, and people traveling for a long time would trade their already-books with strangers on a train or at a guest house or hostel or in a cafe, etc., I wound up reading a dog-eared copy of Michael Crichton’s TRAVELS while I was in Tanazania. It was a non-ficiton book, a collection of his personal travel experiences.
All these years later, I don’t remember any details of the book, but I do remember that while reading it, I kept thinking over and over,”Boy, I’d hate to travel with this guy.”
(already-read books)
(oops: already-read books)
Doc Stat: you could always ask the librarians at your local library if they’re planning on getting a copy, and suggest that they consider getting it if they say no.
I think Crichton’s best books were Rising Sun, Disclosure, Airframe, and Timeline. His later books were a bit pedestrian, though. In my opinion, John’s books are better, except The God Engines, which I didn’t feel was up to his usual standard. It was a good book, but not excellent like his others.
Daniel Suarez is the new Michael Crichton.
Ok, though I can see the understated appeal of the Redshirts and Lock In covers, I can’t say I see the appeal of this one.