Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme here at Books by Proxy. Join me every Friday as I pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe. Check out Lynn’s-Books for upcoming themes!
Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett
Welcome to the Friday Face-Off where this week we’re comparing covers featuring a dark road!
After last week’s edition took me to Discworld, I couldn’t resist going there again with Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett! And with a wonderful collection of covers, it was difficult only choosing two to compare!
This week’s offerings are the Pocket 2011 French cover with incredible artwork by Marc Simonetti and the Collector’s Library edition from Doubleday with artwork by Joe McLaren. Take a look and see which one is your favourite!
Pocket 2011 | Cover #1
Doubleday 2016 | Cover #2
| The Friday Face-Off: Winner |
The Doubleday cover is a nice addition to the Collector’s Library – block colours, a simple illustration working in silhouettes and negative space, and a dramatic vista. I love the lonely figure walking up a long and crooked road towards Lancre Castle, and I love the silhouettes of the witches on broomsticks as they fly across the sky.
The artwork for the French edition is incredible, however, and the more I look at Marc SImonetti’s artwork the more in love I am with it. It is, quite simply, breathtaking. I love the smokey blues and pinks as they rise up to Lancre Castle concealing another dark and crooked road. I love the slender figure of Mightily Oats, the powerful stance of the Witches of Lancre and the sword-swinging action of Verence II. This eye-catching and imaginative cover is most definitely my favourite.
Discworld artwork by Marc Simonetti
Which cover wins your vote this week? Have a cover of your own? – Post the link below!
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
Next week’s theme is:
Cold and Crisp
A cover with a cold and wintry feel
Remember to check Lynn’s Books for upcoming themes
| Links |
Steve @ Books and Beyond Reviews
Tammy @ Books, Bones and Buffy
Books by Proxy 
I agree with your pick, the collector’s editions is really nice but Simonetti’s Discworld art is just great
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I will definitely be buying a chunk of the collector’s editions for my bookshelves but I would put Simonetti’s artwork up on my wall! 😀
LikeLike
Love these illustrations of Simonetti! Though I’m still partial to Paul Kidby’s version of Discworld… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you check out his website there are so many more! All equally beautiful, funny and dramatic. I am really impressed by them! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that artwork is stunning! I’ll have to agree with your choice😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is a very talented artist! I was blown away by all the different covers on his website! 😀
LikeLike
Oh yes – I’ll always be a diehard for Josh Kirby and Paul Kidby’s covers – but I’ll happily agree that many of Simonetti’s designs also beautifully encapsulate the sense of mischief and mayhem that pervades the Discworld! And what a great choice for this week – which I found a bit tricky…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you there – I struggled until I realised I’d looked at a cover with a road the week before!
I really love Simonetti’s artwork. The typeface of the edition isn’t very complimentary but the image definitely speaks for itself! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I completely agree – I think that Simonetti has plugged into the vibe established by Kirby and Kidby very successfully.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tough choice this time, I think it would be a tie for me because both have their own neat style and strengths!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do like them both – I would definitely buy the collectors edition over the other but I want Simonetti’s artwork on my wall! 😀
LikeLike
Definitely agree with your choice. Both versions are great, but the artwork is just amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t seen any of Simonetti’s covers before but they are just gorgeous! 😍
LikeLike
It’s got to be Pocket – what a gorgeous cover.
Lynn 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a beauty!! 😀
LikeLike
I’ll always love those Collector’s covers but the French cover def took it in this one. I love all the details on the cover. Love the facial expression of the person with the sword and even the knobby socks of the witch in the foreground. There’s a lot going on, but it doesn’t seem too busy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The little details are brilliant! I love how the guy with the sword is about to pop his slippers off too! 😂
LikeLike