Spot the Difference

March 17th, 2011

Between last year’s UK editions of Last Argument of Kings (left) and this year’s editions (right):

Your prize is a feeling of well-nigh insufferable smugness. 

Not for you, silly.  For me.

Posted in artwork by Joe Abercrombie on March 17th, 2011.

27 comments so far

  • Dan says:

    Urgh. That just ruins the composition. Sell-out!

    Messing. Congratulations. You deserve to feel smug.

    Just finished reading Last Argument Of Kings, as it happens. I now need to re-read Best Served Cold as I remember the occasional character with odd coloured eyes popping up here and there. Probably puts a different spin on the events if you know who Sulfur actually is.

    Hey, just realised. I’m in the “I was reading Abercrombie before he was famous*’ camp. I can feel smug too. Huzzah. Smug-cake all round.

    *relatively

    P.S. Jezal on that cover looks just like the guy who plays Jaime Lannister in the upcoming Game Of Thrones series.

  • mike says:

    I think i see it Joe!!! The left one is slightly open, what do i win? 😛 (I am indeed sarcastic, congrats on being a bestselling author!)

  • Jochem says:

    Ah, I see it! The Guardian is now simply called “Guardian”!

  • Brett From Southampton! says:

    Well deserved Joe! I’ve met a best selling author I tell you………………

  • Chris Upton says:

    Dan-Noticed that as well. Nicholas Coster Waldau. It’s pretty uncanny!
    Oh and well done Joe. Good to see more bestsellers that aren’t about some bloke having a midlife crisis and shagging his way through south london/remminicing an idylic childhood in Africa. Say no to navel gazing!

  • JonathanL says:

    Congratulations. Well deserved. And the guy does look uncannily like Coster-Waldau.

  • DrGonzo says:

    Hahahaha… Gratz to you.

    Hurry up nearly done with the Heroes! ;o)

  • Charlie says:

    Congrats Joe!

    I was in Waterstones yesterday and you were plastered all over… recommended shelf, SFF etc. It’s interesting that your books were facing cover outwards on the shelves instead of just the spines. The stores must have great confidence in selling your work, or your publisher is pulling every favour out of the bag 🙂

    I have The Blade Itself waiting for me to start as soon as I finish Mr. Syke’s debut – I’m looking forward to it.

  • Maya says:

    Ace! Congratulations!

  • Snorri says:

    Congratulations!

    Damned well deserved, too. I’m plowing through Heroes – it was well exciting to buy it in hardback off the bestsellers shelf. All hail King Joe!

    S

  • Tyson Perna says:

    Congrats! Well deserved.

  • A-drian says:

    Is it that the guy on the cover makes me think of romance novels?

    God, I wish I was man enough to kiss him.

  • Matt says:

    umm, the one says ‘The Guardian’ and the other just says ‘Guardian’ 😛

  • Michael says:

    Joe —

    Any chance of a title for the next book? I loved The Heroes, so eagerly anticipating here…

  • henderson says:

    The new cover looks fantastic and congratulations!

    Another character that should be considered for the damsel in distress is Aliz dan Brint. She might be a better choice than Carlot dan Eider.

  • Dan Cook says:

    “I don’t come down to where you work and slap the d*ck out of your mouth…”

    On topic, well done etc.

    I would of thought by now they’d of swapped the quote for a more recent one, maybe they can use some of the more imaginative ones. In all fairness I think a copy with the words “taking a crucifix and dipping it in urine” boldly printed on the front would sell. Or, failing that there’s always:
    “That’s not realism, it’s nihilism, and it’s poison to both the reader’s mind and culture.”

  • Elfy says:

    Glad I got the book before they ruined the cover.

  • David says:

    Just more ego stoking for you…

    http://www.avclub.com/articles/joe-abercrombie-the-heroes,53285/

    I’d be extra proud of this one. I don’t know if you read ‘The Onion’ or ‘The AV Club’ but it’s a very smart and very savvy site from our cousins across the pond. Praise from the praiseworthy is above all else, as some Professor type once remarked.

    David.

  • Harvey Quinn says:

    Who did you bribe for that?

    Haha, seriously, well deserved.

  • Dan says:

    @Dan Cook
    “That’s not realism, it’s nihilism, and it’s poison to both the reader’s mind and culture.”

    I would buy any book that had that on the cover. Literally, ANY book!

  • Phil N says:

    As a matter of interest how much percentage wise does having that on the cover of your books equate to increased sales?

  • Phil says:

    Well done! Although i had to squint to read it!

    Still not sure on the new covers, i can see why you wanted the change to draw in a different market but the guy looks nothing like i imagined Jezzail. If any one cares how i imagine Jezzail then google David Strettle, he is how i imagine Jezzail to look, especially with the longer hair.

  • Liam says:

    Congratulations! A much deserved honour, to say the least. Can’t wait for the next one

  • Clarke says:

    What, another heroic, pretty boy on the cover? I’m noticing a trend here. My only disappointment with The Heroes (US version) are the male models on the cover trying to look tough. Your publisher’s marketing people are making me go “Bloody Nine”! Or maybe I just need to switch to decaf…

    Anyway, well done again, sir.

  • Ruus from Carlisle says:

    Once again, thanks again for another great read. Finished ‘The Heroes’ I thoroughly enjoyed another dip into your world. Now to start ‘The Blade Itself’ again. Thank you, Mr Abercrombie. Again.

  • henderson says:

    Again Joe, congratulations on the covers. They look great.

    How including the unseen character Vossula from Best Served Cold in the new novel?

  • Liz P says:

    Hi,

    I am re-reading the First Law books before reading Heroes. I am trying to do it slowly but they keep running away with me. I love all of Joe’s books and I am delighted that he is so successful. I would like to ask him which authors he likes reading.

    Liz

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