Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Darren Haggar? / Gray318: The Chess Machine



Top is the new paperback, bottom is Gray318's hardcover. I absolutely love the transformation. It reminds me of how movie posters start with what is called a "tease" where they release a poster for the film way in advance, that is generally abstract - like the very first graphic posters for The Spirit. Then as the drop date gets closer, they release "the payoff" which usually has the actors' faces. I think the payoff cover here is lovely - wish I knew who painted it. I'm assuming the paperback is Darren Haggar but I will find out for certain.

The book is about a midget who hides inside a machine that plays chess and always wins. It takes place in 1770 Europe. I believe the image is alluding to a masquerade taking place - nobody knows the secret of the machine!!!!!! And it's based on actual events.

2 comments:

Ian Koviak said...

A nice, refreshing take on this cover. I like it...

It reminds me of a recent cover that was art directed by him...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gD4n5UkHL._SS500_.jpg

It just has that renaissance aspect to it all.

Tal said...

Good call. That's a nice one.