La Gloire du Gobelin
1. Remember when I did those 20 Neil Gaiman facts? Author Ann Aguirre is running a contest that involves Jim C. Hines facts, and she’s giving away all of my books as prizes. I just … wow. Go. Go now.
2. In further awesome and ego-boosting links, Catherine Schaff-Stump has written up her thoughts on Red Hood’s Revenge. But this is no ordinary review; this is the English professor treatment, and it is most nifty.
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So anyway, when I posted a picture of my ego shelf a while back, I mentioned that I was missing a single book: La Gloire du Gobelin, the French edition of Goblin Hero.
I finally said the heck with it, went to Amazon.ca, and plopped down $30 to get a copy of the book. It arrived yesterday.
One of the things I loved about the first book was that they included additional artwork on the back cover. They did the same for book two. Here, for your enlightenment, is the back cover art for La Gloire du Gobelin:
Okay, I don’t recall Veka being bald, but it’s been long enough since I wrote that book, maybe I’m misremembering. And I love that Braf’s back there with his finger up his nose. Grell and her cane are pretty cool too.
Then there’s Slash the hobgoblin. Here, take a closer look:
I stared at this for a long time, trying to understand. Was it a hobgoblin night light? A PSA about the tragic effects of snorting LEDs? A rogue pixie who got lost and flew up Slash’s nose by mistake? Some sort of Christmas–
And then I remembered. There was a scene where Veka cast a spell on Slash’s nose, wasn’t there? (It’s been five years since I printed out that manuscript and sent it in. I’m allowed to forget a few details.)
I’m not going to pick on my former publisher. I have no doubt the artist did a great job with the directions he or she was given. But I can’t help noticing that for some reason this book, with nose-glow Slash on the back and Jig in blue jeans and church lady glasses on the on the front, apparently did not sell well enough for my French publisher to pick up the third goblin book.
Ah well. Overall, I’ve had incredibly good luck with my cover art. And at least this one gives us Braf with nose-picking action!
What do you think?
Stephen Watkins
August 11, 2010 @ 10:17 am
The back cover’s not bad, in my opinion, but the front cover is kind of head-scratch-inducing.
Jim C. Hines
August 11, 2010 @ 10:20 am
I really think they were going for a Harry Potter vibe.
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Bridgitt
August 11, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
I just finished Goblin Hero, and yes, there’s a scene where Slash had a glowing nose from one of Veka’s spells…it was funny! Oh and, no offense, but on the English cover, I think Jig sort of looks like you ; ) .
liz
August 11, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
I love the English covers. My brother and I were browsing the fantasy shelves of a bookstore, not saying much because we pretty much already owned every book on the shelf, when I noticed a certain goblin. I said something to my brother about cartoon goblins and we both reached out at the same time, but he ended up grabbing Goblin Quest which was on the shelf above Goblin Hero which is what I grabbed. The rest is history.
By the by, I think Bridgett is right about Jig looking like you, but never had the guts to comment about it 😉
Bridgitt
August 11, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
LOL
Jim C. Hines
August 11, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
No offense taken. You’re not the first one to make that observation 🙂
Jim C. Hines
August 11, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
Okay, let’s clear this up once and for all. Jig is a short, bald, nearsighted, little blue man.
I, on the other hand, am not blue.
Any questions? 😉
Bridgitt
August 11, 2010 @ 4:05 pm
Hey, you live in the frozen north…it could happen!
Chris
August 11, 2010 @ 4:45 pm
I must say I still will always find the English book covers by… I always want to call him Mel Brooks, I don’t know why, considering I love his artwork. Especially fond of the piece he did for Terry Pratchett’s Where’s My Cow. But nose-picking is always a sure win.
On a side note, I just wanted to say BIG praise on the latest novel. Having been out of town for some time I haven’t been able to say how much I absolutely loved Red Hood’s Revenge! I’ll pick up the latest drinking terms to describe the read: “I downed that in one day!” Truly fabulous, way to go. 🙂
Chris
August 11, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
Op, that was suppose to say I like the English covers better. That’s what happens to me when I start talking about Terry Pratchett 😛
Jim C. Hines
August 11, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Mel Grant, yes? Ironically, Mel is indeed English. He did a great job with the goblin books, and with stepping in to do the cover for Red Hood when the original artist didn’t have time to do it.
And thanks! I’m delighted to know you liked Red Hood!