The Friday Face-Off was created by Books by Proxy, where each week bloggers can showcase books with covers centered around a weekly theme. You can visit Lynn’s Books for a list of upcoming themes. Join in the fun each Friday by finding a book whose cover is based on the theme!
This week’s theme: “The sunrise was the colour of bad blood.” – A cover featuring a sunrise/sunset.
I’m so glad I remembered that Hyperion by Dan Simmons features a sunset (or is it a sunrise?) on the original U.S. cover. That made it easy to pick a book this week! Hyperion is one of my all time favorite SF books, one I’m tempted to reread but also afraid to, for fear of ruining my memories. There were plenty of covers to choose from, so here are my favorites:
U.S. Bantam Spectra edition 1990 | French edition 2000
Norwegian edition 2013 | Spanish edition 2005
U.S. Spectra edition 2011 | Subterranean Press edition 2012
French edition 2007 | Polish edition 2015
If you haven’t read the book, that spiky monster is the Shrike, and he’s an important character in this story, which is why he’s featured on so many of the covers. As far as favorites, I’m really drawn to the Norwegian edition, probably because of the color and the simplicity. I also love the original Bantam edition because that’s the one I own. But I think the prize this week has to go to the Subterranean Press edition. The Shrike holding the baby is a chilling image, and it sums up the theme of the story really well:
Even though the Bantam edition is the one that first comes to mind when thinking about Hyperion, your choice wins on the strength of being the scariest of the lot! 🙂
Maddalena@Spaceandsorcery recently posted…Short Story Review: MEAT AND SALT AND SPARKS, by Rich Larson
It’s funny because everyone you mentioned are the ones I like the best. I’m also drawn to the colors on the Norwegian one and the Subterranean Press one is just plain wicked. I don’t know if I would like this book but I have only heard good things about it.
I like your choice too. The Norwegian would have been great if the font had been at the bottom.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Review and Giveaway ~ The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter
I really liked all of these covers. I think they all have something unqiue but I love the Norwegian edition the most. 🙂
Great pick, Tammy! The cover you went with is really interesting, I have never seen that one before! I like the French edition myself. 🙂
I was immediately drawn toward the Norwegian edition, I love the colors of it
Brittany recently posted…Friday Face Off: Sunrise
A fabulous choice – Hyperion is a wonderful read. Though, like you, I don’t want to reread it, just in case:)). All these covers are striking and well crafted – but my favourite is the French Pocket edition, produced in 2000.
Ooh- this is tough this week because the styles are all so different. I like something about them all. I think I’d have to go with Norwegian 2013.
That is an insane cover! I can’t really remember the story well enough to know if that actually fits, but it’s so cool looking nonetheless 😀
Gosh, that cover really is wicked! It’s the one that catches my eye most, too, not knowing the story as well as you do. Terrific choice this week, Tammy. They are all great covers.
I think I like the first one (the US Bantam one) because of the colors and silhouette … but it may just be because that’s the cover I;m most familiar with
Lisa @Tenaci recently posted…Giveaway: The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst
I really like the looks of the US 1990 and 2011 editions. 🙂
I might like the French edition? Wow, some of these are kinda spooky!
Greg recently posted…Sunday Post 295
Your pick is my favorite too, although it really creeps me out that the monster is holding an infant, lol.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Review: LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali
I actually like the Spanish and the US Spectra ones for their simplicity and graphic-y illustrated look and the colors. But that image of the creature holding the baby is definitely chilling!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Graphic Novel Review: Letters for Lucardo Vol. 2 by Otava Heikkilä
This is one classic that I really need to try some day. Not sure about its sequels however, but at least the first one sounds and looks awesome! Love the various covers on these too. So tantalizing!
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Hellblazer: Original Sins by Jamie Delano
What an excellent choice, sorry I’m late checking this out – away at the moment and the wi-fi is terrible!. I love your cover and I also like the French and the Polish ones too.
Lynn 😀